Sixty percent. The number boggles the mind.

According to recent statistics obtained from the N.C. Central University registrar’s office, in spring 2007, 60 percent of 1,423 students ranked as freshmen were placed on academic warning or academic suspension. This figure includes all students currently ranked as freshmen, not just incoming freshmen.

In comparison, only around 16 percent of 4,222 students ranked as freshmen at N.C. State University were on either academic warning or academic suspension in the 2007 spring semester.

It’s an issue that NCCU administrators have mixed opinions about.

“If students are failing, they are not being responsible, serious students and not taking advantage of our tutorial services,” said Bernice Johnson, assistant vice chancellor for academic services.

“Ultimately, the student is responsible for his or her own education not the professor, mom or dad,” Johnson said. Others say University administrators and faculty should shoulder more of the blame for the 45 percent of freshman on academic warning and the 15 percent suspended.

“First of all, getting a sense of the capacity for true quality service needs to be done by the University,” said Caesar Jackson, dean of the College of Science and Technology.

“The issue starts with the planning of what we’re bringing in as an institution and we need to know that we can serve these students at the level we have established.”

According to Michele Ware, an associate professor in the English department, the real culprit is the push to increase enrollment.

“I do worry about one thing — if we have so many students needing remedial help, how do we do it with so many kids?” said Ware.

“We need more teachers and we need more classrooms.”

History chair Carlton Wilson, director of the general education curriculum, said that innovative teaching can help.

“We’re looking into the nature of our classroom structure to make sure that our junior and senior faculty are comfortable in their teaching methods and pedagogy to make sure they’re addressing their subjects in a manner the students can comprehend,” Wilson said.

Freshmen students weren’t surprised at their poor class performance, and looked at the issue as a mixture of personal responsibility and University shortcomings.

“Sixty percent: That’s people partying more than going to class,” said Derick Young, a political science freshman.

“I don’t fault the University because each and every person chose to come to the University knowing that the collegiate level would be more difficult than high school.”

Mass communication freshman Jasmin Overstreet had a different take on the subject.

“Coming from high school, we are used to different curriculums from different places and some students might slack off because they don’t know what’s going on or can’t keep pace,” said Overstreet.

“The University needs a curriculum or workshop for teachers on their approach to freshman students.”

One freshman speculated that the problem stems from a lack of maturity.

“Basically, a lot of freshmen aren’t independent and still need their parents,” said Alona Livingston, a freshman who has not declared her major. “It’s not much the University can do because the University isn’t the students’ parents.”

According to University policy, undergraduates receive early warnings during the fourth week of each semester if they are receiving a grade below a “C” in any course they are taking.

An official warning is sent to any undergraduate student whose GPA falls below 2.0 by the dean of the college or school in which the student’s academic program is situated.

Students are suspended once their GPAs fall below the required minimum grades for the number of hours attempted.

The required minimum GPAs per hours attempted are 1.5 for up to 18 hours, 1.7 for 19-39 hours, 1.8 for 40-69 hours, 1.9 for 70-96 hours and 2.0 for 97-123 hours. The first time a student fails to meet this criteria the student will be suspended for a semester; the second time merits suspension for a year.

Guidelines for readmittance include a written request by the student, with an explanation of why the student should be allowed to return. The request must be accompanied with supporting documentation.

John Leach, a family and consumer science junior, recalls his experience when placed on academic warning as a freshman.

“I knew it wasn’t the work that was hurting me.

“It was my time management and bad decisions that were killing me because the work really wasn’t that hard,” said Leach.

Leach said he didn’t take advantage of any academic services, but managed to improve his grades by getting serious about his studies.

When asked what he thought NCCU could do to help, Leach suggested a stronger commitment to academics.

“Honestly, I think Central could, or people at campus events should, stress academics.

“Like if we’re having a concert or something, the MC should talk about it because nobody talks about grades,” said Leach.

“They should make it cool.”

The registrar’s office was not able to provide a history of academic suspension and warning statistics, a practice that University Registrar Jerome Goodwin intends to change.