By Aubrey Polk/reporter

Some students believe since they are out of high school, academic standing no longer matters.

They are wrong, TR counselor Mandy Melton told students Feb. 9. High school may be over, but maintaining grades is far from over.

“Students’ GPAs follows them their entire academic career,” she said.

The GPA defines students and where they stand academically. If for some reason, students cannot keep their GPAs under control, academic probation will come into action, Melton said. Any student who fails to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher is automatically put on academic probation but can still enroll in courses.

Academic standing has several stages before it can get out of control, Melton said. Levels include academic probation, academic suspension I, academic suspension II and academic dismissal. Academic standing all revolves around the GPA and whether it is above a 2.0. If students are having trouble maintaining a 2.0, they can go talk to an academic advisor and put together a course-of-action plan to help them.

“GPA and academic standing is not a bad thing,” she said.

All educational facilities look at GPA. It shows them how much the student works and studies to maintain it, Melton said.

“It follows the student all through high school so that they can be accepted into college and then continues to follow while they are in college,” she said.

Every professor wants to see students succeed and make the most of their education, Melton said. In a sense, high school is not over, she said. College is just another level.