Academic Issues

My son is not doing well academically and I am concerned about his grades. What would you suggest?

There are a number of resources on campus for students who need academic assistance.

As soon as a problem arises, your son should immediately speak with the professor, either after class or during the professor's office hours. If your son has part-time faculty in any of his classes, they are also an excellent resource when students need additional help.

The Writing Studio offers free tutoring, on a walk-in basis, in writing and several content areas.

Your son should also make an appointment with an academic advisor to discuss the problems he is having. The advisors recognize that prior experiences and the ability to adapt to the University's academic environment and faculty expectations are different for every student. The advisor will discuss your son's educational options with him, and if deemed necessary, will refer him to additional University resources. Your son should meet with an academic advisor at least once a semester and more frequently if problems arise. Advisors do not make decisions for students, but work with them to help them develop their own decision-making methodology. Each student must assume responsibility for his/her own choices.

Another resource for students is the Counseling Center.

My daughter, who is a freshman, says she is having a problem with one of her professors. What should she do?

Encourage your daughter to speak with the professor. New students are often hesitant to seek out professors, but after doing it once or twice, they discover that faculty members are approachable people who are here to help students learn, grow and succeed.

My son is having trouble choosing a major (or wants to change his major). Who can help him with this decision?

Choosing a major is difficult for many students. However, there are a number of resources on campus to assist students in the decision-making process.

First, your son should make an appointment with an academic advisor. The academic advisors have expertise in all of the majors offered at CUI, are knowledgeable about the courses that are required in each major, and are well equipped to discuss the best paths for students to follow when making academic decisions.

Secondly, your son should make an appointment with a career counselor at the Career Center. A career counselor will discuss your son's career options with him and will also help him employ various resources that can aid him in making informed career choices.

Professors are another excellent resource. They can offer your son information about career options and can explain the coursework that is required for specific majors.

Academic clubs afford students opportunities to meet others who share similar scholastic interests and to interact with faculty in informal settings. For information about academic clubs, your son should contact the Student Life Center.

The University library maintains an excellent selection of academic journals that your son can read to learn more about various careers.

My daughter wants to drop a class. What should she do?

The first thing your daughter should do is to make an appointment with an academic advisor to fully discuss the situation and the implications of dropping a class.

It is important, however, to keep in mind that dropping a class may shift your daughter from full-time to part-time status, which could affect her financial aid.

My son refuses to share his grades with me. How can I obtain his grades?

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal regulation, governs the confidentiality of students' university records. FERPA stipulates that only your son has access to his CUI records and that you may view them only with his written permission.

In accordance with FERPA, all correspondence from the University regarding grades, academic honors and/or discipline is sent directly to your son at the address that he lists with the Registrar. As a parent, our advice for you is to consistently foster and maintain open lines of communication with your son. Let him know that you will be supportive of him regardless of the circumstances.

If you would like, you may also contact an academic advisor. While the advisors cannot discuss your son's grades with you, they are always happy to discuss general University policies with parents.

My daughter needs to notify her professors that she is ill. How can she do this?

If your daughter is well enough, she should email or call her professors to explain her situation and to obtain any work she is capable of doing. If she is too ill to contact her professors, you should contact your daughter's academic advisor.