Keeping Stress in Check

The provost (chief academic officer) of my college sent out an email to students at the end of the Fall, 2020 semester. The only students receiving the email were those who had enrolled for fewer than sixteen credits for the Spring, 2021 semester. To stay on track to graduate in four years at our college, students should take sixteen credits per semester. The provost’s email to students was a good wake up call for them. But it also had an unintended consequence–increased stress on our students.

Who Speaks with Students Matters

The provost had every right—and the responsibility—to let students know when they might be going off track and may not graduate on time. For many students, that’s the idealized four years. Most colleges have polices about full-time status and for schools on a semester calendar, students should carry twelve credits to be full time. This is important because only full-time students receive the maximum amount of financial aid they’re eligible for. Twelve credits is the minimum, but for colleges where the majority of their courses are three credits, students should take fifteen per semester to graduate in four years. Since our classes carry four credits, students take sixteen to graduate in four years. The provost’s notification was a good reminder of this. But there are two difficulties with this. First, the provost is a powerful person, so when students receive something from him they automatically assume something bad has happened. The gentle wake up call the provost was intending suddenly took on mammoth importance. Less jarring might have been for each student’s advisor to send out this email, but I appreciated the provost’s effort.

How Serious is it?

The second difficulty is this: a student who is taking only twelve credits per semester, isn’t going to graduate from our college in four years: that’s a fact. However, a student who takes fifteen in the Spring of 2021, then plans to take either a summer course or take seventeen credits in Fall, 2021, will be perfect fine and not off-track at all. But when we look at only one semester, we could assume “uh-oh, he’s not going to make it.” When the provost’s email was sent out, I received several panicked emails from students asking if they were in trouble. The vast majority weren’t. But even going through that level of short-term stress simply wasn’t work it.

What to do Next

When you and your student realize that these stresses aren’t worth worrying about, it’s perfectly okay to relax about it. Say to yourself: “we have nothing to worry about; let’s just chill.” There is a time for academics, and a time for play on a college campus. In fact, finding balance is extremely important for students. And they won’t get there if they can’t keep little things in perspective. Please help them look at the communications like the one I referred to and other feedback they receive, such as comments on their college essays—and keeping them in perspective. That’s key to their being able to manage the challenge of finishing college with smiles on their faces. So to them—and to you—feel free to relax.