1787 Orientation Welcome Back

1
1787 Orientation Welcome Back!

• Nancy Harris
• Email harrisnl
• IM harrisnl55
• Office ISAT/CS 217
• Phone 8-8771
• Office Hours
• Extra advising appts before registration

2
What is your biggest concern?

• Share with your group.
• Share with the class as a whole.
• Expect that other students have those same
  concerns.
• Strategies for addressing the concerns.

3
First week questions
4
Checking Your Schedule

• Where are your classes located
• Making changes to your schedule
• Requesting Overrides

5
Where are your classes located?

• Walk your entire class schedule route to
  determine room locations and commute time
• Learn the Inner Campus Shuttle schedule if needed

6
What if I want to change a class?
7
Making Changes to Your Schedule

• 1st semester Freshman must have advisor signature
  for course adjustments
• See me during office hours or by appointment to
  request the change.
• Come prepared with your rationale. In most
  cases, I will not question your reasons, but I
  want to help you make good decisions, so please
  think it through first.
• We will fill out an add/drop form. In most
  cases, I will leave flexibility in the add choice
  to enable you to get a class.
• Go to Warren Hall, Registration Services. They
  will help you to swap classes or drop or add
  classes.
• Be aware of 2005 DeadlinesFree Drop Deadline
  Sept. 2Free Add Deadline Sept 5Course
  adjustment deadline Oct. 27
• Many professors will NOT provide WP or WF
  grades after the final adjustment deadline.

8
What is an override and how do I get one?

• Most students will not need an override this
  semester.
• You all have schedules now. In most cases, you
  will only be able to make changes if there is an
  opening in the class you desire.
• As you progress through JMU, the need for
  overrides will arise
• because the class is at its limit
• because enrollment is controlled by the professor
  
• because enrollment is restricted to students with
  particular backgrounds
• you want a class, but dont meet the official
  prerequisites.

9
Requesting OverridesDo a class search but TURN
OFF the Open Classes Only box
10
(No Transcript)
11
Requesting Overrides

• 1 - Contact Department(some have special
  procedures)
• 2 Contact professor directly (office hours,
  phone)
• 3 Show up early to the first class
• Important!If an override is granted, make sure
  you know exactly what you need to do next (you
  must add it to your schedule)
• An override will usually be a five digit number
  that you will give to the registration services
  person.

12

• Changes to Class Schedules
•  
• Procedure for course adjustment
• Discuss changes to schedule with your advisor
  (remember course availability is tight, so be
  selective in the changes you seek).
• Your advisor and/or you will complete a Course
  Adjustment Form
• Write in 5-digit class number in section marked,
  class no. on drop side for the class that needs
  to be swapped and write in the subject
  abbreviation and three-digit catalog number.
  Under the section column, write any.
• Freshman advisor must sign the Course Adjustment
  Form but no other signatures are needed if adding
  during the add/drop week.
• Take the completed and signed Course Adjustment
  Form to Registration Services on 3rd floor
  Warren, across from the JAC card area
  Registration Services will be open
• Wednesday, Aug 24-Friday Aug 26 from
  800am-500pm
• Saturday, Aug 27 Sunday Aug 28 from 12
  noon500 pm
• Monday, August 29 from 800am-600pm
• Tues. August 30 - Returns to regular hours of
  operation Monday-Friday, 800-500
• Freshmen cannot make changes to their schedules
  on E-campus for the Fall semester.
• The Advisors signature on a completed Course
  Adjustment Form is required for all fall
  semester course adjustments for freshmen.

13
First week of class
14

• CAUTION!
• Be Aware of Attendance Policies College may
  have first week attendance policies
• But dont assume you will be dropped if you do
  not attend
• Many classes have attendance policies for the
  semester
• Be Aware of Dates Deadlines

15
Fall 2005 Dates and Deadlines Also available
online at http//www.jmu.edu/registrar/Fall2005.sh
tml Classes Begin Semester/First
Block Monday, August 29 Second
Block Monday, October 17   End of Free Drop
Period "W" Grade will apply after this date
Semester/First Block Friday, September 2
Second Block
Friday, October 21 End of Free Add Period
Instructor/Dept. Head Signatures required after
this date Semester/First Block Monday,
September 5 Second Block
Monday, October 24  Last Day to
Add a Class with Signatures
Semester/First Block Thursday,
September 15 Second Block
Tuesday, November 8   End of
Course Adjustment Period (Course withdrawals or
credit option changes will not be processed after
the end of the course adjustment period)
Semester Thursday,
October 27 First Block
Tuesday, September 27
Second Block
Thursday, November 17   Classes End
Semester/Second Block Friday, December
9 First Block
Friday, October 14   Final Examination
Semester
December 12-16 First Block
Last Class Meeting
Second Block
December 12-16 First Semester Holiday (classes
do not meet) Friday, October 21 Thanksgiving
Vacation November 23-27   Spring
semester advance registration begins Monday,
October 31
16
More on attendance

• The attendance policy of the class is usually
  laid out in the syllabus
• syllabus - noun C plural syllabuses or
  syllabi(a plan showing) the subjects or books to
  be studied in a particular course, especially a
  course which leads to an examinationWhich
  novels are on the syllabus this year?
• from - http//dictionary.cambridge.org/

17
Syllabi

• Plans for each class usually distributed or
  referenced on the first day of class
• Will usually include course objectives,
  professors office hours, grading rubric for the
  course, books and other required materials, and
  course policies.
• May include a course schedule, exam dates.

