Anna McClatchy, Ed.D
- Assistant Dean of Student Success
- Director, Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success
- ajmcclat@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3558
- Administration Building - room 130
Supporting Our Academically Suspended Students
On December 17, 2024 a handful of offices processed several thousand grades. For many students this resulted in a sigh of relief, or even celebration, but for some this news may not have been as joyous. On average, 100 students are suspended at the end each semester. Of those 100 or so students, 50% of them will appeal their suspension to be reviewed by the Scholastic Standards Committee. Nearly half of those appeals are approved each semester. The remaining students will be required to sit out on suspension for either a semester and a summer semester, or for an entire academic year.
However, our process and support does not end there. Post the appeal decisions, the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success, along with other student affairs staff, continue to support these students. For those students with an approved appeal, they are assigned a professional staff member to meet with for at least the semester. Our staff know that often it is not a lack of comprehension that has placed a student in this position, but more often a more personal issue that has affected their academic performance. These one on one meetings provide the space for the student to share this information with a staff member, who then educates the student on their available resources.
Students who are required to sit out for their suspension are also provided with follow up support. Our office sends each of these students an email first offering to meet individually to discuss a plan for their time away. Students who are suspended and plan to return to Michigan Tech are required to successfully complete courses at another institution; or if that is not possible, they must obtain employment for at least three months and provide the committee with a favorable letter of recommendation from their supervisor. For any student who does not meet with a staff member, we send a detailed email outlining the requirements of a successful reinstatement. Even in their time away these students can still be supported by our staff. We want the students to return, but we also want them to be successful in their return.
While sitting out on a suspension may look and feel like a punishment to students, the Scholastic Standards Committee and the Wahtera Center know that often this is exactly what a student needs. One such student recently came back into the Wahtera Center. This student had been placed on probation after their freshman year, put into a success course, and then at the end of their third semester was placed on suspension. Their suspension was not approved and they were required to sit out for a spring and summer semester. During their suspension, the student had the time to focus on their medical needs and work full-time. They also had some difficult conversations with their parents about changing their major. This student returned to Tech with a changed major and a better understanding of how to take care of themselves. Since this student has returned they have consistently made the Dean’s list and have been provided with multiple opportunities within their academic program. This student told us that at the time they were upset about their denied appeal, but now they see that it was the best thing for them. Without that break they said they do not believe they would have been able to resolve the issues they were facing and find where they belong here at Michigan Tech.
This is one student’s story, but for those of us in the Wahtera Center we have experienced many similar success stories. Regardless of a student’s academic status, Student Affairs staff are here to support students.