Faculty Advisor TrainingCivil and Architectural Engineering

Updated Fall 2014

Breanna Bailey, Assistant Dean, COE

Motivation1) If we want maintain control over the

advising process for engineering students, we must become better, more accurate advisors.

2) Provide updates on important changes / interpretations of TAMUK policy.

Presentation Overview

• Important Dates

• Assorted Reminders and New Policies

• Role of the JESSC / Professional Advisors

• Good Advising Practices

• Updated Forms

• Other Services and Special Populations

Important Dates• Link to Academic Calendar:

http://www.tamuk.edu/events/academic_calendar.html• Priority registration: Monday, October 20th • Midterm grades: Wednesday, October 22nd, 9:00 am• Drop date (all drops): Thursday, October 30th • Graduation packets (May grads): December 1st • Commencement: December 12th • Final grades due: December 15th, 9:00 am

Assorted Reminders & New Policies• Every semester a student is not in Calculus,

they are delaying graduation!

• Ways to catch up:– ALEKS,

http://www.tamuk.edu/artsci/math/ppl/index.html – CLEP,

http://www.tamuk.edu/academictesting/Testing%20Services/CLEP.html

Assorted Reminders & New Policies• TAMUK does not receive formula funding for

students taking more than 30 hours above degree plan (State law, THECB)

• Students will be charged $100/hr for each hour beyond B.S. + 30.

• Earning a second bachelor's degree will help. Minors, associates degrees, and certificates do not.

• Tuition rebate available to students completing in 4 years, without excess hours, 15 hours a semester.

Assorted Reminders & New Policies• To request Supplemental Instruction in your class,

email: nancy.kingsanders@tamuk.edu• Writing intensive courses:

– Students must earn "C" or better. Fall 2012 or later.– Junior / senior course in major. 10 pages of writing.– When course is offered, contact Norma.

• Undergraduate Writing Center just opened. Peer “writing consultants.” 2nd floor, Jernigan Library.

• Learning Assistance Center. 217 Jernigan Library. Free tutoring in math, science, engineering.

Assorted Reminders & New Policies• Registrar’s Office: http://www.tamuk.edu/registrar/• Exclusion of repeated courses:

– Students may “exclude” grades in GPA calculation for only first 17 hours of courses retaken. Effective Spring 2015.

– May still repeat courses once 17 hours have been excluded, but all new grades will be averaged with the old ones.

– Only the first attempt to repeat a course will be excluded (if within 17 hours). Subsequent repeats are averaged.

– Applies to all students (new and continuing.)

• Registration and other forms:– Advisor signatures required on add/drop and withdrawal forms.

Effective Fall 2014.– Advisors don’t “approve” forms but should discuss financial aid

and/or graduation implications of dropping a course. Signature indicates this have been discussed.

Assorted Reminders & New Policies• Mid-term grades:

– Mid-term grades required for all undergraduate students. No more 5-week grades. Effective Fall 2014.

– Grades should be a letter grade (October 22nd).

• New drop policy:– One drop date, after the 60% point in the semester.– Students will get an automatic Q.– Drops for non-attendance must be processed by drop date (October

30th).– No drops or withdrawals after this point.

Assorted Reminders & New Policies• Financial aid implications of dropping a class

– Student must attend 60% of class to avoid repaying financial aid. Date of last attendance is important when students fail!

– Students must repay financial aid if they do not earn at least 67% of attempted hours for a semester.

– Students can stay on financial aid if they drop below 12 hours after the census date (12th class day).

JESSC / Professional Advisors• Austin McCoy:

– AEEN / CEEN– EEEN / CSEN– EVEN – MTEN– Liberal Arts hopefuls

• Marshall Fulghum:– CHEN / NGEN– MEEN

JESSC / Professional Advisors• Transfer students - Proposal

– Less than 45 hours at transfer, see professional advisor first 2 semesters.

– More than 45 hours at transfer, see professional advisor first semester.

• Freshmen students - Proposal– See professional advisor for first 30 hours or first 2

semesters, whichever is last.– Students will remain with professional advisor beyond 30

hours if TSI requirements are not met.

