Academic Probation and Disqualification

Time Management

• Prioritizing your tasks by sorting them into groups (1's, 2's, 3's) can help with time management. The tasks you categorized as 1's should be completed first. 
• Decide how much time a task or assignment is going to take and how much energy you need. Schedule in an allotted time to complete the task (e.g. laundry for 2 hours, writing a paper for 1 hour).
• Regularly planning time to relax and organize your thoughts can help you when you are busy. 
• Allow extra time for UnForseen Obstacles (UFOs). Leaving time for last minute events or obligations can help ease anxieties and stressors in a busy schedule (e.g. leave an hour open before class to print an assignment or grab coffee). 
• Utilize free time for floating tasks, or things you can do anywhere at any time (e.g. carry around a book you need to read for class, or note cards to review for an exam). 
• Check out the Time Management Schedules for useful calendars to use during the quarter.

Balance

• Make sure to prioritize self-care. This can be something you already do that makes you happy and gives you an outlet for expression and relaxation (e.g. exercising, waking up early, painting, going to the beach, connecting with friends).
• Set boundaries for yourself. If your job asking you to work every day of the week, but you only want to work two days, set that boundary. You know yourself best. Take time for yourself and your school work. 
• Remember you are a student first. It can be fun getting involved, but try not to over commit. Find one or two opportunities on campus that you are passionate about and stick to those. 
• You are human. Things come up and sometimes you have to put yourself before your commitments. Make sure to communicate with others and set boundaries so that you can focus on what is most important: you.

Test Taking

• Write down all the formulas or key points at the beginning of an exam so you do not forget. 
• Bring water or a snack so you can fuel your body while taking an exam. 
• Sit in the front of the room so you do not see others come and go. This helps minimize distractions!
• Get a good night's rest before taking an exam. All-nighters tend to increase lack of focus and understanding. 

Study Skills

• Limit your use of social media when studying for an exam or completing an assignment. Block certain sites, put your phone in "do not disturb" mode, or delete apps that are distracting. 
• Change up your study spot. Find a different place to study so that your brain doesn't associate one specific place with studying. Instead of going to the library, try a new coffee shop or sit outside. 
• Rewrite your notes by hand or find someone to "teach" the material to. 
• Use the 5 Minutes Rule. If you tell yourself to focus on the material for just 5 minutes, studies show that your brain will stay focused and you will keep studying after 5 minutes. 
• Check out the Academic Skills Center and Writing and Learning Initiatives

Motivation

• Staying motivated, especially when things get challenging, can be difficult when we have a lot on our plate. As a student, it is important you stay focused on your long term goal: graduation. To do this, you can set smaller, more attainable goals to help keep you motivated. These are called SMART goals (see Step 4). 
• Often times we are more likely to complete a task if we have an incentive. You can motivate yourself by creating an incentive that you will receive after the task is complete. (e.g. Going on a trip or buying a new outfit once you finish the quarter.)

Personal Wellbeing

• Put yourself first. You can not be your best self if you are not taking care of your personal wellbeing. 
• If you are struggling with any of the following, click on the links for more information on campus resources that can help:
  • Disability
  • Substance Use
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition
  • Personal Crisis
  • Sexual Assault
  • Finances

Getting Connected

• Finding a community on campus can be tough, especially when you are so busy. Luckily, getting connected is super easy!
• Join a study group, find a club, or introduce yourself to a new classmate every quarter. Each of these strategies can help you quickly build a community here at Cal Poly and make your journey through undergrad a little more fun. 
• Reach out to different departments to find resources that could be of value to you. 

Physical Wellbeing

• Just like your personal wellbeing, your physical wellbeing is extremely important. For our bodies to function at their best capacity, we need to be healthy. 
• Make sure you are drinking water throughout the day, eating a balanced diet, and getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. 
• Our bodies are made to move, so if you find yourself feeling tired or sluggish, step away from studying and go for a walk. The movement (and fresh air!) will help your body reset. 
• Similarly, getting regular exercise is beneficial to our overall wellbeing. Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day has many health benefits and is very important for the overall function of our bodies.
• Often times students will skip the gym to hang out with friends or do school work, but you can do both! Ask a friend to go on a hike, or read your notes while you run on the treadmill. Multi-tasking is a great skill to practice!  

Major Fit

• Sometimes the reason students are struggling in their classes is because their major is not a good fit for them, and that is okay! You are encouraged to explore other options, both inside and outside of engineering.
• Talk with an Engineering Student Services advisor, connect with a Career Counselor at Career Services, or talk to professors in majors that interest you. 
• If you are questioning your major, this is a great time for self-reflection. Think about your goals and your interests. Are there certain qualities about your major that you like or dislike? Does your desired career path allow for you to have the personal life you want? These are all important things to be thinking about as you earn your bachelor's degree. 
• This process can be overwhelming, and might even feel discouraging. Know that you are not alone and if you want to talk to someone, ESS is open to all questions and concerns, just send us an email at eadvise@calpoly.edu. 

• Undergraduate students may repeat  a maximum of 16 units at Cal Poly for purposes of improving GPA.
• A course taken at Cal Poly or at another university or college may be repeated at Cal Poly with the new grade reported along with the prior grade.
• If the second grade is equal to or higher than the first, then the grade earned by repeating the course will replace the quality points, quality hours, and earned hours which were previously earned.
• The original grade is "forgiven" from the GPA computation, but both grades appear on the student's permanent record (transcript). 
• Effective Summer 2007, any course is eligible for grade forgiveness one time only. Repeated attempts will be averaged in the student's GPA up to 18 units.

• What is a SMART goal?
  • Specific: Your goal is direct, detailed and meaningful.
  • Measurable: Your goal is quantifiable to track your progress. 
  • Attainable: Your goal is realistic and you have the tools and/or resources to attain it. 
  • Relevant: Your goal is important to you and your interests. 
  • Timely: Your goal has a deadline and you use this timeframe to stay on track.
• What is an example of a SMART goal? 
  • Specific: I want to read 12 books this year.
  • Measurable: I will read one book a month.
  • Attainable: I will read 1 hour at lunch and 1 hour before bed.
  • Relevant: I enjoy reading and want to do some leisurely. 
  • Timely: If I read one book a month, I will finish in one year.