Transcript 2013 Fall Semester Academic & Career Advisement Center Jim Gadzinski, Director  Academic Advising Services           Undeclared, FP, CTP, GENU students Career Exploration and Placement Services.

2013 Fall Semester
Academic & Career Advisement Center
Jim Gadzinski, Director
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Academic Advising Services
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Undeclared, FP, CTP, GENU students
Career Exploration and Placement Services (Career Services)
Academic Skill Development
Academic Proficiency System
FP and CTP
All-Campus Tutoring
Informal Degree Audits
Declaring/Changing Majors
New Student Orientation
Walk-in/Drop-in/On-line Services
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Sometime this year, the term “Liberal
Studies” will be retired and replaced
with “General Education”
Most students, however, only recognize
Liberal Studies
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Liberal Studies
30-40 Credits
Health Promotion
2 Credits
Major
32-87 Credits
Other Required Courses
0-48 Credits
Minor
20-30 Credits
General Electives
0-30 Credits
Baccalaureate Degree
124-152 Credits
Associate Degree
62-95 Credits
Let’s look at each individually…
Foundations of (except Division 5)…
 Div 1–Communication
6-8 Credits
 Div 2–Humanities
6-8 Credits
 Div 3–Natural Sciences/Mathematics
6-8 Credits
 Div 4–Social Sciences
6-8 Credits
 Div 5–Formal Communication Studies 3-4 Credits
 Div 6–Visual & Performing Arts
3-4 Credits
 Total Liberal Studies Program
30-40 Credits
NOTE: Associate Degrees require varying credits of Liberal Studies.
– No limit on credits from any one department –
– Students may “double count” LS courses in the major or minor –
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Div 1–Communication:
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Students must complete EN111 and EN211 with a
grade of “C” or better
Div 3–Natural Sciences/Math:
Math is only necessary if required in the major or
minor or as a prerequisite for a class (NMU does not
have a math requirement)
 Students must select and complete a scientific lab
course from this division
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Upper-Division Requirement:
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Students must complete a 300- or 400-level course of
at least 3 credits (Div. 2, 4, 6)
Pre-requisites for upper-division LS courses include
completion of Division 1 and sophomore standing
World Cultures Requirement:
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Students must complete a course designated as
World Cultures of at least 3 credits (Div. 2, 4, 6)
Defined as non-Western, non-Anglo Saxon
May be met in the major/minor; most students
complete by taking LS courses designated as WC (*)
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Students must complete HP200 (Physical
Well Being):
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Students must complete a 200-level HP
activity course:
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One credit hour course
Required for all students (B, AS, C)
One credit hour course
May count up to 6 credits of HP for a bachelor’s
degree (including HP200) – two programs in
HPER allow 10 credits
HP courses no longer count as repeats
Appeals to waive requirement – see HPER
Department
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Individual program requirements differ
according to academic department
 GPA requirements/”C” or “C-” or better rules
 Upper-division requirements
 Retake policies (e.g., Math/CS, Education)
Departmental approval may be granted for
waivers (rare) or substitutions (almost too often)
– see your Department Head first
Students with a double-major are not required to
complete a minor (unless the minor is necessary
for licensure or certification, e.g., Social
Work/Human Behavior cluster minor)
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Most frequently used in lieu of a minor
Some programs do not list “other
required,” but, in actuality…
Some have “alternate requirements” (e.g., PR
majors take EN211E, if not, must take SP200)
 Some have “hidden” pre-requisites (e.g.,
requiring DD102, but not listing DD100)
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Watch out for LS courses listed as “other
required” (Business – 16 credits of LS
work)
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A “normal” minor usually is 20-22 credits
Minors of 24 or higher credits are usually
“teachable” minors (secondary ed
majors)
Minors may not be required in all majors
Some minors are required with certain
majors (e.g., SW and HB cluster minor)
Again, students with a double-major are
not required to complete a minor
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Not included in Bulletin – must do the math!
Any course, 100-level or higher, counts for
general elective credit, except:
Only six credits of COS for BA/BS degree
 Only three credits of COS for AS degree
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Less-than 100-level courses (vocational) do not
count for BA/BS, but may count for associate,
certificate or diploma
Combine these with “double-counted” courses
and complete second major or second or third
minor (more marketable, knowledgeable, etc.)
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Liberal Studies
30-40 Credits
Health Promotion
2 Credits
Major
32-87 Credits
Other Required Courses
0-48 Credits
Minor
20-30 Credits
General Electives
0-30 Credits
Baccalaureate Degree
124-152 Credits
“How many should I take?”
