Academic Achievement & Access
If you are experiencing academic difficulty in a course, there are many support services available to you. We suggest that you take the following steps:
- Make an appointment with your instructor to discuss your status in the course, to develop a realistic assessment of how you are doing, and to begin outlining a plan to improve your performance.
- Meet with an advisor to discuss the concerns raised by your faculty and get information about existing resources that are available to you. You may also want to discuss whether the issues that are surfacing in one course exist in other courses to get a greater understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses and how to best address the areas of concern.
- Depending on your area of concern, seek out assistance through the Counseling Center, the Multicultural Center, the Center for International Students and Scholars, or the Athletics Center.
- Seek out help through Bentley’s Academic Resources
- For those of you who would like to discuss your academic concerns or would like additional help in sorting out your academic needs, you are encouraged to meet with Leslie Doolittle, Assistant Dean for Academic Achievement & Access. You can schedule appointment with Leslie via email.
- If you are debating whether or not to withdraw from a course, be mindful of the University's deadlines (which can be found on the Registrar’s web site), and discuss the pro’s and con’s with your advisor. Remember the following considerations:
To maintain full-time status, you must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits.
- International students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits to maintain visa status. (If there are extenuating circumstances, you should contact the Center for International Students and Scholars, in Student Center 350, to discuss obtaining special permission to drop below the minimum.
- If you drop below 12 credits, financial aid, on-campus housing, and health insurance coverage may be affected. You should check with the Office of Financial Assistance, the Residential Center, and your health insurer to ask about implications.
- Pre-requisite satisfaction and course registration for subsequent semesters may be affected.
Academic Resources
Faculty Office Hours
The majority of Bentley faculty hold weekly office hours, which are listed on the course syllabus and posted in the department. If you cannot meet with the instructor during posted office hours, please email your faculty member to see if you can make alternative arrangements.
Office hours are a great opportunity to talk with your faculty member one-on-one. You can utilize office hours to discuss challenges you are having with the course material, ask questions about an assignment, or build a relationship with your faculty.