Tips for students facing the possibility of discontinuation

Source: https://aas.hku.hk/discon/ Parent: https://aas.hku.hk/apply-scholarships/

What should I do when facing the possibility of discontinuation?\

Take initiative to seek help and advice from your adviser
Tell them your worries and concerns
Explore with your advisers adaptive ways to take care of themselves during this difficult time
Think about other study options and weigh the pros/cons with them
Take constructive actions and appropriate compensatory measures, instead of avoiding
Do remember that your health and wellbeing are very crucial. Reach out to the counsellor at CEDARS-CoPE, when you feel hopeless, depressed or even suicidal.
Last but not least, remember “One door closes, another opens!”

What should I do when facing the possibility of discontinuation?\

Take initiative to seek help and advice from your adviser
Tell them your worries and concerns
Explore with your advisers adaptive ways to take care of themselves during this difficult time
Think about other study options and weigh the pros/cons with them
Take constructive actions and appropriate compensatory measures, instead of avoiding
Do remember that your health and wellbeing are very crucial. Reach out to the counsellor at CEDARS-CoPE, when you feel hopeless, depressed or even suicidal.
Last but not least, remember “One door closes, another opens!”

Invited to review meeting with the Faculty Review Committee \ on Student Performance and Discontinuation (FRC)\ \ After being requested to attend FRC:\

Arrange meeting with your Faculty Academic Adviser to seek prompt advice
Be open and share your thoughts with your adviser
Self-reflect / evaluate on your situation, look into the possible/real causes of your study problems and how the issues might be interrelated
Develop an action plan with the adviser to address your issues and study difficulties (you may make reference to our “back on track” worksheet)
Make use of university learning support and community resources (e.g. counselling, financial aids, language support, etc.) if needed
Prepare the supporting documents for submission (e.g. medical certificate, support letter(s))
Submit personal statement, study plan and other relevant documentations ON TIME, attend the meeting in person and pay attention to your email inbox so that you can respond to the email communications from Faculty/Department promptly

Invited to review meeting with the Faculty Review Committee \ on Student Performance and Discontinuation (FRC)\ \ After being requested to \ attend FRC:\

Arrange meeting with your Faculty Academic Adviser to seek prompt advice
Be open and share your thoughts with your adviser
Self-reflect / evaluate on your situation, look into the possible/real causes of your study problems and how the issues might be interrelated
Develop an action plan with the adviser to address your issues and study difficulties (you may make reference to our “back on track” worksheet)
Make use of university learning support and community resources (e.g. counselling, financial aids, language support, etc.) if needed
Prepare the supporting documents for submission (e.g. medical certificate, support letter(s))
Submit personal statement, study plan and other relevant documentations ON TIME, attend the meeting in person and pay attention to your email inbox so that you can respond to the email communications from Faculty/Department promptly

Recommended to continue to study\ \ Work hard to improve your academic performance:\

Define short term/long term goals
Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting of your academic progress
Fine-tune your study plan, if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals

Recommended to continue to study\ \ Work hard to improve your academic performance:\

Define short term/long term goals
Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting of your academic progress
Fine-tune your study plan, if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals

Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\ (Option 1)\ \ Voluntary withdrawal \ Procedures for withdrawal:\

A student who wants to withdraw from the University officially must complete the “Withdrawal of Study Form” which can be downloaded from http://www.ase.hku.hk/ (under the last Section of “Guidelines and Forms”) and return the completed form to the student’s home Faculty Office.
Upon withdrawal from the University, you are required to surrender the Student Registration Card to your Faculty Office.
Transcript will show voluntary withdrawal from studies, without specifying the reasons behind such as unsatisfactory performance or recommendation for discontinuation
Easier (compare to the case of discontinuation) to gain admission or apply for transfer of credits earned at HKU to another university
Eligible for application for readmission to the same curriculum at HKU in future, which is not allowed for students who are discontinued from their studies
Forgo the chance of being allowed to continue your study by CoD

Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\ (Option 1)\ \ Voluntary withdrawal \ Procedures for withdrawal:\

