By LATRICIA NELL
The mentoring program created by the Career and Counseling Center is helping students on academic suspension return to BYU.
Since Spring term, 61 students have returned to BYU after being suspended. Only two of the returning students were dismissed again because of academic reasons.
The students were able to return because of a change in BYU suspension policy involving a mentoring system effective June of 1998.
The change granted suspended students an opportunity to return to BYU after a 12 month period, ecclesiastical endorsement and involvement in the mentoring program, said Craig Orme, an administrator of academic support.
“We are really pleased with the way the faculty has responded to the mentoring program,” Orme said.
The mentoring program helps suspended students returning to BYU and students on academic warning or probation to identify obstacles and solutions in a student’s academic career by meeting with teachers in their specific major, Orme said.
“My experience is that even some of the brightest and capable students have academic problems. It’s not a product of ability as much as it is letting other things get in the way,” Orme said.
He said the program has given teachers in each department the opportunity to work with students who need assistance.
Orme said he believes the program is a good intervention and he gives teachers a lot of credit for helping.
Orme also said he believes teachers should be recognized for mentoring students.
“Professors get accolades for teaching, they get accolades for research, but they are just expected to meet with students,” Orme said.
He said many professors already mentor students and should be recognized for their work.
Jeff Turley, professor of humanities and a member of the mentoring committee, said the mentoring program gives students the opportunity to meet one on one with a teacher who understands the specific problems in their major.
He said students have an accountability to someone who understands their situation, but is also detached enough to give advice.
“We work through possible problems in the student’s life, but it is the student’s responsibility to identify the specific problems and set goals of improvement,” Turley said.
Students who have been put on academic warning or probation are sent a letter at the end of the semester. The letter explains the student may enroll for the next semester, but before he or she may enroll beyond that, he or she must improve grades to be accepted into good academic standing and meet with a faculty mentor.
Ronald Chapman, director of the Career and Counseling Center, said the mentoring program is advantageous to students.
“The program gives students the opportunity to work with teachers that they wouldn’t have been able to work with — it is really remarkable,” Chapman said.
