Revised 3/2009

1. Welcome to Ocean County College New Student Orientation Presented by… The Academic Advising Center Revised 3/2009

2. Getting Started… Just follow these steps to begin your journey at OCC! • Fill out an online application for admission to Ocean County College. Or, stop by the Office of Registration & Records to complete an application in person. • If you choose, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov. Both Full- and Part-time students are eligible to apply for financial aid. • Make arrangements to take the College Placement Test by visiting the Testing Center on the ground floor of the Library. If you have the following SAT scores: Critical Reading 540+ and/or Math 530+, bring those scores to the Testing Center to be entered on your academic record. You may also submit HSPA scores of Verbal 235+ and/or Math 250+. Satisfactory test scores on either the SAT and/or HSPA will exempt you from taking the College Placement Test. However, SAT and/or HSPA scores are not required for admission to OCC.

3. Getting Started… • If you plan to attend OCC Full-Time, visit the Academic Advising Center to set up a New Student Orientation appointment. This is mandatory for all new full-time students. Your SAT, HSPA, or Placement test scores must be on your record before you can make an Orientation appointment. • If you plan to attend OCC Part-Time, visit the Academic Advising Center to meet with an advisor to review your test scores and discuss degree programs and your career goals. • The Academic Advising Center is located on the first floor of the Administration Building. The office hours are 8:00 am – 7:30 pm Monday – Thursday and until 4:30 pm on Fridays. The office operates on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed! The telephone number is 732.255.0300. • If you have transfer credit from another college, please bring an unofficial transcript with you when you meet with an advisor. You will also need to send an official transcript to the OCC Office of Registration & Records. Upon receipt of your official transcript(s), an evaluation of transfer credit will be mailed to you.

4. What is Placement Testing? • The College Placement Test assesses skills in: • Reading Comprehension • Writing • Algebra • A student needing developmental English must enroll in the course immediately. • Students who need developmental Algebra must enroll in the course before completing 24 credits. • Developmental courses cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements, therefore, students enrolled in developmental courses may need to attend OCC for additional semesters in order to satisfy specific program degree requirements.

5. Can I Challenge the Test? YES! • If you feel your scores do not reflect your true ability, call or stop by the Testing Center to schedule a Challenge Test. • College Placement Challenge Testing is by appointment only. Call 732.255.0401. • The fee for each section challenged is $5.00. • Students entering OCC who are non-native speakers of English, identified as needing English language training, will be referred to the ESL program for testing and assistance.

6. Developmental Courses ENGL 091: Reading and Writing I: Required for students whose placement test results indicate they need to develop their reading and writing skills before beginning college-level coursework. ENGL 095: Reading and Writing II: ENGL 095 is required for students who need a second level developmental English course as preparation for college-level coursework. MATH 011: Intro to Algebra I: Required for students who do not have the necessary background in basic algebra or are in need of a thorough review. MATH 012: Intro to Algebra II: Required for students who need a second level developmental Math course as preparation for college-level coursework. A continuation of MATH 011. Developmental credits cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements. Students must attain a grade of C or higher in all developmental courses. Grades for developmental courses do count in your GPA (grade point average). These credits do count toward being a full-time student.

7. Students Needing English 091 or English 095 All students, both Full- and Part-Time who need ENGL 091, Reading and Writing I or ENGL 095, Reading and Writing II are required to enroll in the course immediately. Enrollment in these courses takes precedence over all other courses. Full-time students needing ENGL 091 are restricted to a LIMITED LOAD, 12-14 credits. Each student will also enroll in: ACAD 155 Student Success Developmental Math (if needed) 1-2 courses from the LIMITED LOAD LIST

8. College Level Math Test • This placement test is required of all students who want to register for MATH 191 Pre-Calculus I or a higher-level math course. • The test helps assess proficiency in College Algebra through Pre-Calculus. • The only exceptions are for those students who have successfully completed the OCC prerequisite course, listed in the catalog. • You may not registerfor Pre-Calculus I or higher, unless you have completed MATH 161, MATH 165, or taken the College Level Math Test. • Visit the OCC Testing Center, ground floor, Library Building, to schedule the test.