SUN
MON
TUES
WEDS
THURS
Midnight to
Morning
SLEEP
(8 hours per night = 56 hours per week)
8:00 a.m.
BREAKFAST (1 hour per day = 7 hours per week)
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
12:00 noon
1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
10:00 p.m.
EN 111
EN 111
EN 111
MA 111
MA 111
MA 111
FRI
EN 111
“Useable”
Time
= 43 Hours!
MA 111
LUNCH (1 hour per day = 7 hours per week)
MU 125
MU 125
MU 125
MU 125
SO 101
SO 101
SO 101
SO 101
DINNER (1 hour per day = 7 hours per week)
STUDY TIME
(2 hours per credit hour = 32 hours per week)
SAT
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To increase your chances of success:
learn how to manage time,
 prepare for class lectures (like you would
prepare for an exam)
 engage your instructors, and
 go to class every day.
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Academic Good Standing
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Academic Probation (AP)
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Overall NMU GPA of 2.00 or higher
Overall NMU GPA less than 2.00 (or if admitted
on AP as a transfer student)
Must sign an AP Agreement
Must meet specific GPA requirements to remain
Immediate Academic Suspension*
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New students in 1st semester at NMU – FR and
TR
Eight or more credits, earning less than 1.00 GPA
in first semester
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Academic Suspension*
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Academic Dismissal*
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Students on AP that do not meet specific GPA
Suspended for one calendar year, unless an appeal is
granted to return earlier
Students that return after a suspension and again do
not meet required GPA
Must wait one calendar year to appeal
Appeal must be granted to return
Freshman Probation
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Students admitted below admission standards
GPA and other requirements differ from AP
*All 15 state universities honor each other’s suspensions and dismissals
Overall GPA Credit Hours
(at the end of the semester)
Less than 28 Credit Hours
(Freshmen)
Semester GPA Required
to Remain at NMU
1.70
Semester GPA
28 to 56 Credit Hours
(Sophomores)
More than 56 Credit Hours
(Juniors and Seniors)
1.80
Semester GPA
2.00
Semester GPA
Students on AP…
 are assigned specific probation advisers outside
of their academic department (FALSE).
 cannot register for, or drop/add, courses until
they sign their AP Agreement (TRUE).
 are limited to 12 credits per semester (FALSE).
 only take courses approved by their adviser or
the ACAC (FALSE).
 are prohibited from taking upper-division
courses (FALSE).
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Complete placement testing at Orientation –
COMPASS eWrite and Reading
Assigned a block in 1st semester based on placement
results (required)
Block may have 090 courses
Freshman Seminar (UN100C or B) instructor (usually
ACAC staff) also serves as the academic adviser
GPA Standards
2.00 or higher in 12 credits (100-level or higher) for Good
Standing
 Less than 1.70 in 1st semester (or less than 1.70 overall
NMU GPA thereafter) for Academic Suspension
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Students must sign an FP Agreement
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Forge a relationship with advisees (get
them “connected”) and provide someone
they may go to for help
Help students obtain resources and
assistance
Help students set academic goals
Help students identify possible majors
and minors
Help students select appropriate courses
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Course schedule should focus on LS
requirements, even if they have a declared
major
If they are uncertain about their major, reassure
them that it is normal
Use LS courses to “explore” other majors or
minors
Refer them to the ACAC for career exploration
activities and/or to finalize their major
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A total of 64 credits (plus 4 more PE credits) may be
transferred from CC
No limit on credits transferred from 4-year colleges and
universities
Credit is only granted for courses with a “C-” grade or
higher
Transfer grades are not computed in the GPA, used for
honors, proficiency, etc. (but some departments may
use for admission to programs, financial aid, etc.)
Departmental advanced placement may be an option
for students, especially those from non-accredited
schools
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Orientation
Financial (owe money, etc.)
Registrar (transcripts, etc.)
