Some students have entered the realm of academic probation after this past semester. Thankfully, there are programs and resources on campus to help students stay afloat.

If you’re a student whose grade point average dropped below 2.0, you’ve been retained and this is your second chance to prove yourself.

Whatever the reasons for the GPA drop, programs and counseling at NIU can help in many different ways.

“I went to see my advisers more and they aided me in the formulation of a plan for my next semester,” said Alex Cameron, a sophomore political science major, who is in good academic standing now. “I believe developing one-on-one relationships with the teachers I had and attending every class was a major help.”

Academic advisers aren’t the only source of help, though they are a key factor.

“We make students reflect on how and why they performed how they did,” said Michael Broshears, director of the Academic Advising Center. “We give them guidance, keep them motivated and help them understand what probation is exactly.”

There are also tutoring and writing centers available on campus.

ACCESS offers one-on-one and small group tutoring, as well as specific course instruction on campus.

The Writing Center holds different workshops every week detailing topics from plagiarism to research. They also help with planning, developing and writing anything from research papers to resumes.

The Counseling and Student Development Center finds out a student’s needs and helps them structure their lives.

“We offer students group workshops and one-on-one coaching in test preparation, time management, reading strategies and classroom effectiveness,” said Sara Barfield, graduate assistant at the Counseling and Student Development Center.