Student Retention Services

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Our goal is to provide students with resources to assist them in becoming academically successful. The College Success Skills course (SDV 100) and other Student Development courses provide information concerning academic advising, career development, study skills and general College information. Student Success workshops are offered for all students, and Retention Services also offers assistance to students who may be struggling academically.

Our services include:
• Administration of all Student Development (SDV) courses
• Student Success Workshops
• Assistance for students on probation, suspension or dismissal

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Recognizing when you are in academic trouble

Students who have lower than a 2.0 cumulative GPA

• are not in good academic standing
• Are more likely to leave college than other students.
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A CAD hold (block) is placed on a student’s record when their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0. CAD stands for Credit ADvising Required.  Students with CAD holds must be advised prior to registering in an attempt to help them become academically successful.
When a student is no longer in good academic standing, they fall into one of the following categories:
Academic Warning
Students who have a GPA between a 1.5 and a 2.0 in a given semester receive a designation of Academic Warning for that semester.  If a student has a cumulative GPA below a 1.5 and has less than 12 cumulative credits, their overall designation will be Academic Warning.  Finally, if in a given semester, the student receives a 2.0 or higher but his/her cumulative GPA is between a 1.5 and 2.0, their overall academic standing will be Academic Warning and a hold will be placed on their record.
*If these students have a CAD hold, they should be advised and have their hold removed by:

• their faculty advisor (if curricular)
• an advisor in the Student Success Center (if non-curricular)

Academic Probation
Students whose cumulative GPA falls below a 1.5 and who have attempted 12-24 credit hours will be placed on Academic Probation.  These students must be advised and have their hold removed by the College’s Student Success Coach:
Nicole Clifford, M.S.
nclifford@reynolds.edu
*Meetings must be scheduled in advance by appointment.

Academic Suspension
Students on Academic Probation who fail to attain a semester GPA of 1.5 will be placed on Academic Suspension only after they have attempted 24 credits.  These students may be readmitted after “sitting out” a semester. After returning from suspension, these students must be advised and have their hold removed by the College’s Counselor for Retention Services:
Sarah Shutt,
sshutt@reynolds.edu

*Meetings must be scheduled in advance by appointment.
Academic Dismissal
Students who do not maintain at least a 2.0 GPA for the semester they return after academic suspension will be academically dismissed. If a student returning from suspension achieves a GPA of 2.0 for the semester after reinstatement, they must maintain at least a 1.5 GPA in subsequent semesters (in order to avoid academic dismissal).  Academic dismissal from JSRCC is normally permanent, however, students may appeal to the Academic Standing Committee for reinstatement.

Students may determine their academic status in the following ways:

• All students are notified through “MyJSR” screens.
• Emails are sent to students on probation (from the Student Success Coach) prior to each semester.
• Letters and emails are sent to students who have been suspended or dismissed (from A&R) at the end of each semester.

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Tips for a Successful Semester [Back to top]

• Know the specific deadlines, policies, and procedures relating to your academic status, course withdrawal, course repeats, course registration, and major program application and admission. Be sure you understand all course requirements as outlined in your syllabus.

• Keep track of all grades in each course. At any point and time in the semester you should know exactly what grade you have in each course. To do this, you must understand how the professor calculates your course grade as described in the course syllabus. Also, you should keep a record of each test score, paper grade, quiz score etc. which you receive.

• Go to class! It is impossible to replace the learning that occurs by attending and participating in class. “Getting the notes” is not the same as attending class.

• Prioritize and organize your study and personal time into daily and weekly patterns of effectiveness. Maintain regular study hours and establish study environments in order to be productive throughout the entire semester.

• Develop timelines and keep semester, monthly and weekly calendars of dates when course assignments are due. Plan effectively for exams and papers in advance by using the calendar found in the College Student Handbook available in the Student Success Center.

• Go to your Instructor’s office hours, ask questions, and talk with instructors.

• Review continuously in your courses. When you get exams and papers back discuss them thoroughly with your instructor. Studying for final examinations begins now!

• Develop a network of resources. Make a list of phone numbers and email addresses of your faculty, advisors, tutors, and at least one other student from each class.

• Communicate, collaborate, and correspond with your family and friends as well as your campus support network.

• Utilize the appropriate campus services starting at the beginning of the semester. JSRCC has lots of support  for students, including the Academic Support Center (tutoring), the Center for Career, Employment, and Transfer, open Computer Labs, the Library, and the Student Success Centers.  Most successful students use these services!

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Creating a Plan for Success [Back to top]

A wise man once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result." If you have had academic problems in the past, think through the following steps, and develop your “plan” using these resources.

