In the author's role as an academic dean, she frequently meets with students on probation who have not yet learned how to fail and are consequently paralyzed academically. One of the most pivotal skills for a student who wishes to succeed in the academic arena is the ability to fail well. "Good failing" requires the strength to make use of a…

The number of minority, particularly Latino, students attending community colleges is on the rise in the United States. Such students frequently lack academic preparation and financial resources. These difficulties, when added to family obligations, often require that minority students attend institutions that offer the most flexible…

A three-stage model of academic probation that addresses cognitive, affective, behavioral, and environmental factors is presented. Stages examine precursors to probation (factors inhibiting student performance), reactions to being placed on probation, and coping strategies that predict long-term consequences. A key assumption is that student…