Policy for BUILD Program Participation

I.  BUILD REQUIREMENTS

ACADEMICS:

Student transcripts are reviewed at the end of each semester by their BUILD Training Director. Students are expected to maintain at least a 3.0 term GPA and receive grades of A or B in all major courses as well as the BUILD Learning Community (LC) course. Failure to maintain these grades may result in additional requirements for students or separation from the program. This expectation is in place to ensure the student remains a competitive candidate for graduate programs and that participation in BUILD does not negatively interfere with their degree progress. Student files are reviewed holistically and decisions will be made on a case by case basis prior to the start of the following semester.

RESEARCH:

Students are expected to complete necessary trainings prior to beginning work in their Research Mentor’s program/lab. During the summer, students should be fully committed to work ≈30 hours per week in their Research Mentor’s program/lab. During the academic year, students should put in an average of 15 hours per week (with a minimum of 10 hours). Research Mentors submit an Assessment at the end of each semester (summer, fall, spring) outlining their student’s engagement and progress during the term.

The BUILD Summer Undergraduate Research Gateway to Excellence (SURGE) Program is considered a student evaluation period. Continuation into fall is contingent upon the following criteria:

  1. Meeting expectations during the SURGE Program.
    • Determined by Training Director/Graduate Mentor review of syllabus requirements e.g., attendance, participation, assignments, etc.
  2. Satisfactory progress in the BUILD Research Mentor program/lab and completing requirements.
    • Determined by Research Mentor’s Assessment and activity log “research” hours.
  3. Academic performance during the semester prior to entering BUILD as described above.
    • Determined by transcript review

II.  IDENTIFICATION OF STUDENTS NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

This identification is an internal process for the program and is not listed on a student’s transcript.

ACADEMICS:

A BUILD student will be provided additional support if the term GPA is below a 3.0 or they receive multiple Cs, a D, or F in major or BUILD required courses including LC. A BUILD student may be identified if they receive a C, W, or I in major or BUILD required courses including LC. With this assistance, a student will be expected to receive a term GPA at or above 3.0 and all As and Bs in major or BUILD required courses including LC during the intervention semester to continue in the BUILD program.

RESEARCH:

A BUILD student will be provided additional support if they receive a poor assessment from their Research Mentor as a result of their research performance. Once the issues identified in the assessment are communicated and support interventions occur, the student will then be expected to receive a satisfactory assessment from their Research Mentor during the next semester to continue in the BUILD program.

Once a decision regarding additional interventions has been made, the Training Director assigned to the student will send an email notification to the student and Research Mentor (copy Student Training Core (STC) Director and program coordinator) letting them know of the decision. The TD will determine which actions the student is required to take outlined in Section III below.

III.  ADDITIONAL SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS

The student is required to take additional actions to improve their academic or research performance during the intervention semester including three or more of the following as determined by the Training Director (TD) assigned to the student:

  1. Intake meeting with the BUILD TD to: 1) discover the root of issue, 2) develop a plan of action including the development of at least one “SMART” goal and identify next steps (e.g. recommending other meetings listed below for the student to have to get help), and 3) remind students of the consequences of not increasing academic or research performance.
    • Meeting with major advisor – discuss approaches to improve academic performance, complete form and submit to BUILD TD
    • Meeting with major course instructor(s) – discuss approaches to improve academic performance, complete form and submit to BUILD TD
    • Meeting(s) with BUILD Research Mentor to discuss academic or research performance; may involve a plan to revise research effort and/or academic effort
  2. Additional meeting(s) with the BUILD TD or GM (if student chooses) to check in on success of the intervention plan.

Students facing academic difficulties will be discouraged from taking more than 14 units in a semester including LC and directed research units.

IV.  OUTCOME OF SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS

At the end of the intervention semester, the student transcript and Research Mentor Assessment will be reviewed by their BUILD Training Director with the following possible outcomes:

  1. A student will show evidence of satisfactory improvements in response to the intervention(s). These include obtaining a term GPA at or above 3.0 with all As and Bs in major classes and the LC, satisfactory participation in LC, completion of all steps outlined by BUILD TD in Section III above, and a satisfactory assessment (grade B or above) from the Research Mentor.
  2. If a student is unable to raise their grades and subsequent term GPA (for those with academic interventions) or improve their research performance to the satisfaction of their mentor (for those with research performance interventions), or does not complete the required steps outlined in Section III during the intervention semester, a Student Evaluation (Section V) will be performed to determine if the student will continue in the BUILD program.
  3. If a student shows successful improvement (item ‘a’ above), but subsequently meets the criteria for intervention once again after a subsequent semester, a Student Evaluation (Section V) will be performed to determine if the student will continue in the program.

V.  STUDENT EVALUATION PROCESS

The Training Director assigned to the student will initiate the Evaluation Process. The TD should have a meeting with the student and when possible with the student’s Research Mentor (either separately or together) to gather all specifics for evaluation referral. The TD will bring the referral to the BUILD Leadership for discussion where a final decision will be made based on group consensus.

When a student is referred for additional evaluation, the student’s continuation in the BUILD program is evaluated holistically on the basis of:

  1. academic performance and progress,
  2. potential graduate program/research success,
  3. evidence of determination to succeed, and
  4. ability of the student to succeed considering their individual circumstances.

The following will be reviewed to make a holistic decision:

  1. Full transcript (all terms, course load, past, and future courses)
  2. Potential as a graduate applicant including summer research programs, GRE scores, etc.
  3. Potential as a researcher including professional presentations, publications
  4. Commitment to academic success and timely graduation (i.e. degree progress)
  5. Commitment to BUILD goals of pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. program and a research career after graduation
  6. Research Mentor feedback/support/work accomplished
  7. LC participation and performance
  8. Prior intervention status
  9. Students’ stage in the BUILD program
  10. Stage in the semester (when possible, decisions should be made prior to the start of the semester)
  11. Consideration of any extenuating circumstances (e.g. illness, family or financial needs)

If the outcome of the Student Evaluation recommends additional interventions, the process will continue as in Section III above. If the outcome of the Student Evaluation results in removal from the BUILD program, see Section VI below.

VI.  REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM

If the outcome of the Student Evaluation results in removal from the BUILD program, it will be conveyed to the student and the Research Mentor by the STC Director and the separation process will be initiated by the program coordinator.

At any time, a student may be removed from BUILD without additional interventions if it is determined by the BUILD Leadership that circumstances identified during the Student Evaluation Process warrant it. For example, if CSULB codes of conduct have been violated (e.g. sexual harassment, bullying, cheating, etc.).

At any time, a student may be removed from BUILD without additional interventions if it is determined by the BUILD Leadership that a student has not complied with the BUILD Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

VII.  STUDENT APPEALS

BUILD students may appeal their removal from the program in the case of a negative Student Evaluation; this will only be granted in situations where the student can verify that incorrect information was used in the Student Evaluation process or where one or more steps in the Student Evaluation above were not adhered to appropriately. Appeals must be made to the STC Director within two weeks of the original notification.

VIII.  GLOSSARY

  • STC: Student Training Core
  • TD: Training Director
  • GM: Graduate Mentor
  • LC: Learning Community
  • BUILD Leadership: Consists of STC Director, TDs, and BUILD Principal Investigators

Last Updated: 1.17.19