Here are some self-help strategies:

1. Do the “Reviewing Your Academic Progress” below.

2. Go to “Calculating a GPA” and actually calculate your GPA from last semester.

3. Identify campus resources you will use. Many people use the Academic Success Center (tutoring), the Open Computer Labs, the Library, or work with Financial Aid, Advising, Veterans Affairs or Admissions and Records through the Success Center. Many students also meet with Advisors in their majors and discuss academic issues or career goals with their Instructors. All of these people are here to help you, but it’s up to you to make contact!

4. As you plan for the upcoming semester, ask yourself :
How many classes can I take and maintain a high (“C” or better) average?
Am I registering for the correct classes for my curriculum?
Am I in the correct curriculum for my goals?

5. Plan for your semester!  If you need to “brush up” on study skills, an excellent resource is http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdyhlp.html.  If you are going to take Distance Learning courses, register for CDL 001, a free “prep” course in being a successful distance student.  The college also has SmarterMeasure which can help you assess your study skills and learning styles and be prepared for what’s ahead!

If you need assistance answering these questions, your Academic Advisor is a great resource for you. You may also seek assistance through the Student Success Centers, and the Center for Career, Employment and Transfer on each campus. 

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Reviewing Your Academic Progress [Back to top]

The purpose of “Reviewing Your Academic Progress” is to help students review their information in the Student Information System (My JSR) to make certain that this information is correct, and to assess where you are in completing your chosen major.   
You may want to do this prior to speaking with your advisor.

To complete this, you must have access to the Internet. You may use the computers in the Computer Lab if you do not have home access. The purposes of this review are to:

1. verify information in your transcript
2. confirm your curricular choice and
3. create a list of courses remaining for you to take.

>>Start by visiting the MyJSRCC Website
>>Enter your user name and password.
>> Next, click on VCCS SIS89. This is your student information system.
Please access your Degree Progress Report. Video instructions about how to do this may be found at: http://www.reynolds.edu/computing/SIS/videos/default.htm  After viewing this tutorial, please be certain that you put J. Sargeant Reynolds and ADVSR in the appropriate drop-down boxes. Please check to determine that the following information is correct:

1. Identifying information, curriculum and placement test information.
2. Courses you have taken and the grades you received. (Those which you have completed are listed under each requirement.)
*Your screen has required/actual/needed with numbers after it such as 9/3/6. This means that 9 hours are required, you have taken 3, and you need to take 6 more. Red means that you still have a requirement to complete under that heading.
3. “Other courses” are courses that do not apply to your current degree program.

After viewing this information, answer the following on a separate sheet of paper:
1. Is all of your identifying information correct? (Social security number, address, etc.) If not, please go to the >> Campus Personal box to correct it.
2.What is your curriculum? Is it designed to transfer to a 4-year college?
Note: AS and AA degrees are designed to transfer to a 4-year college. IF you plan to go on to a 4-year college and are in an AAS or certificate program, please speak with someone in the Student Success Center about changing your curriculum.
3. List those requirements you have not satisfied.

>>Go to www.reynolds.edu to find your curriculum program
Then answer the following questions:
1. Which occupational objective listed for your program interests you most?
2. Which specialization most interests you? Is this the specialization in which you are enrolled? Note: Not all curriculums have specializations.
3. How many credit hours must you take to graduate in this curriculum?
Note: Add the courses you must take before you take these courses (such as English 01 if required) to find the total number of hours required for you.
4. Which courses should you take next semester?
Note: In general, curricula are designed so that you take courses in sequence each semester, for example you take Eng. 111 before you take 112. You can see which courses have prerequisites by “clicking on” that course and checking the course description.
5. Does your curriculum have a practicum or an internship?

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How to Calculate your GPA [Back to top]

Very often at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College you will hear people talking about their GPA or Grade Point Average. Your GPA for a semester is determined by dividing the total of grade points you have earned by the total number of credits you have attempted in that semester. The example below will show you how to compute your GPA.

1. Multiply the credit hours for each course completed by the number of grade points assigned to the grade received in that course. For example, ENG 111 is worth three (3) credits and you receive a grade of B. The B is worth three (3) grade points. So you would multiply the credits and points (3 x 3) for a total of nine (9) grade points.

2. Add the credits attempted. In the example below, the total number of credits attempted is 13. If you receive grades of P, S, R, I, U, W or X, the credits attempted will be zero.

3. Add the total grade points.

4. Divide your total grade points by the number of credits attempted. This gives you your GPA. In the example, you would divide 13 into 40. This gives you a GPA of 3.077 for one semester.

You can also compute your cumulative GPA, which is you grade point average for all courses that you have taken or attempted at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. This is done by dividing all grade points you have earned in all semesters at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College by the total credits you have attempted here.