A student who wants to withdraw from the University officially must complete the “Withdrawal of Study Form” which can be downloaded from http://www.ase.hku.hk/ (under the last Section of “Guidelines and Forms”) and return the completed form to the student’s home Faculty Office.
Upon withdrawal from the University, you are required to surrender the Student Registration Card to your Faculty Office.
Transcript will show voluntary withdrawal from studies, without specifying the reasons behind such as unsatisfactory performance or recommendation for discontinuation
Easier (compare to the case of discontinuation) to gain admission or apply for transfer of credits earned at HKU to another university
Eligible for application for readmission to the same curriculum at HKU in future, which is not allowed for students who are discontinued from their studies
Forgo the chance of being allowed to continue your study by CoD

Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\ (Option 2)\ \ Attend the meeting with CoD \ Get prepared for the meeting:\

Discuss with the adviser on the feedback from the FRC (if available); Self-evaluate on what could be done better
Provide new/additional information to address the possible concerns raised in FRC and improve your action/study plan
Fill in the provided form and prepare all the information you wish the CoD to consider timely, allow ample time for your adviser to comment and submit to the CoD Secretary on time (no further information can be considered by CoD after it has made the final decision)
One more opportunity to explain your case
Might have a chance to continue studies in HKU
Transcript will show clearly the status of discontinuation of studies if the COD make such a final decision

Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\ (Option 2)\ \ Attend the meeting with CoD \ Get prepared for the meeting:\

Discuss with the adviser on the feedback from the FRC (if available); Self-evaluate on what could be done better
Provide new/additional information to address the possible concerns raised in FRC and improve your action/study plan
Fill in the provided form and prepare all the information you wish the CoD to consider timely, allow ample time for your adviser to comment and submit to the CoD Secretary on time (no further information can be considered by CoD after it has made the final decision)
One more opportunity to explain your case
Might have a chance to continue studies in HKU
Transcript will show clearly the status of discontinuation of studies if the COD make such a final decision

Hard to decide?\ \ If you find it hard to decide, you may consider:\

Checking on the alternative study opportunities in Hong Kong or overseas e.g. Admission website to UG programme (and the chance of getting advance standing), associate degree or higher diploma programme with top-up options, technical certificate
Seeking advice from teachers, family members and mentors
Discussing different study options with AASO Adviser
Meeting careers advisers at CEDARS for employment information
Seeking professional counselling service at CEDARS-CoPE if necessary

Hard to decide?\ \ If you find it hard to decide, you may consider:\

Checking on the alternative study opportunities in Hong Kong or overseas e.g. Admission website to UG programme (and the chance of getting advance standing), associate degree or higher diploma programme with top-up options, technical certificate
Seeking advice from teachers, family members and mentors
Discussing different study options with AASO Adviser
Meeting careers advisers at CEDARS for employment information
Seeking professional counselling service at CEDARS-CoPE if necessary

Continue to Study\ \ It is very critical for you to get back and stay on track:\

Make extra and sustained efforts to turn around your academic performance
Define short term/long term goals
Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting academic progress
Fine-tune your study plan, if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals

Continue to Study\ \ It is very critical for you to get back and stay on track:\

Make extra and sustained efforts to turn around your academic performance
Define short term/long term goals
Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting academic progress
Fine-tune your study plan, if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals

Final Decision and No Appeal\ \ It’s the final decision and no appeal is allowed.\ \ What will happen next:\

Faculty will inform you about necessary procedures (e.g. return of student card)
Other service units (e.g. Library, UHS, CSE), upon notification from Faculties, will decide by themselves when to stop you from using their services.
Residential halls, upon notification from CEDARS, will ask you to leave within a short time decided by the Warden. Overseas students may approach their Warden if they need more time to move out.

If necessary, you may approach:

AASO for academic advice on other study options outside HKU
CEDARS-CoPE for counselling / emotional support

Final Decision and No Appeal\ \ It’s the final decision and \ no appeal is allowed.\ \ What will happen next:\

Faculty will inform you about necessary procedures (e.g. return of student card)
Other service units (e.g. Library, UHS, CSE), upon notification from Faculties, will decide by themselves when to stop you from using their services.
Residential halls, upon notification from CEDARS, will ask you to leave within a short time decided by the Warden. Overseas students may approach their Warden if they need more time to move out.

If necessary, you may approach:

AASO for academic advice on other study options outside HKU
CEDARS-CoPE for counselling / emotional support

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