Transcript Slide 1

Announcements
Please silence cell phones
Please remain seated for
the entire presentation
1
Welcome to
General Academic Programs’
College Meeting
Hotard Hall
Dr. Kriss Boyd
Executive Director
2
College Meeting Objectives
• First Semester Transition
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
• Registration Preparation
3:15 – 5:00 p.m.
3
Purpose of the
University Experience
• To better understand the world
• To learn to accomplish complicated tasks
• To develop the ability to function as a
self - sufficient adult
• To create lifelong learners
4
What
is
General Studies?
5
Our Goal
We “EXIST to ASSIST” students as they
“PREPARE to DECLARE”
by . . .
• Maximizing students’ career options
through careful course selection
• Allowing students to graduate without
taking excessive hours
6
How many A&M majors can you name?
• 65-85%
of all college
students
change their
major!
7
When should I meet with an
Academic Advisor?
At least once in the middle
of each semester.
8
G P S
Global knowledge of Texas A&M University
(Student Counseling Service,
Scholarships & Financial Aid)
Position students to declare a major
(Change of Curriculum Requirements,
Degree Plans)
Systems to help students succeed
(Processes, Referrals)
9
Cost of an Extra Semester
Tuition & fees:
Books & supplies:
Room & Board:
TOTAL:
$4, 207
$ 675
$4,004
$8,886*
Graduating on
Time: PRICELESS!
* Future value of $8,886 at 5% after 25 years = $30, 091
10
High School vs. College
College deadlines are
REAL
deadlines.
11
Syllabus
Print, Read, Save, and Refer to the Course Syllabus
The course syllabus contains the following
important information:
•Course title & number
•Term / meeting times / location
•Course description
•Prerequisites
•Learning outcomes or course objectives
•Instructor information
Textbook and / or resource materials
•Grading policies
•Course topics
•Calendar of activities, major assignment & exam dates
12
Syllabus
Print, Read, Save, and Refer to the Course Syllabus
A link to the course syllabus is provided in Howdy:
13
Come on in…
Hotard Hall
14
Make an Appointment
• How to make an appointment
http://gest.tamu.edu
• If unsure of available times, call the office
at 979.845.5916
16
Texas A&M University System
TAMUS
TAMU -TAMUG/TAMUQ
STATE AGENCIES
UNIVERSITIES
HEALTH
SCIENCE
CENTER
17
University Structure
UNIVERSITY
Texas A&M University
COLLEGE
College of
Agriculture & Life Science
DEPARTMENT
Dept. of Biochemistry
and Biophysics
MAJOR
Genetics
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Colleges
Agriculture &
Life Sciences
Architecture
General Academics
Engineering
Texas
Geosciences
A&M
Business
Education &
Human
Development
University
Liberal Arts
Science
Veterinary Medicine
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University Studies Curriculum
Hours
Component
43-45
TAMU Core Curriculum Courses
21-24
Concentration
30-36
Two Minors
15-26
Electives/prerequisite requirements
120
Total hrs required
unst.tamu.edu
20
High School vs. College
Don’t wait to cram the night
before a test!
21
Tips For
Academic Success
22
Tips for Academic Success
1. Go to class!!!!
2. Take lots of notes or record lecture.
3. Study for each class every week.
23
Communication with Faculty & Staff
24
Communication with Faculty
1.
2.
3.
Read and keep a copy of each syllabus.
Stop by and talk to your professor
before the first exam.
Email your professor immediately if you
will be missing class for an excused
absence.
**Always use
TAMU email
account.
25
Report Classroom Communication Concerns
If you experience a communication problem with your
professor (i.e., does not speak fluent English), report the
problem with a Classroom Communication Concerns form
(available online).
26
Communication With Academic Advisors
1.
2.
3.
The quality of the advice you get is impacted by
the quality of information you provide your
advisor.
Learn to run a ‘What if’ degree analysis before
you meet with your advisor.
There are shorter waiting lines for advisors in
October and February.
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Employment
•Less than 15 hours per week
•Look into work study & other on-campus work
opportunities
•https://jobsforaggies.tamu.edu/
•http://hireaggies.tamu.edu
•Work in Bryan/College Station area
•Work for necessary items only
28
Extracurricular Activities
Over 800 recognized organizations
Great way to meet new friends
Develop leadership skills
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Time Management
15 hrs class, 15+ hrs study (more during exam weeks),
15 hrs work, 1 Organization, 1 Intramural Sport
SUN
AM
PM
8:00
MON
TUES
Breakfast
WED
THURS
Breakfast
GEOG 202
SAT
Breakfast
9:00
GEOG 202
10:00
STUDY
11:00
STUDY
ENGL 104
STUDY
ENGL 104
STUDY
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
1:00
MATH 141
Work
MATH 141
Work
MATH 141
2:00
PSYC 107
Work
PSYC 107
Work
PSYC 107
TAMU
3:00 Soccer Practice
Work
Work
Work
Work
Work
vs
4:00
Work
HIST 105
Work
HIST 105
Work
sfa
5:00
Work
6:00
Dinner
7:00
Breakfast
FRI
STUDY
Dinner
Dinner
STUDY
STUDY
F.L.O.
STUDY
STUDY
9:00
STUDY
STUDY
STUDY
10:00
STUDY
pre game
Work
Dinner
STUDY
GEOG202
STUDY
Work
8:00
11:00
Breakfast
post game
Dinner
STUDY
Int. Soccer
STUDY
Midnight Yell
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High School vs. College
• Each professor can
grade differently, but
the basis for grades
must be provided in
the course syllabus.
