Academic Turnaround Program

We're here to help - our academic turnaround program and academic development specialist (ADS) will provide the tools and support you need.

What is the Academic Turnaround Program (ATP)?

Haskayne’s Academic Turnaround Program partners with students who have received a Required to Withdraw (RTW) ruling to navigate a return to good academic standing. Our weekly seminar series and bi-weekly check-ins are designed with a student-first approach that looks beyond grades and aligns with our commitment to co-creating a culture where everyone is respected and valued, and where students build the foundation for life-changing educational experiences.

A female student in a classroom

To anyone else who has recently gotten their ATP letter, you are not alone in this. Once you start and engage with the program, then you will be able to work towards both personal and academic success!”

-ATP Alumni

How to get started

Review your options

  • Option 1: Accept or decline ATP invitation or
  • Option 2: Consider a change in program or
  • Option 3: Request a leave of absence

Confirm your next steps

Email your ADS before the deadline to confirm your path forward. Let them know if you are:

  • Accepting or declining your invitation to ATP
  • Considering a change of program
  • Requesting a leave of absence  

Reduce your course load

  • 3 courses (9 units) maximum in Fall and Winter
  • 1 course (3 units) maximum in Spring and Summer
  • No classes on Friday mornings (9:30–11 am)

Complete the intake form

  • Complete our intake form
  • Book your intake interview with your ADS

Attend your online intake interview

  • Meet your ADS for your first one-on-one session over the summer
  • Develop one personal goal and one academic goal for Fall and Winter
  • Identify and connect with campus resources before the term begins!

Pay the ATP fee

Pay your $500 ATP fee

Attend seminars and book one-on-ones

  • Attend Friday morning seminars and book your bi-weekly one-on-ones
  • Accept all seminar and bi-weekly meeting invites via Outlook, so you never miss a session!

Complete the program

ATP is a participatory program. Your active engagement in all components is essential to your continued success and ensures you meet the criteria to continue in your BComm.

Being part of ATP aided me in committing to self-improvement, the one-on-one meetings with the ADS helped me understand the root cause of my struggles, the seminars taught me skills that I needed for success, and my fellow ATP participants and I supported each other, creating lasting friendships.

-ATP alumni

Seminar Series and Bi-Weekly check-ins

Both components are facilitated by Haskayne’s Academic Development Specialist (ADS).

10 weekly group seminars

Example seminar topics:

  • Becoming a flexible learner
  • Leaning into a growth mindset
  • The gratitude habit
  • Strategic planning and organization
  • Time management and personal values
  • Coping without procrastination
  • Making the most of your study sessions
  • Managing test anxiety
  • Increasing flow
  • Academic Resilience

Bi-weekly one-on-one check ins

  • Identifying your Needs

    We work together to discover the academic and personal barriers in your way. You will learn how to advocate for yourself and implement what you need to move from Required to Withdraw back to Good Standing.

  • Focusing on Solutions

    We focus on your strengths and what is already working. You take the lead in creating an academic and personal plan that builds confidence and helps you stay on track.

  • Documenting your Success

    We use two reflective journals to help document your progress. Your meetings with your ADS are a consistent, supportive space to share how you are learning, celebrate your successes and acknowledge how far you’ve come!

Skills you will gain

Haskayne’s ATP is designed to help you move from strategy to results by focusing on three core areas:

Adaptive Mindset and Resilience

Develop the tools to manage stress, identify setbacks and pivot when plans change.

Relevant Seminars: Becoming a Flexible Learner, Leaning into a Growth Mindset, The Gratitiude Habit, Academic Resilience.

Action and Application

Master evidence-based study strategies, address procrastination and learn how to reach a state of flow for proactive and efficient study sessions.

Related Seminars: Coping without Procrastination, Making the Most of Your Study Sessions, Increasing Flow, Managing Test Anxiety

Purposeful Planning and Organization

Build sustainable systems that integrate campus resources, support your academic schedule and reflect your personal values.

Related Seminars: Strategic Planning and Organization, Time Management and Personal Values, Academic Resilience.

Meet your Academic Development Specialist (ADS)

Susan Basudde is a Registered Social Worker with 20 years of experience in social services and over a decade at the Haskayne School of Business.

Her practice bridges the gap between psychosocial well-being and academic persistence, providing students with a holistic support system.

Through a solution-focused lens, Susan offers direct support and one-on-one wellness sessions to address academic and personal challenges, identify and navigate institutional barriers to success and foster a resilient learning identity.

Email Susan

ADS - Susan Basude

FAQs

Yes, you should contact your ADS immediately. If you have not communicated your intention by:

  1. Accepting the ATP the invitation by email or
  2. Declining your ATP invitation or
  3. Requesting a change in program or a Leave of Absence (LOA)

You will be withdrawn from your program and removed from all courses you are currently registered in. Your transcript will reflect the ‘required to withdraw’ ruling.

As per the Faculty Regulations on Required to Withdraw Students, you will be eligible to reapply to the University of Calgary after one year. To be considered for readmission you must meet the admission standards for your chosen degree program.

Yes, and you must communicate your intentions with your ADS as soon as possible before your ATP invitation deadline.  You may take up to 1 year off from your studies before entering ATP.

The program fee of $500 will be applied to your Student Centre at the beginning of the fall semester and can be paid through the same process as your regular class tuition. The deadline to pay this fee without incurring interest is by the fee deadline. This is in line with your UCalgary tuition fee payment schedule. Students taking time off will be required to pay their program fee the semester they return to their studies.

Please contact your ADS immediately to discuss further.

Course limits are set in place to support students in a successful turnaround.

Yes – block week counts towards your course limit.

As all seminars are a mandatory component of ATP, it is important to adjust your class schedule accordingly. Contact your Program Specialists for assistance in creating your schedule.

If you can’t attend the seminar on any given week, contact your ADS. Note that missed seminars will impact your ability to successfully complete ATP.

As bi-weekly one-on-ones are a mandatory component of ATP, are based on your availability and are scheduled months in advance, it is important to adjust other events to accommodate this obligation. Contact your ADS as soon as you know there is a conflict so arrangements can be made.

Arriving late to seminars means missing a substantial amount of content and is disruptive to the group process. If you are over 10 minutes, you will be marked absent.

  • Bi-weekly one-on-ones are only 45 minutes. When you arrive 15 minutes late and have not emailed your ADS to let them know, you will be marked as a NO SHOW.  
  • Arriving late means missing critical weekly updates and does not allow for us to review the previous week and plan for future activities.
  • Email your ADS if you are running late so they can shift the agenda as needed!