9. What is the Center for Academic Services? • A Comprehensive Support Center for College Students with Disabilities. • While the Center for Academic Services serves all students with disabilities, a special program within the Center for Academic Services, Project Academic Skills Support (P.A.S.S.),is specifically designed to assist college students who have learning disabilities. • The Center for Academic Services is located in the Ocean County College Library. • Phone: 732.255.0456FAX: 732.255.0458TTY: 732.255.0424 • http://www.ocean.edu/campus/student_services/drc/cas.htm

10. Degrees Offered at OCC • Associate of Arts (AA)Associate of Science (AS) • Liberal Arts Degrees geared toward a specific area of study • For students who begin their studies at a community college, AA and AS programs should transfer in full. • Students are responsiblefor making elective choices that are consistent with their intended major and the requirements of the four-year college or university. • Associate of Applied Science (AAS) • These degree programs are career-oriented and designed to prepared students to enter the workforce at a technical or semi-professional level. Note: The AAS may not be the right choice if you intend to transfer.

11. Steps to Choosing your Degree • For each degree there is a curriculum guide listing all of the courses required to complete each program of study. • Spend time reading the OCC Catalogif you’re unsure of what degree to select. Attend a “How to Choose a Major” workshop sponsored by the Career Center. • Take a variety of courses in subjects that interest you to find out what areas motivate you and spark your enthusiasm. • Seek advice from advisors, the Career Center, faculty, and friends. Gather lots of information! Visit the Career Center on the ground floor of the Administration Bldg. or call 732.255.0400 x2945 to make an appointment.

12. You may be CERTAIN about your degree program or EXPLORING your options. If you are CERTAIN about your degree program, you should complete a two step process: 1. Complete any developmental courses required. 2. If your are a part-time student, meet with an advisor in the Academic Advising Center to discuss and create an educational plan. Follow your plan for the next several semesters. If you are a full-time student, meet with your assigned department advisor listed in the “My Profile” section of your WebAdvisor account to discuss your goals. Steps to Choosing your Degree

13. If you are an EXPLORING student, you need to follow a three step process: 1. Complete any developmental courses required. 2. Meet with an advisor and receive assistance in enrolling in General Education courses . Completing the developmental courses and the General Education requirements will allow you time to sample courses from many degree programs and examine your personal interests and capabilities. 3. Create an educational plan and follow it. EXPLORING students should have selected their degree by the time they have completed half of the General Education requirements and any required developmental courses. If you are still undecided by this time, visit the Career Center to find out when the next “How to Choose Your Major” workshop will be held. Steps to Choosing your Degree

14. Transferring to Another College • Transferring from Ocean County College requires careful planning. • Through online services, the Academic Advising staff can help you access information about two- and four-year colleges/universities. • Advisors will help you plan your course of study to parallel the first two years at the four-year institution to which you plan to transfer. • Students interested in transferring should meet with an advisor early in their career at OCC. • Visit the Advising page on the OCC website for all your transfer needs! • Transfer Services • http://www.ocean.edu/campus/student_services/advising/transfer.htm • Visit the OCC website to link to Kean University for direct transfer programs!

15. Transfer Resources • www.njtransfer.orgis a resource that provides a seamless transfer from New Jersey community colleges to New Jersey four-year colleges and universities. • www.njedge.org is a resource that gives students access to college and university websites, financial aid information, as well as major information. • www.petersons.com is a resource for finding out-of-state transfer information.

16. Part-Time vs Full-Time • Students are considered part-time when enrolled in 11 credits or less. • As a part-time student, you may take courses at your own pace. One semester you may take one class, the next semester you may take two or three classes. • When a part-time student registers for 12 or more credits, they are then considered full-time. • Part-time students may take several years to complete the degree requirements for graduation. Part-time students may also alternate between full- and part-time status. • Students registered for 12 or more credits are considered full-time. • Many students need to be full-time in order to qualify for insurance, athletic eligibility, or financial aid. • To graduate in two years, you should enroll in 16 credits per semester or be prepared to take courses in the summer or winter terms.

17. Graduation Requirements • Each degree requires 64 credits to graduate; a few degrees require more than 64 credits. • Developmental credits do not count toward this total. • To receive an academic evaluation for graduation, you must complete an Application for Graduation form in the semester prior to your final semester of completion. This evaluation will inform you of your graduation status.

18. Understanding the Academic Year Each academic year consists of two major semesters: Fall and Spring. • Each semester is 15 weeks in length. • Grades and credits are awarded at the end of each semester. • Students may also enroll in courses during summer sessions and QuickTerm (a 10-week term) within the fall and spring semesters. • OCC publishes a course schedule every semester that is available at the beginning of each registration period in the Office of Registration & Records . • The most current schedule of classes is available on the OCC website via WebAdvisor.

