The Facts: A change in University policy means students can now be suspended after their first semester if they fail to achieve a 1.0 GPA. Historically, only 7 percent of students who fail to maintain a 1.0 GPA go on to graduate.

Our Opinion: Students that perform poorly during their first year should be forced to develop a plan of work for their second semester and show improvement. Abruptly forcing them to withdraw for an entire semester might not be the best solution for student improvement.

The University has made a change to its suspension policies regarding struggling students. The new policy will allow University officials to suspend students following their first semester if they do not sustain a GPA of at least 1.0.

John Ambrose, interim dean of undergraduate programs, said the change is meant to serve as a wake-up call to students and force them to analyze their errors. The graduation rate for students in this category has historically averaged 7 percent.

Students should not be allowed to continue as-is after a lackluster performance during their first semester — the current system prohibits up to three semesters before suspension. However, forcing students to take an entire semester off after only one semester — the result of a suspension — may damage students’ future performance.

The University has an interest in maintaining quality standards and to some extent should be commended for efforts to force student development during a time when students’ undergraduate GPA is critical to post-college success.

But the first semester of college is a transitional time for many students. Capable students who require a little more assistance and aide may become discouraged by a policy removing them from the University for a semester.

A GPA less than 1.0 is typically a sign of severe sloth and lack of interest, but it is fallacious to say that a semester off would help these students reflect and find their path.

The new program gives students the ability to return after a semester away from the University and develop a plan of work with the Counseling Center to evaluate ways they can improve.

If we want to improve these troubled students’ graduation rates, the University should consider moving this advising and refocusing period forward and delaying the suspension.

Students could benefit through an immediate analysis of their errors and some guidance into the myriad resources the University offers to students, especially at the remedial level.

After a second semester of check-ups and dedicated work with a counselor who can show the students the assets available to them, the University can make a more appropriate decision on students’ focus.

If after the extra assistance, the student in question fails to show improvement then he or she hasn’t earned additional reprieve and should be shown the door. The new system of arbitrarily forcing students to take a semester off doesn’t seem to aide students, and should be reconsidered.