AP and FP
Disciplinary
Adviser Hold – the only one that you
should be able to lift
Unless a hold prohibits doing so…
 Students may drop or add freely up to
midnight on the first Thursday of the fall and
winter semesters (summer is different)
 Starting the next morning (Friday, 12:01 a.m.),
students must secure a signed add card to add
a course, even if it is open
 After Tuesday of the 2nd week, and up to
Friday of the 10th week, any course dropped
will receive a “W” grade
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Math Placement
Students take 53-question “quiz” on-line
 Results are combined with HS grades and ACT scores
 Students may not enroll in any math course in which they
haven’t been placed
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English Composition Placement
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For regularly-admitted students, placement is based
solely on HSGPA – if less than 2.00, must take EN090
before EN111 (may appeal)
Foreign Language Placement
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Students should take on-line before they attempt
registration in a language course
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Designed for students who had a poor first
academic performance at NMU, may
“delete” one semester of grades (“W”
grades substituted)
Must fulfill the following:
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Cannot have been in ANY school for at least
three years before returning to NMU
Must complete at least 12 credits (100-level or
higher) and earn 2.50 GPA after returning
Must be currently enrolled
May select one semester of grades
May only use the policy once
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To receive an “I” grade, a student must:
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Wait until the “W” deadline has passed
Be passing the course (cannot award an “I” for
poor or failing performance)
Have a legitimate extenuating circumstance (e.g.,
illness)
Not be required to “re-take” the course as a
condition of the incomplete
The instructor must complete an Incomplete
Grade Form before when issuing an “I”
grade
Instructors must designate a deadline to
complete the work, not to exceed one year
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Three programs – FYE, FP and CTP –
under the “First Year Programs”
umbrella
All utilize the “block” concept and
include a freshman seminar course
FYE is for regularly-admitted students
who choose to enroll in a block
FP and CTP are mandated for students
admitted on probation
Q. How many times may a student repeat a course?
A. Unless a student fails (“F” grade) a course twice in a
row, they may repeat a course at any time. Some
departments have their own policies (e.g., Math/CS)
that differ from NMU’s policy.
Q. How are repeated grades counted?
A. The grade earned the second (or last) time is recorded –
with the exception of “W,” “MG” and “I” – even if the
subsequent grade is lower (an “F” can replace a “C-”).
Q. What does “double-counting” mean?
A. The term is a bit of a misnomer – students may use a
course to meet two different requirements, but the
course doesn’t count twice in terms of credit hours.
Q. Can students “double-count” a course in their major
and minor?
A. No – students may only double-count courses in the LS
and their major or minor (but not both).
Q. When and how do faculty submit grades?
A. Grades are submitted by noon on Tuesday following
finals week. Grades are entered on-line. “MG”
(missing grade) will be posted if the deadline is missed.
Q. How do students receive their grades?
A. Students go on-line through MyNMU to see their
grades (NMU doesn’t mail any grades). Typically,
grades are posted by evening on Thursday after Finals
Week.
Q. How are students notified when they are placed on
Academic Probation?
A. Firstly, they should be aware that less than 2.00 means
AP. The student grade report notes their academic
status and the ACAC sends e-mails (and, after a few
tries, a hard copy letter).
Q. How may students on AP sign their agreement form?
A. Either in person at the ACAC or on-line at
www.nmu.edu/acac.
Q. Is there a quick, easy way to calculate or re-calculate
GPA?
A. Go to www.nmu.edu/acac and click on the GPA
calculator.
Q. Who else can lift adviser holds for my advisees?
A. Typically, only the assigned adviser should lift the
adviser hold. If a student has a secondary adviser,
however, they may also lift the hold. Department
secretaries, the Registrar’s Office, and the ACAC staff
have the ability to lift holds, but do not do so unless
there exists special circumstances.
Q. May a student “audit” a course?
A. Yes, a student may enroll in, and pay for, a course to
earn a “AU” grade (doesn’t affect GPA or counts as
completed coursework).
Q.
A.
What are the negative effects of dropping a course to take a “W”
grade?
The “W” grade doesn’t impact GPA, but an adviser may want to
discuss the following with advisees thinking about taking a “W”:
* “W” grades may be viewed negatively by a prospective
employer
* The student loses time and money (books, etc.)
* Financial aid might be affected. Students must complete 67% of
the courses they attempt. At the end of each semester, the FAO
checks completion rates and may place the student on “warning,”
and, if they continue to lag behind 67%, they will lose their aid.
Q. When do students receive “official” degree
audits?
A. Bachelors – 87 credit hours; associates – 32
credit hours; certificates – 16 credit hours
Q. How may a student register for an 080 or 090 course?
A. Courses that are less than 100-level do not count for
graduation for baccalaureate degrees and most
associate degrees. If a student needs or wants to take
one, they cannot register for it on MyNMU as is normal
procedure. They must go in person to the Student
Services Center, the Registrar’s Office, or to one of the
ACAC offices.
Q. Where is the ACAC located?
A. The ACAC has two offices – one on the top floor of
Hedgcock (3302) and one in the Jacobetti Center (103).
Copyright© 2013
Jim Gadzinski, Director
Academic & Career Advisement Center
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI 49855