19. What is Ocean Cruiser? Ocean Cruiser is your campus-community connection to OCC! • Access your campus email • Download class handouts and form • Contact classmates and faculty • Receive WebCT information (distance learning) • Store and share files • Check out clubs & student activities • Check announcements for campus events • Search and Register for classes through WebAdvisor You will be able to log into your Ocean Cruiser account after you have registered in person for your first semester.

20. What is WebAdvisor? New part-time students will be able to access WebAdvisor through Ocean Cruiser after you have registered in person for your first semester. New full-time students will access WebAdvisor through Ocean Cruiser when they attend New Student Orientation. WebAdvisor allows you to: Search and Register for classes Access your Financial Aid information Complete a “Program Evaluation” Access your: • Grades • GPA • Transcript • Advisor’s name/dept. • Class Schedule

21. How Do I Read the Course Offerings in WebAdvisor? • Term Status Section Location Meeting Information Faculty Avail/Capacity Credits • Name & Title • 2009 Fall Open ENGL 151-01 OCC 9/02/2009-12/21/2009 TBA 5/30 3 • Semester English I campus Lecture Mon, Thurs • 08:00AM – 09:15AM • Instructional Bldg. • Rom 223 • ENGL 151 = Course Number • 01 = the section • *You will need to know the course number, section and title to register. • Read the course description by clicking on the subject in WebAdvisor. Check to see if there is a prerequisite or • co-requisite for the course. • Note how many credits the course is worth. Credits usually reflect the number of hours the course meets during the week. • Note the hours and days courses meet. Some courses meet only once a week, while others meet two times a week. • Check the time of each course to ensure there are no conflicts in days/times.

22. Section Descriptions Off Campus Section Locations • A......... Kimball Medical Center • BB .......Center for Business Education and Training, 150 Brick Blvd • BG ...... Barnegat High School • BT ....... Brick Memorial High School • JL........ Jackson Liberty High School • K......... Lakewood High School • L.......... Lakehurst Career & Tech Inst • M........ Manchester High School • MD ..... Monsignor Donovan High School • MT ...... Mates Building, Manahawkin • N........New Egypt Middle School • P......... Pt Pleasant Boro High School • Q ........ Brick High School Section Legend 0 Day E Evening W Weekend Sat or Sun DL Distance Learning H Home Study (meet 5 times in 15 weeks) HLAB Home Study Science Lab LC Learning Community OSOL Class conducted both on-site and online CR Chat Room Required 90 “Honors Only” OP Restricted! Days M Monday T Tuesday W Wednesday TH Thursday F Friday SSaturday SUSunday • R......... Pinelands Reg High School • S ......... Southern Reg Middle School • SEC.... Southern Education Center, Manahawkin • ST....... Stafford Twp Interm School • TE ....... Toms River High School East • TN ...... Toms River HS North • TS...... Toms River High School South • U........Ocean County Voc School • V .........Central Regional High School • X......... Southern Regional High School • Y ......... Lacey Twp High School

23. You design your class schedule based on your individual needs and learning styles. Have a balance between school, work, and other responsibilities. Allow yourself plenty of time outside of class to complete assignments. You may choose classes that are held during the day, evening or weekend. Classes are offered Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 10:45 pm. Weekend classes are held on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Classes are also offered at 14 off-campus sites throughout Ocean County and at OCC’s Southern Education Center in Manahawkin. Click on the following link for WebAdvisor to search for classes and make a preliminary (trial) schedule. Make sure the courses you select are OPEN and that there are no time conflicts. Click here to print out a Trial Schedule that you can use as a visual aid to plan out your class schedule. How Do I Make A Schedule?

24. Course Code, Numbers & Section • Course Code: • The 4 letters corresponding to the subject: • ENGL (English Studies) • HIST • BIOL • Course Number: • The 3 numbers immediately following the course code • ENGL 151 • HIST 174 • BIOL 161 • Course Section: • When using WebAdvisor, the section immediately follows the course number: • ENGL 151- 01 • HIST 174- 05 • BIOL 161- E07

25. Sample Full-Time Schedule

26. Alternatives to Commuting • Distance education provides you with the opportunity to take college courses without commuting to campus. • You will complete all or much of your coursework in the comfort of your own home at your own pace within the same semester timeframe as traditional in-class students. • You can choose from one of the following distance education formats that best meets your educational goals….(next slide).

