FAQs
Success or Academic Advisor: What's the difference?
Your Success Advisor can help you enhance your academic skills, connect you to campus resources, increase your self-confidence, and help you discover new skills and motivation to assist you along the path to graduation. We will help you reflect on your strengths and challenges, goals and encourage self-awareness. Your meetings with a Success Advisor are part of an interactive and supportive relationship where you can discuss academic success strategies and resources relating to time management, test anxiety, note-taking, stress management, goal-setting and academic success!
How do I make or change an appointment?
Schedule via your the Advising Portal on your CSUMB Student Dashboard, or call our front desk at 831-582-3937, leave your name, student ID # and phone number and they will call you back to schedule an appointment at your convenience. You will need to schedule your appointment at least 24 hours in advance.
Does the Student Success Center work with all students?
Yes! We work with all undergraduate students, regardless of your academic standing. We encourage you to be proactive and seek assistance before you get into academic trouble!
Questions About Academic Standing and "Back On Track"
Graduate students should refer to the Graduate Studies website: https://csumb.edu/graduate-studies/graduate-studies/student-resources/
Undergraduate Academic Standing: Academic standing is based upon your cumulative CSUMB GPA (and your all-college cumulative GPA). If you did had a few rough semesters, but did well last semester, you might still be on probation based on your cumulative GPA, but if you keep up the good work you will get your GPA up above 2.00 soon.
Academic Probation: CSUMB or all-college GPA <2.0 but above the level for Academic Disqualification
Academic Disqualification (after Spring semester) or Subject to Disqualification (after fall semester:
Freshmen (<30 credits earned): GPA <1.50
Sophomores (30-59 credits earned) GPA < 1.75
Juniors: (60-89 credits earned) GPA <1.85
Seniors (90 or more credits earned) GPA <1.95The status of "Subject to Disqualification" after fall semester means you are still eligible to enroll, and have one more semester to improve your GPA above the levels specified above. CSUMB does not disqualify students after fall semester.
The status of "Academic Disqualification" after spring semester means that you will be disenrolled from CSUMB unless you submit a disqualification appeal. Refer to https://csumb.edu/css/academic-disqualification/
Please refer section 5 of the Academic Standing Policy for more information
If your CSUMB GPA is below 2.0 and your academic standing is "Academic Probation" or "Subject to Disqualification" or "Academic Probation Continued" you need to complete the Back on Track process in the first half of the next semester. Academic Probation and "Subject to Disqualification" are warnings that you need to improve your GPA or run the risk of getting Academically Disqualified (involuntarily dis-enrolled from CSUMB) if there is no improvement.
The Back on Track process is designed to help you feel comfortable using the free CSUMB resources that will help you succeed at CSUMB.
When you meet with a Success Advisor, you will discuss your academic and personal strengths, challenges and goals. The Success Advisor will also help you formulate some goals that you want to accomplish and we will track your progress to help you ensure you have a successful semester. Think of us as your personal academic coach and cheerleader!
Cooperative Learning Center - tutoring and academic support in class subjects Cooperative Learning Center
Personal Growth and Counseling Center
Center for Advising, Career and Student Success
Student Disability and Accessibility Center (SDAC)
For additional resources, please review the CSUMB website here: https://csumb.edu/academics/academic-support-services
If your GPA is below 2.0, it is essential that you do well in your classes in the upcoming semester, and not overload and produce more stress.
We recommend taking no more than 4 courses if your GPA is below 2.0. Being successful in ALL of your classes next semester is important for financial aid eligibility as well as for getting back into "Good Standing" (GPA >2.0) academically.
Please consult with your Academic Advisor to make sure you have the best for you class schedule and are repeating classes you need to repeat to stay on track.
Meet with your Success Advisor to develop study strategies and time management strategies.
Remember- You should plan to spend 2 hours studying outside of class for each course credit. Taking 12 credits means 24 hours time outside of class.
Financial Aid processes and eligibility rules and processes are separate from your academic standing.
Please refer to the Financial Aid Eligibility website - in particularly the "SAP" section - to get more information on the multiple requirements for financial aid eligibility.
You may be required to complete their "SAP Appeal" workshop and process to retain your Financial Aid eligiblity, as well as complete the "Back on Track" process to be eligible to enroll for the upcoming semester.
Financial Aid also limits the number of times that financial aid will pay for a course in which you earned a D- or above. If you have questions, please consult with your financial aid counselor or your Student Success Advisor.
Yes, in fact, this is often the quickest way for undergraduates* to improve their GPA. You should meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss specific course requirements and which courses to repeat, and also be aware of the course repeat policy in 6.20 of the Academic Standing Policy.
You can repeat up to 16 credits for grade forgiveness (the higher of two grades counts in your GPA; the lower grade is excluded from your GPA, but still shows on your transcript). You may only repeat a course ONE TIME for "grade forgiveness.
If you need to take a course a third time, you will need to submit an undergraduate course repeat petition, and the third attempt will be averaged in your GPA.
You may repeat up to 12 additional credits, but those credits will be averaged in your GPA.
Financial Aid also has limits on course repeats. Please refer to https://csumb.edu/financialaid/eligibility/
*Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, and all attempts on a course are averaged- Grade forgiveness is not allowed.
Under federal privacy laws, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we do not disclose academic information to your parents/guardian unless you, the student provides written consent. The student will need to fill out the online "Authorization to Release" form located on the Registar's "Forms" page. Students need to indicate which types of information can be released, and to whom. Students may wish to authorize a parent to have access to financial information, or to be involved in conversations with Student Disability and Accessibility Center, but not have access to other types of information.