ACES Program
The College of Health and Human Sciences is committed to academic excellence in all of its endeavors; the Academic Career Enhancement for Success (ACES) program is designed to provide a structured and supportive environment for students experiencing academic difficulties. Students who are suspended from the university and either reapply for admission after spending two semesters away from SIUC or who file a petition for reinstatement from suspension must participate in the ACES program for the College to approve their readmission. All communications about the program should be conducted by email.
Application Procedures
Your current academic status will determine the exact steps you need to take to join the ACES program and rejoin CHHS. Please follow the indicated steps depending upon your situation. If you are unclear which approach to take, contact the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs for CHHS (mullinsc@siu.edu) or your academic advisor.
In addition to the other steps you need to take, you will be required to submit a narrative along with your application, which follows the rules of standard written American English, and does the following:
- Explains the troubles you had that lead to your academic difficulties and your suspension from the university. This should be as detailed as you can make it without compromising the privacy of others.
- A detailed statement of career and educational goals. Again, be as specific as possible.
- A discussion of what steps you have taken and will take to ensure that your academic goals are met. Specific plans tied to specific troubles mentioned in #1 above are important so the college knows you are better prepared to succeed.
Readmission to the University
After two semesters of separation from the university due to suspension, or if you left the university while on academic probation, you will need to:
1) Reapply to University through the Admissions office (see here: Returning or Earning a Second Bachelor's Degree | Admissions | SIU). You will need to complete both the Academic Renewal Program Application and the Application for admission. Select a major within the College of Health and Human Sciences. Be sure to send in any additional materials needed, such as new transcripts.
2) Apply to the ACES program. Submit the application form and your personal statement via email to contact the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs (mullinsc@siu.edu).
Permission of both the admissions office and the college is required for your readmission to the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Reinstatement from Suspension
If you have been suspended from the University due to poor academic performance, you may file a petition for reinstatement immediately to avoid the suspension. If you are taking this path, you must:
1) Apply to the ACES program.
2) If accepted into the program, the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs will help guide you through the reinstatement appeal process at the university level.
Note that being approved for the ACES program does not guarantee your reinstatement from suspension. That decision ultimately comes from the Provost’s office. If you are admitted to the ACES program, the college will support your petition for reinstatement and work with the Provost’s office if issues emerge (but we can not guarantee reinstatement).
The College of Health and Human Sciences will not support the petition for reinstatement of any student who fails to apply for the ACES program or is not accepted into it.
If you are accepted into the program, participation requires the following engagement activities:
1) Meeting with the CHHS Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs twice. Once when/after preparing the application to the ACES program; then again at the end of the semester.
2) Meeting with a college Recruitment and Retention Coordinator twice during the term.
3) Meeting with your academic advisor twice during the semester. Check in at the beginning of the tern and again when registration begins.
4) Studying at least 5 hours per week in the CHHS Study Hall. (Students who successfully complete the ACES program will be invited to the CHHS Incentivized Study Program, where we pay you for your study hours).
5) Seeking tutoring, academic coaching, assistance from your TAs and Professors as soon as you need their assistance.
Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs Meeting
These meetings act as a frame for your participation in the ACES program. In the first meeting, past reasons for academic failure and how to avoid similar mistakes in the future will be discussed, as will goal setting, goal attainment, and other useful topics to ensure you are prepared for the term. This meeting will happen within the first three weeks before or after the start of the semester. The second meeting will be a review of what you have accomplished in the program and discussions of how to apply what you have learned to the rest of your college career.
Recruitment and Retention Meetings
You will need to meet with a college Recruitment and Retention specialist twice during the term (around week 4 and week 12). These meetings will focus on how your academic term is progressing. Current issues you may be facing with be discussed as well as how changes you are making to your student behaviors are working out. Educational and career goals, paths for successful academic goal accomplishment, and the like will also be discussed.
Advisor
You should be meeting regularly with your academic advisor regardless of your academic status. Participating in the ACES program requires that you meet early in the semester with your advisor to develop educational goals and discuss means for achieving them. You will need to meet with your advisor again around week eight to check on your progress and register for the next term.
Study Hall Hours
All study hall hours must be completed in ASA 112, the CHHS study hall. Each student must log five (5) hours per week of study hall activity. Other tutoring or academic coaching received can be counted toward these hours at the discretion of the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs. Please inform and verify with the Associate Dean any outside activities that you seek to count. Some form of written or electronic verification will be required to count these activities as study hall time.
Grade Expectations
CHHS has expectations for your academic progress while in the ACES program. This expectation is separate from other University performance expectations (i.e., graduation, academic standing, financial aid). Your academic advisor can help you in selecting the best courses to fulfill your degree requirements and provide suggestions for courses which might increase your overall GPA.
While in the ACES program you may:
--make no grade lower than a C during the program.
--not take an INC without consulting the Associate Dean along with your instructor.
--not receive any write ups for violations of the Student Conduct Code.
--miss more than two class sessions of any of your courses (unless you experience a health crisis or something similarly serious). It is advised you save these days for family emergencies or personal illness that does not reach the level of a crisis.
Program Failure
If you fail to complete the program requirements, or violate any of the stated provisions, the college will not support petitions for reinstatement or applications for readmission from the student. Individuals that are suspended from the University during their time in the program will be removed from the program and their reinstatement, if requested, will not be supported by the college. Prior ACES program participants cannot apply to the program for a second time.