Course	Credits Attempted	Grades	Grade Points	Credits Completed	Total Grade Points
ENG 111	3	B	3X	3=	9
HLT 200	3	A	4 X	3 =	12
MTH 163	3	C	2 X	3 =	6
BUS 125	3	B	3 X	3 =	9
				3.077 = GPA | 13) 40.000

Your cumulative grade point average usually determines your academic standing
(i.e.: President’s Honor Roll, Academic Dismissal, etc.) eligibility for financial aid and scholarships, and eligibility participation in campus organizations such as SGA.
Grades of P,S,R,I,U,W or X are not calculated in a GPA. Colleges do not combine GPAs. If you attend 2 colleges, you have 2 GPAs. CREDIT for a course may transfer, but the grade does not. When a course is repeated, the grade of the most recent attempt is used in the calculation of GPA.

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Helpful Links [Back to top]

• JSRCCC Academic Support Center and Tutoring
• JSRCC Office of Student Accommodations for Student with Disabilities

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Frequently Asked Questions

[Back to top]

What Is the Student Development course (“SDV”), and why do I have to take it?
SDV  is a one or two credit hour College Success Skills course required by the Virginia Community College system for all students in a degree or certificate program. It is intended for students with 15 or fewer achieved hours, and should be taken very early in your college career. We teach SDV classes because they work! Through research, we know that students who take SDV have better grades and stay in college longer.

What is included in SDV?
Careers: Students take the Virginia Wizard Career Inventory and gather information about careers for which they might be a good “fit."

Academic Advising: Students meet with advisors to confirm that they are in the correct program/plan (major) and are registered for appropriate classes.

Study Skills: Time Management, Reading Comprehension, Note-taking, Test-Taking, Using the Library, and Study Styles are all important skills. They have been proven to help students succeed and are covered in this class.

Life Management Skills: Dealing with Diversity, Managing Money, Time Management and Goal Setting are also covered in this course.

Becoming a Member of the Community: Through SDV 100, you will have the chance to participate in workshops, student life activities, and a wide range of college opportunities from trips to helping build Habitat for Humanity houses!

When should I take SDV 100?
It is strongly recommended that students take SDV 100 within their first 15 semester hours since it is a course geared to first-time college students.

What are other SDV options?
SDV 101 is a course which meets the VCCS SDV requirement.  It is geared to students in particular majors who want to apply the content of SDV 100 to a particular discipline.
SDV 106 helps students prepare for employment  and the job search.  It does not meet the VCCS SDV requirement.

SDV 107 helps students explore the career options available to them.  It does not meet the VCCS SDV requirement.

SDV 108 is a course for students who need to improve their college success/study skills. It does meet the VCCs requirement.

SDV 109 is a Leadership Development course. Our student leaders and students who want to be leaders are eligible for this course. It does not meet the VCCS SDV requirement.

In what formats is SDV 100 offered?
SDV 100 is offered as: *an 8 week on-campus course (5 weeks in the summer),
and as distance learning courses that are designed  for students who have more than 30 credit hours of successfully completed courses. Other courses are primarily “face to face."

What are some of the things I need to know when I take SDV 100?”

1. Remember that most classes are taught in an 8 week format. Please:
a. Check your schedule in “My JSR” to be certain when your class begins.
Some classes begin the second half of the semester!
b. Remember that students who do not attend (or log in if it is a distance learning class)in the first 15% of a class ( the first two classes of an 8 week class) are dropped  from the class.  This can affect your financial aid.
c. Class attendance is very important,  the class only meets for 8 weeks.
d. All work and assignments are due on assigned dates. No work is accepted after the
final exam.
4. Your Instructor’s email and phone number are on your syllabus. Your
Instructor’s expectations for the class are on this syllabus. Email is a good
way to reach your Instructor. Remember, in college, your Instructor
expects you to ask if you have any questions.
What workshops do you offer, and who facilitates them?

All students are welcomed to attend any of our workshops. We offer more than 25 workshops each semester which focus on many different topics. In the past, we have done workshops focusing upon succeeding in college, study skills, and life skills (such as personal wellness, career development, money management and stress management). These are facilitated by all of the college counselors and specialists from the Success Centers, Centers for Career, Employment and Transfer, and the Office of Student Accommodations. Students can register for workshops at www.reynolds.edu/workshops

Helpful Links:
Study Skills: Virginia Tech Counseling Center Study Skills Website

GPA Calculator    

How to Use Your Student Information System

Reynolds Academic Advising           

Student Affairs workshops 

JSRCC Library (including resources for doing academic research and papers) 

JSRCC Tutoring