Nuts and BoltsWCU and Your Major

Why this presentation

The department, the university, and myself want you to succeed. Navigating a 4-year degree can be confusing. Know the facts and ask if you don’t…don’t’ forget to have fun along the way

Support Services

Career development center – career exploration, resumes, cover letters, internships, interviewing…

Counseling center – individual counseling, group counseling, crisis prevention (suicide etc.), vocational counseling, psychiatric services including medication, phone consultations, workshops (stress, communication, dealing with differences, eating disorders, helping troubled friends), alcohol awareness, drug and alcohol counseling◦ Most services are free

Strong individuals know it’s OK to seek help◦ Staffed by several psychologists

Support Services

Learning assistance & resource center –◦Tutoring, it’s FREE! - first come 1st serve◦Academic success workshops◦Basic skills test (CORE, PAPA) prep!!!

Writing center◦Face to face writing assistance◦Online writing assistance

Financial Aid

Finding $$ for college can be tough but remember you are FULL-TIME students. That basically means it should consume about 40 hours per week. ◦Carnegie system – what is it?

Beware working too much as this can adversely affect your success…not an option for some

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Types of funding

◦Aid programs Grants (Pell… Loans (Stafford, Perkins, PLUS…) Work Study

◦Kinesiology Job Scholarships

◦See the undergraduate catalog (http://www.wcupa.edu/_information/official.documents/undergrad.catalog/finanaid.htm) and click financial aid

◦There are 172 (don’t quote me) scholarships listed in the catalog.

Activities

Clubs and organizations◦ http://www.wcupa.edu/_information/official.documents/undergrad.catalo

g/stuaffair.htm#organizations Look under “student organizations”

Honors college◦ For “students with outstanding achievement in scholarship,

leadership and community service. Membership in Honors is competitive with a maximum of 40 seats offered each fall.”

◦ Honors curriculum ◦ Looks awfully good on a transcript◦ Leadership minor◦ International travel

Office of recreation and leisure ◦ Intramurals, club sports, group exercise

Events Calendar on Homepage◦Get involved

Degree Requirements

Misc.◦“Q” courses (english or math) counts towards

GPA but not credit requirements◦Full time is 12-18 credits

If able, get your $’s worth (near 18 credits) You can take over 18 credits

◦Advisor permission, pay per extra credit Student standing is determined by credits, not

how many years here i.e. – Freshman 0-29.5 credits (increments of 30)

Registrar

Drop/Add period – 7 days◦May do later but can be tough

Withdrawing from a class – 8th day to 9th week◦“W” recorded on transcript

Declare pass/fail deadline – 9th weekRepeating a class 100+ level

◦Can do 5x’s, no more than twice per course◦Most recent grade is kept regardless of score

GPA

Calculating GPA◦Use online GPA calculators:

Target GPA – use to determine what grdes you will need to reach a desired GPA

Example: Sam Houston Univ. (others online)Dean’s list = GPA 3.67 or higherProbation = GPA < 2.0

◦Student must see advisor for creation of an academic recovery plan

Your Home

Department of Kinesiology◦Majors:

Health and Physical Education Teacher Certification◦Website tour

Exercise Science◦Minors for HPE

Health (15 credits) Coaching (18 credits) Exercise science (21-23 credits) Individuals with disabilities (18-21 credits) Nutrition Others (minors do not lead to teacher certification)

H&PE TC

Advising – the UG catalog makes clear that ultimately, YOU are responsible for course selection and U. guidelines◦ The quality of advising varies so

do your homework◦ Also, advisors are there for more

than academics!

Advising

Guidance Record/Advising/Curriculum Sheet (whatever it’s called)◦Fall 2014 and forward

Proposed: Fall 2016 and forward ◦Block schedule◦ABSOLUTELY important to know what advising

sheet/program you follow◦Self Help Guide from Dr. Cummiskey◦Year by Year Checklist from Dr. Lepore◦PPE’s

FATE – formal admission to teacher education◦http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/coe/fate.aspx◦No longer is a FATE delay permit◦Summer letter◦Message – get FATE ASAP – freshman year is best◦Basic Skill Testing – take the CORE over PAPA◦Professional Testing Center – can schedule a test

any time!

Mock Selection

Take a look at the advising/curriculum/program sheet and do a preliminary schedule for next semester. If you use a different advising sheet, help someone else.◦Return sheets when you leave