JESSC / Professional Advisors• Electronic records and hard copies of student files

are maintained in the JESSC. – Official copies of student record.– Copies of advising sheets scanned and placed in

electronic files for all students (faculty or professional advisor).

• Degree plans– Updated by JESSC personnel each semester for each

student.– May be used for meeting State, VA, Hazelwood, or

Athletics requirements.

Good Advising Practices

Students do not complete forms. Advisors complete forms.

Good Advising Practices• Electronic tools available:

– DegreeWorks.– Academic Transcript through Blue and Gold.– College Scheduler through Blue and Gold.

• Record student progress on degree plan or chart.• Look ahead.

– When will student graduate? What potential roadblocks?– Are student’s grades a problem or an opportunity?– What career goals does the student have?

Good Advising Practices• Prerequisite violations need to be minimized (more

in Updated Forms).• If we can set prerequisite asides for some students,

why have the prerequisite in the first place?• Pay attention to prerequisites during advising

meetings! Check students who are in your classes.

Good Advising Practices• Graduation

– Packets picked up from JESSC and returned to JESSC– 2.25 cumulative, 2.25 math/science, 2.25 engineering for

students starting in Fall 2012 or later.– Attach official transcript and degree plan (Excel)– Students do not complete their own degree plan.– Must pass all repeated classes!– New registrar policies will make GPA calculations more

tricky.

Good Advising Practices• Substitution forms

– Review transfer credit with new transfer students– Make sure substitution permits valid, complete– Include course descriptions!– Include student TAMUK transcript.– C’s or better in math, science, or engineering!

Good Advising Practices• Freshmen placed in pre-engineering:

– Goal is to transfer at end of second semester.– Must have 2.0 cumulative and math/science GPA– Must have completed CHEM 1311/1111 and MATH

1348.

• Transfer students placed in pre-engineering:– Transfer GPA between 2.0 and 2.49.– Evaluate at end of second semester.– “Satisfactory progress” to change major. 2.5?

• Continuing students require a 2.5 cumulative GPA for change of major.

Good Advising Practices• Enforced withdrawal / scholastic probation

– Probation: Cumulative GPA less than 2.0.– Enforced withdrawal: On probation and GPA stays below

2.0 following semester.

• Acting on enforced withdrawal (EW)– If spring EW, may enroll for summer class to raise GPA.– May appeal EW:

http://www.tamuk.edu/academicaffairs/forms/ReadmissionRequestForm2012.pdf

• Maintain awareness of student situation.• Retaking F’s and D’s best strategy.

Updated Forms• Prerequisite Waivers• Change of Major• Will be posted to:

http://www.tamuk.edu/engineering/deans_office/forms.html

Other Services & Special Populations• Hours required for...

– Financial aid – 12 hours– Presidential Scholars – 15 hours; no repeats!– Hazelwood Act (veterans or families) – 12 hours

• To graduate with honors...– Incoming freshmen need 24 hours.– Transfer / continuing students need 15 hours.– Medals awarded for students graduating with GPAs

above 3.4, but must have completed 45 hours at TAMUK in the semester before graduation.

Other Services & Special Populations• Fundamentals of engineering exam

– Start discussing junior year.– Civil students take civil exam. Architectural…?– All computer based! $225.– Newsletter:

http://www.tamuk.edu/engineering/PDF/Fundamentals%20of%20Engineering%20Exam.pdf

• Tutoring available in the JESSC– Math, science, and basic engineering courses– By upper-level engineering students– For discipline-specific help, let JESSC know!

Other Services & Special Populations• Student Health and Wellness

– http://www.tamuk.edu/shw/ or ext. 3991– Mental health and counseling resources– Simple medical conditions and over the counter

medications– Alcohol and drug abuse resources– Disability Resource Center

• Dean of Students– MSUB 306, ext. 3606– Assist students in cases of family / personal emergency

Other Services & Special Populations• Other offices

– Career services, ext. 2217– Financial Aid, ext. 3911– Registrar, ext. 2811

Summary

Our students deserve our time and our expertise, both in and outside the

classroom. Effective advising is student-centered and accurate.