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<p>It sounds like he is not taking the same courses this semester…probably because he made his spring schedule before he knew the outcome of fall. Therefore, it’s unlikely he will be able to achieve a 2.0 cum gpa this semester. You need to get more information on what his status is right now, how long he has to achieve the minimum gpa requirement, and what programs the school offers/mandates for students on probation/intervention. Also, if financial aid is in play, find out what the effect on that will be.</p>
<p>You should probably look into summer classes to replace some of those grades asap. The SUNY Learning Network is a good place to start as most SUNY credits transfer easily within the system.</p>
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<p>Yes, class attendance can greatly influence grades. Most of my kids’ (SUNY) profs have info clearly spelled out in the syllabus so your S should know whether missing 3 classes will result in a full letter grade reduction. Missing quizzes and exams is definitely a serious problem as there are often only 2-3 exams given in a semester and they usually account for a large percentage of the grade.</p>
<p>If it were my son (and I have one who ended up with 2 D’s first semester), I would be very specific about my expectations (particularly attendance), clear on the consequences, and cautious about accepting verbal assurances that all is well academically. Some posters have had their kids sign written agreements and, while I haven’t done that, I think that does help bring all of the elements together. He can recover from this but he has to make a commitment to do so and understand that college is not like high school.</p>