Advising Overview Your first step to Becoming BRAVE. Beth Froeba What does it mean to Become BRAVE • • • • • Building Relationships And Valuing Education Remember: A successful college graduate should know more than just his or her major. You must also be able to think in a variety of ways. • • • • • • • • • Relationship Building: Resources to assist you at UNCP Tutoring Supplemental Instruction Resource Learning Lab HAWK Alert Academic Resource Mentors Writing Center Student Involvement and Leadership Community and Civic Engagement Advising Center Some definitions to get started • Braveweb: This is the database in which you register for classes, check your grades, view your financial aid, your bill for tuition and a variety of other tools. • General education is a compilation of classes taken by all students. – UNCP is a liberal arts university – They are selected by the faculty. – While you may not like every choice, these are not classes to “rush through” or “get over with”, these are additional opportunities to grow. Speech Evaluation, AlcoholEdu, Haven • Before arriving in the fall you should complete these two items. There are consequences for not completing them so get it done! – Make the call and complete the evaluation on page 23. – You will receive an email in your Bravemail with the link to alcoholedu and haven. Valuing your Education • You must make a 2.0 GPA and complete 67% of the courses in which you enroll in order to be in good academic standing. – Drop /add is the only way a course will not show up on your transcript and count against you. The drop/ add period lasts through the first five days of the fall and spring semester. – After drop /add, you can withdraw until the deadline (usually around fall and sping break). The class stays on the transcript and you are limited to a certain number of courses so don’t consider withdrawal an easy way out. • If you are below a 1.5 GPA after your first semester, you will be suspended from the university. • This is your education, ask questions, tell us when you are stuck. You are expected to be responsible and learn your requirements. Do it for you! • There are additional policies and information in your book. Make sure you read it! Be careful: There are ways you could slow down your graduation • Withdrawing or failing too many courses. • Taking courses that do not count towards the major. • Missing your pre-requisite series or admissions cycles. If you are not sure about your major. . . • Even if you have chosen a major, many of you may change your mind throughout your first year. • General Education, the Career Center, faculty throughout campus and your Freshman Seminar instructor are resources to assist you in deciding courses. • Being undecided in your first year provides you with opportunities to explore a variety of majors and career options. Valuing your Education: How should you build your first schedule? • Should be balanced from a variety of areas unless your major recommends otherwise. • Should contain 15-16 hours. – To graduate in four years. • Partially built for you. – Based on placement and the major – Most of the courses count as general education. What do I take in General Ed? • 45 total hours including Freshman Seminar. • It will take 3 semesters to complete them all. • Some majors will continue to take general education throughout the curriculum. Others must complete general education before beginning the major. Composition • 2 semesters: ENG 1050 and 1060. – Taken the first year. – Will help you succeed in all of your other courses • Placed by your high school GPA and strongest SAT Critical Reading or ACT English. • If you do not place into ENG 1050, you will be registered for ENG 0104, the course does not count as graduation hours but will assist you in being successful as a writer. – You can challenge the placement at Welcome Week. Humanities • One course from each area below. – Fine Art • Not a course in which you create art but rather a history / appreciation course. • Literature – Can not be taken this semester. Usually a sophomore class. – History • You choose from American, World, African American or Native American. • You do not have to take I before II in this series of courses. They just indicate timeline, not pre-requisite. – Philosophy and Religion Social Sciences • Pick three types of courses below. – Economics • Money – Geography • Land mass, culture and people – Political Science • Government, law, politics – Psychology • Examining how the brain affects behavior – Sociology • Examining how society affects behavior Natural Sciences • Choose 2 from different areas below: – Biology • If you do not intend to go to a professional school that requires Biology like PT or if you do not intend to be a Biology, Chemistry, Nursing or Athletic Training major, do not take BIO 1000. It is meant for Biology majors and those that need to take upper level Biology courses. – Chemistry • Must take your math as a pre or co requisite. – Earth Science – Physical Science Mathematics • You need one math to graduate, unless your major requires more. • You have the option to choose between three math courses without placement. We will recommend the appropriate one based on your major. If your major requires Calculus, your advisor will need you to fill out a form so that you can be contacted to schedule a placement test. • The math courses you will be placed into today are: – MAT 1050, Introduction to College Mathematics – MAT 1070, College Algebra – MAT 1090, Pre-Calculus Physical Education • You will need two courses to graduate • Different from high school PE. • Not necessary in the first semester. General Education Electives • You will need two more courses from the general education areas or two semesters of a foreign language. • Some majors require two semester of foreign language. – If you speak a language fluently, the Department of Foreign Languages does not recommend that you take the first level of the language. – You may take a CLEP test and earn college credit for the language. How will registration work today? • Major worksheet and instruction sheet in the lab • Partially loaded schedules • Add to those schedules by choosing additional classes that work around your existing times. • You will choose courses based on the course descriptions in the computer lab. • Do not attempt to get a perfect schedule, you are registering behind the students that are continuing. • We have advisors waiting to assist you in the registration process. Begin building relationships today by speaking up if you have questions. • Your family will continue to learn important information to support you in your career while you are selecting classes. Final Tips • Schedule 15-16 hours. • Take 1000 and 2000 level classes. • Take classes that are on your worksheet. If you take something off the worksheet, clear it with an advisor first. • Have a balanced schedule with classes from a variety of topics and perceived difficulty. • Remember your responsibilities outside of school and tell the advisor if you have any concerns about your schedule. • Ask questions! Make sure you can explain why you are taking the courses you are taking to your family. • You can call at any time with questions. The advising handbook has my number on the front.