Turning Point Program

Many students experience some form of academic difficulty during their college career. At Bradley, undergraduate students whose difficulty has resulted in first-time academic probation are required to participate in the Turning Point Program (TPP). The Turning Point Program’s mission is to assist first-time probation students as they work to regain good academic standing.

Program participants will complete the following mandatory steps:

  1. Participants will be automatically enrolled into AEP 115 10. Shortly thereafter, students will also be assigned to a specific TPP Coach when they are added to a specific lab section of AEP 115 (these sections are designated with letters on your schedule visible in Webster, for example "AEP 115 A").
  2. Complete an online course that explains academic probation and Turning Point Program requirements (this is in Sakai).
  3. Submit your semester grade goals early in the semester to your TPP Coach (through Sakai).
  4. Submit your post-midterm grade report to your TPP Coach (through Sakai).
  5. Attend two Student Success Workshops during the semester.
  6. Meet with a TPP Coach each time an appointment is requested or at any point you would like to discuss your progress, questions, or concerns.

At the end of the semester, you will receive a Pass or Fail grade for this 0-hour course based upon whether or not you completed each of the required components above. This grade will become part of your academic record, but it will not factor into your grade point average (GPA).

TPP Coaches are meant to be additional resources for you. They will help you identify areas for improvement and strategies for being a successful college student. We recognize that the circumstances that affect students' academic performance vary from student to student, so it is important that you meet with your TPP Coach in order to identify the best resources and tools that will best assist you in your academic recovery.

What does it mean to be on Probation?

All students with a Bradley cumulative GPA below a 2.0 are placed on some form of probation. Students in TPP must achieve a semester GPA of at least 2.25 or move their cumulative GPA to 2.0 or above to continue at Bradley. Please refer to the Undergraduate Scholastic Probation, Dismissal, and Forgiveness Policies section of the Undergraduate Catalog for more details.

Advice from peers who have been there

You definitely shouldn't think that you aren't smart because you're on academic probation. One thing that my advisor always told me was that if you are smart enough to meet the entry requirements at Bradley, you are smart enough to succeed in college. Some people just have a harder time than others.

Don't be upset with yourself because you are on academic probation. Personally, I look back on myself being on probation as a positive experience that changed my life for the better. If I had the opportunity to go back in time and change me being on academic probation, I wouldn't do it because I have learned so much and grown greatly as a person throughout my journey.

You shouldn't feel alone just because you are on academic probation. You have a great support system that is here to help you, and the people in this support system really do want to help you, they want you to be the best student that you can be!

What happens if I am dismissed?

If you are dismissed, you must petition for reinstatement. Obtain a petition and get more information about reinstatement.

For more information regarding the Turning Point Program contact the Academic Success Center at (309) 677-2416 or success@bradley.edu.