D/F slips highest in Viterbo history

Midterms. The word conjures up images of intense study and exams, followed by a few days' respite from the rigors of academia. And for 479 students at Viterbo this semester, it also brings images of a high importance e-mail that announces that they currently have a grade of a D or even an F in one or more of their classes.

More mid-semester D/F notices were sent to students this semester than at any time in Viterbo's history. Assistant Academic Vice President Wayne Wojciechowski told Lumen that 479 students received D/F notices this year, 79 more than last year's total of 400 and 196 more than five years ago, when only 283 notices were sent out.

One hundred twenty-six of these notices are freshmen, who make up about 30 percent of the first-time freshman class. Despite this high number, Wojciechowski said that that this percentage of D/F notices is average for Viterbo. "It's been pretty constant over the years. Freshmen are still learning the difference between college and high school," Wojciechowski said.

"The issue seems to be the difference between high school and college," said Academic Vice President Barbara Gayle. "In college, professors have higher expectations and are serious about students completing assignments on time, attending class, and processing a good deal of information they know well enough to talk about in papers and quizzes.

Unlike high school, college freshmen have a lot more unstructured time and they do not always use it well. There is a lot more time to socialize and to get involved in other things than school work. A mid semester warning reminds students why they are at college and asks them to be more serious about their studies. It also reminds students that if they are having trouble in a particular class that their professor is the best resource."

Wojciechowski also offered some insights as to why there have been so many D/F notices recently. One reason is that Viterbo now has more students, but Wojciechowski said that this only contributes to the rise in D/F notices by a small number.

Another reason for the increase may lie in Viterbo's advancing use of technology. "Five years ago, D/Fs were submitted differently," Wojciechowski said. "The faculty would receive pink slips that they had to fill out and then send to me. We started sending slips electronically three years ago. It's easier for the faculty, and the ease of sending may be a contributing factor."

The year before the switch to sending D/Fs electronically, 207 notices were issued. The following year, after the switch had been made, 383 notices were sent.

"Some faculty members probably let a few students who were right on the edge go so they didn't have to fill out so many slips. The faculty are more liberal now, since this electronic method makes it easier to send a more honest evaluation," Wojciechowski said.

A D/F notice may be a shock to students, but it does not ruin a student's academic career. "The first step is talking to your instructor," Wojciechowski said. "He or she can help you evaluate where things are at and to make a plan. Should you drop the course? Should you withdraw? Is there time to fix things?"

There are also times when a student's D/F notice might actually be undeserved. "Sometimes there's an error," Wojciechowski said. "If you talk to your professor, you can get it cleared up."
Even though D/F notices do not permanently affect a student's grade, and can sometimes be given out by mistake, Wojciechowski cautions against not taking them seriously. "I am concerned about the students who receive multiple D/F's," Wojciechowski said. "Are they taking their academics seriously?"

This semester, 95 people have received two or more D/F notices, 69 of them have three or more. In 2008, there were 85 students who received two or more D/Fs and 57 who received three or more.
The important thing about D/F notices is that they are not a threat, but an invitation to improve, Wojciechowski said.

"I knew I needed help. I need to do something, anything, to fix my grades," said Ashley Handel, senior English major, who is just one among the 479 other students who received D/F notices this semester.

Instead of panicking, Handel made a plan to organize her classes and save her grades. "I talked to Wayne, I talked to the chair of the English department, and I talked to Jane Eddy in the Learning Center. I added more tutoring for one of my classes, and I even dropped one of the classes I was struggling with the most. Even my instructor thought it was a good idea." Handel said.
While the D/F notice is not inherently dangerous, the fact that more are sent out each year is something that concerns Wojciechowski.

"We need to show students that they are stewards of their academics," he said. "Viterbo was founded with stewardship, and if students are going to be stewards, they have to work hard to keep what they've been given. When more students see this, I think the number of D/F notices will start to go down."