Right Behaviors, Right Grades

It is likely no surprise I think Dr. Phil McGraw has some good ideas about living a good life and raising children well. To be clear, I don’t agree with him on everything, but on some basic stuff, we jive.

One of those is where we draw the line on behaviors around attending college/university and the resulting grades. For some reason, we don’t think we should hold our students to an academic standard. We confuse our unlimited love for our students with no limits in the pursuit of their dreams.

Grades remain an important measure of your student's academic skills, commitment, and effort.

Yes, I’ve touched on this before. Right about now, we are just past 1/2 way through the fall semester. For some of you, this is your student’s first year. For others, it’s their fourth. And for others, well, you want to know when the checks can stop being written. ( Hint: anytime. )

By the time your student gets 1/2 through a semester, they should have some feedback on their academic efforts. It’s called mid-terms. You might want to gather that information in the middle of October. Unlike a thermometer, the lower the grade (temperature) the more things are NOT GOING WELL.

If you are paying for any part of your student’s education, (and who isn’t these days….) I believe you have a right to know. However, with today’s privacy laws, your STUDENT must give permission for that to happen. So, here’s our story-

We went to register our student for her first fall semester. While doing the paperwork, the admissions counselor said, “Do you want your parents to have access to your grades?” Our student turned to me & said, “Do I?”, to which I replied, “Only if you want me to keep writing checks to this fine institution.” Sidenote: the admissions counselor buried her face in the paperwork to keep from busting out laughing.

Full Disclosure- I never looked. Never needed to. It was just a reminder of our agreement as to accountability and responsibility. Believe me, I was not that parent who would go ballistic over a B. However, if there had been a string of D’s or F’s, that would have been a warning sign. Time to start asking questions. It means your beloved student is not doing well, and you need to get to the root of the issue(s), Students have a hard time asking for help from anyone, including you.

Another story might illuminate. I went to a small college, where after a while, you tended to know the good students in each major. I knew who to ask to bail me out on Biology stuff, and eventually, I was a resource in questions of History. I still remember a student during Exam Cram Week asking if I could answer a couple of questions. Sure. Well, it became clear she was beyond lost. After looking at her spotty notes, sadly, I realized she needed a tutor weeks ago. She was unhappy when I had to turn her away because it would have taken days of tutoring to catch her up. I wished she’d started back at mid-terms.

The sooner you know, the easier it will be to make needed changes. Professors are inundated at the end of every grading period with requests for “extra credit assignments” and creative ways to “bring up my grade.” Most will tell you that the best way is to show up to class and do the work along the journey.

And, if you need any more motivation, there is no academic credit for a D or F. Your student has to take the course over again unless it is not needed to graduate. That’s paying DOUBLE for the same product.

A mid-term review and appropriate intervention if needed could be all it takes to right the ship.

Until Next Time,

All My Best,

Bonnie Burkett