Appreciative Advising: Retaining Academic Probation Students

Abstract

The recent implementation of the Appreciative Advising framework in the Academic Review and Retention Office at the University of Southern California (USC) has led to a significant decrease in the number of undergraduates who are involuntarily withdrawn (academically disqualified) from the university at the end of every Fall and Spring semester. Two mandatory Appreciative Advising meetings with an Academic Review Counselor per semester are required of all academic probation students. During the meetings, the six intrusive phases of Appreciative Advising are incorporated. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the implementation of the Appreciative Advising framework as a tool to retain students by helping them overcome academic probation.