18
Review the syllabus

• For attendance policies
• For any special testing policy exams not in
  synch with university exams (CS139, ex)
• For grading what work is valued for each course

19
After the first week
20
GENED Revisited

• Cluster 1 Preferences for Spring Semester
• Technology Competency Tests

21
Cluster 1 preferences

• Sometime mid-semester a spreadsheet will be sent
  to me with each advisee and what you still need
  from Cluster 1
• This will include all those not taking GWRIT103
  this semester who have not been waived or who
  have not satisfied the requirement through AP or
  dual enrollment.
• It will include whichever Cluster 1 course you
  still need (GCOM or Critical Thinking)
• At that time, I will request that you verify
  which classes you need and what your preference
  is. It will not matter what you did before
  orientationthis will be a fresh look.
• You will be pre-registered for any remaining
  Cluster 1 courses.

22
Technology Competency Testswww.jmu.edu/gened/tec
hcomp.html

• Required component of Cluster One.
• Must learn on your own tutorials are on the web.
• Tech Level I Basic Competency is designed to
  build your competency in 3 areas word
  processing, presentations, and spreadsheets.
• Must take Tech Level I and pass all 3 components
  by November 18, 2005.
• Information Seeking Skills Test (ISST) covers
  knowledge of, and skills in information
  retrieval, electronic databases, and the use of
  the internet.
• Must take ISST and pass by April 21, 2006.

23
Declaration of Major Policy All students must
declare a major by the beginning of sophomore
year. AFTER TODAY Students must take the CHANGE
OR DECLARATION OF MAJOR FORM to the head of the
academic unit they wish to enter. The CHANGE OR
DECLARATION OF MAJOR FORM is due in the Office of
the Registrar by the 3rd Friday of the first
semester of sophomore year. Declaration by the
deadline will ensure eligibility for continued
enrollment at the university.
24
Looking ahead Academic Success

• GPA stands for Grade Point Average
• It is the sum total of your completed course work
  at JMU.
• Includes only JMU work.
• Each class will receive a grade. See the catalog
  for the value of each grade.
• Course value is the product of the grade value
  and the credit hours. A 4 credit hour course
  affects your GPA more than a 3 credit hour course.

25
Sample GPA Calculations
26
Academic Standing
GPA Grade Point Average Presidents List (3.9
semester GPA, 12 credit hours) Deans List
(3.5-3.89 semester GPA, 12 credit hours) Good
Standing (at least 2.0 cumulative GPA) Academic
Warning (semester GPA below 2.0) Academic
Probation (cumulative GPA below 2.0) Academic
Suspension (cumulative GPA below minimum
required- see chart page 18) Academic
Dismissal (a student who is suspended a third
time will be permanently dismissed from the
university)
27
Academic Standing Table
28
Every semester

• some freshmen land on probation after their first
  semester
• often it is all about making appropriate choices
• it is also about asking for help as soon as you
  are aware that you are in trouble in a class

29
Tips for a great start

• Be aware of Attendance policies
• Carefully review your syllabus
• Go to class EVERY DAY and participate
• Keep up with your reading
• Get to know your professors(they are people
  too!) Office hours are not just for problems.
• Dont let challenges snowballUtilize the
  resources available to you
• Get involved on campus but remember academics
  come first!
• Be aware of alcohol issues and the effect on
  academic performance.
• Keep your academic advisor informed!

30

• Changes to Class Schedules
•  
• Procedure for course adjustment
• Discuss changes to schedule with your advisor
  (remember course availability is tight, so be
  selective in the changes you seek).
• Your advisor and/or you will complete a Course
  Adjustment Form
• Write in 5-digit class number in section marked,
  class no. on drop side for the class that needs
  to be swapped and write in the subject
  abbreviation and three-digit catalog number.
  Under the section column, write any.
• Freshman advisor must sign the Course Adjustment
  Form but no other signatures are needed if adding
  during the add/drop week.
• Take the completed and signed Course Adjustment
  Form to Registration Services on 3rd floor
  Warren, across from the JAC card area
  Registration Services will be open
• Wednesday, Aug 24-Friday Aug 26 from
  800am-500pm
• Saturday, Aug 27 Sunday Aug 28 from 12
  noon500 pm
• Monday, August 29 from 800am-600pm
• Tues. August 30 - Returns to regular hours of
  operation Monday-Friday, 800-500
• Freshmen cannot make changes to their schedules
  on E-campus for the Fall semester.
• The Advisors signature on a completed Course
  Adjustment Form is required for all fall
  semester course adjustments for freshmen.