• ALL grades of A-F
are utilized and
assigned at A&M.
31
60 Hour Limit
Get Ready for a Road Trip
General Studies
students have
60 hours
to prepare to declare
32
Freshmen with College Credit
• SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TRANSCRIPTS ASAP for accurate advising
• A&M can’t award college dual credit from high
school transcripts.
Freshmen with College Credit
• REPORT (do not accept) your AP credits today
• DO NOT ACCEPT any AP credits until you talk
with an advisor (no hurry)
• AP credits cannot be removed once awarded
• Acceptance of excess credits may:
• Limit your choices of major due to hour
restrictions
• Shorten your decision time for a major
• Cause you to pay the out-of-state tuition
rate
• Ruin your chance for a tuition rebate
• Prevent you from receiving Texas B-onTime loan forgiveness
Freshmen with High Hours
• Freshmen entering TAMU with 45+
hours of college credit will have
challenges…some majors won’t
admit students who have 60+
hours.
• There will be a special advising
session later today for students in
this situation
How to Calculate a GPA
Grade/Quality Points
• Grade points are earned
per credit hour
A=4
B=3
C=2
D=1
F=0
GPA Hours
• Total hours attempted at
A&M (includes F’s & U’s)
– Don’t include hours for
courses in which you
received grades of “S”, but
“U” grades count as F’s
• S/U classes receive a
grade of “S” for “C” level
work or better, and a
grade of “U” for “D” or
worse performance.
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How to Calculate a GPA
Formula
Total Grade Points / GPA hours = GPA
39 / 13 = 3.000
Sample
Class
MATH 141
ENGL 104
GEOL 101
PYSC 107
UGST 181
Credit
Grade
3
3
4
3
1
14
C
A
B
B
S
Grade Points
3 x (2) = 6
3 x (4) = 12
4 x (3) = 12
3 x (3) = 9
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37
Importance of 1st semester grades
Semester
Hours
1
14
1.75*
2
15
2.25
3
15
2.50
4
16
3.25
60 **
2.46***
TOTALS:
Grades
* This student is on academic probation.
**At 60 hours students in General Studies must declare a major
*** 2.46….not prepared to declare most majors including:
Business, Architecture, Teacher Certification, etc.
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Importance of Good Academic Standing
• Students with a GPA below 2.0 are on
academic probation.
• Students on academic
probation who do not
return to good standing
may be blocked from
continued enrollment at TAMU.
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First Year Grade Exclusion
MUSC – 201
STLC - 101
MATH - 141
KINE - 199
POLS - 207
ENGL - 104
B
A
F#
S
B
C
3 hours
2 hours
0 hours
1 hour
3 hours
3 hours
Semester credit: 12 hours / TAMU semester GPR: 2.909
The final grade IS recorded on the transcript with a Grade
Exclusion symbol (#).
--- 3 Grade Exclusions on grades of D, F or U --40
Q-Drop
MUSC – 201
STLC - 101
MATH - 141
KINE - 199
POLS - 207
ENGL - 104
B
A
Q
S
B
C
3 hours
2 hours
0 hours
1 hour
3 hours
3 hours
Semester credit: 12 hours /TAMU semester GPR: 2.909
3 Q-drops allowed (1 hour classes do not count)
----- Deadline to Q-drop is the 50th class day ----41
High School vs. College
Levels of knowledge tested in college:
• Evaluation
• Comprehension (memorization)
• Application to new areas of knowledge
• Analysis of conflicting data or points of view
• Synthesis – creating new concepts
If you only memorize material in college,
you will lose points on exams.
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Academic Advising Sessions (Next)
•These sessions are organized into areas of primary interest
consisting of majors that require similar coursework. You will
attend the session that most closely matches your primary
interests:
•Technological & Scientific
•Pre-Health, Environmental & Agricultural
•Business & Administrative
•Interdisciplinary & Undecided
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Technological & Scientific
(Identified as requiring at least one
4-hour calculus course)
• Biochemistry
• Biology (for research)
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Construction Science
• Engineering
• Genetics
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Industrial Distribution
• Mathematics
• Meteorology
• Physics
• Visualization
45
Pre-Health, Environmental, & Agricultural
•Health Fields
• Any major (professional schools do not limit students by major)
•Agronomy
• Animal Science
• Biology
• Bioenvironmental
Science
• Biomedical Science
• Entomology
•Environmental Studies
• Food Science
• Forensic & Investigative
Sciences
• Health
• Horticulture
• Kinesiology
• Nutritional Sciences 46
Business & Administrative
• Accounting
• Agribusiness
• Finance
• Economics
• Marketing
• Management
• Human Resource Development
• Information & Operations
Management
• Ag Communications & Journalism
• Agricultural Economics
• Sports Management
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Interdisciplinary, Exploratory & Undecided*
•Liberal Arts
•Interdisciplinary
• Social Sciences
•Teaching
Psychology
 Elementary
Sociology
 Middle Grades
Communications
 Health Education
• Humanities
 Physical Education
• Arts
• Architecture
• Languages
• University Studies
• Cultures
* Undecided = “no idea.” If torn between two or more options, attend
the breakout session for the more restrictive (specific) option.
Instructions
•We will now transition to the
Academic Advisement sessions.
•Please save your questions for this
session
•During the next session you will
be assigned a registration location
for tomorrow.
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Academic Advisement Sessions (Next)
• Technological & Scientific Rm 110
• Pre-Health, Environmental &
Agricultural
Rm 203
• Business & Administrative Rm 108
• Interdisciplinary & Undecided Rm 209
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