At the halfway point in the semester, midterm grades are documented and (will be available to RMC students via MyMaconWeb.) It’s the moment to find out how the semester going. Are you on track for the grades you expect?

If not, midterm is the time in the semester when you might hear the term “UNSATs” or Unsatisfactory Midterm Grades. An Unsatisfactory Midterm Grade is any grade marked as a D+ or below. The goal of UNSATs to make sure students are aware when their performance in a course is below what is needed to make satisfactory academic progress. Then, of course, faculty and staff can better support students to get back on track.   

What to do if you’ve got an UNSAT 

• Speak with your professor. Office hours are for seeking one-on-one assistance and can be a good time to understand what it would take to improve your overall grade. Your academic advisor and/or the professor teaching your course are both resources to help you navigate your academic journey.
• Get help! Tutoring services are free of charge in the Higgins Academic Center (HAC). If a student has had a grade(s) below C- at the midterm, they will likely hear from the HAC to offer them help.   
• Keep mental health in mind. It’s perfectly normal to experience distress from midterm grades. Parents—keep in mind this is true whether your student tells you or not! Studies show that positive encouragement reminding students to view a low grade as a learning opportunity rather than a failure can improve self-confidence and lead to improved academic performance.  
• In some circumstances, withdrawing from a course might be the best option if your grade cannot be salvaged even with support. An academic advisor or the College’s Registrar can offer guidance and support to help decide. 

No UNSATs? Great! Remember that WIP means “work in progress.”  WIP means you are earning a C- or better at the time midterm grades were reported. Grades of C- or better are not reported at the midterm. However, let this be a reminder that grades below a C- are cause for attention, but they may not be cause for alarm. Do these grades reflect multiple assignments or just one? Have you had any additional work returned since the midterm to help you assess your standing in these courses? These are mitigating factors that might be considered.

Academic support resources through the Higgins Academic Center

• Accountability Groups: Students gather with a HAC professional for 90-minutes to work on anything from goal setting, planning, brainstorming, and advice. This time provides students with a structured space to complete assignments.   
• Peer Academic Coaches: (PAC) are available free to any RMC student. PAC are individually tailored, one-on-one coaches whose sole purpose is to help students improve their habits and establish an academic success plan. 
• Peer Tutoring: When you’re struggling with the course material, the help of a fellow student can be a game changer. This focused time with a peer who’s mastered the assignment is available free, and in nearly every subject area taught at RMC.  
• Public Speaking Tutors: Students can expect to give at least one major presentation in most of their classes, so fear of public speaking can have a serious impact on their academic performance. RMC offers free public speaking tutors available to provide advice, support, and practice to their fellow students in a low-stakes, low-stress environment.