27. Alternatives to Commuting Online = DL section designation: DL sections are fully online courses. Students complete all coursework online, including all interactions with their professor and classmates, using any internet-connected computer. Most DL courses administer course tests online but some may require proctored tests on campus or at an approved test site. Check the online syllabus for details. A $100 course fee will be applied per DLsection (maximum $300 per student per term). On-Site/Online = OSOL section designation: Students meet only once-a-week in a traditional class setting and complete the remainder of their coursework online. A $50 course fee will be applied. Home Study = H section designation: Students complete coursework on their own using a combination of textbooks, study guides and video lessons. Students meet with their professor in a traditional class setting at least five (5) times during the semester. Many instructors use online interactions as part of the course. Home Study Science Lab – HLB section designation: Students attend the one or two-day science lecture on-campus. Science labs are self-directed and performed by the students at their home. Students must purchase an “At Home Science Kit” for an additional fee.

28. How Do I Register for Classes? • As a new part-time student, you must register for your classes in person in the Office of Registration & Records. • Prior to registering, you may meet with an advisor in the Academic Advising Center to discuss your course selection or you may register on your own without consulting an advisor. Click here to Search for Classes. • In upcoming semesters, you may register online using WebAdvisor which is accessed through your Ocean Cruiser student account. • New full-time students will register for classes during their New Student Orientation session. In subsequent semesters, most full-time students can register online using WebAdvisor.

29. How Do I Pay for My Classes? • Payment is due at registration. • Your courses will be dropped if you do not pay for them. • Payment may be made with cash, check, or credit card. • A payment plan is available. Consider setting up a payment plan if you are waiting for Financial Aid to be processed. • Visit the OCC Financial Aid web pages for general information, deadlines, and for instructions on filing the FAFSA. • You may pay your bill at the Cashier’s Office on the 2nd floor of the Administration Building or by calling 732.255.0324. • Courses must be dropped before the semester begins to be relieved of any financial obligation.

30. How Do I Buy Textbooks? Ocean County College's official is open! Instead of waiting on line, buying online will save you time. Books are shipped directly to your home! New Viking Bucks Reward Program! For every $500 spent in the Bookstore, you are eligible to receive $25 in Viking Bucks redeemable toward a future textbook purchase or merchandise. Earn 1 point for every dollar you spend! Click on http://bookstore.ocean.edu to order textbooks or enroll in the Viking Bucks Rewards Program.

31. You are Responsible for… • Ensuring you are in the appropriate degree program. • Understanding your degree requirements. • Understanding and following academic standards and policies in thecatalog and on OCC’s website. • Adhering to academic calendar deadlines in the catalog and on OCC’s website. • Checking your Ocean Cruiser account and opening the WebAdvisortab view grades, register for courses, complete Program Evaluations, etc. • Registering for “My Cruiser Alert” through Ocean Cruiser if you wish to receive campus-wide Emergency Alerts on your mobile device.

32. First Week Checklist… • Know where your classrooms and labs are located. • Attend all of your classes. • Listen as instructors discuss course goals, expectations, attendance policies and course assignments. • Read the syllabus for each course. • Plan a weekly study schedule. • Find out where each instructor’s office is and his/her office hours. • Look for quiet places to study on campus. • Locate computer stations/labs on campus. • Familiarize yourself with locations of campus academic and personal services. • Look for places to lower your stress level with exercise. • Become part of your campus by joining campus groups, clubs or associations. • Check your campus email through Ocean Cruiser daily!

33. Campus Resources • Academic Advising and Transfer Services • Career Center • Counseling Services • Registration • Bookstore • Financial Aid • Graduation Information • Online Career Testing • Center for Academic Services • College Center • Dining Services • Educational Opportunity Fund • Study Strategy Sessions • Testing Center • Tutoring

34. Successful Students • …accept responsibility for creating the outcomes and quality of their lives. • …discover a motivating purpose, characterized by personally meaningful goals and dreams. • …consistently plan and take effective actions in pursuing their goals and dreams. • …build mutually supportive relationships that assist them in pursuing their goals and dreams. • …gain heightened self-awareness, developing empowering beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that will keep them on course. • …become lifelong learners, finding valuable lessons in nearly every experience they have. • …develop emotional maturity, characterized by optimism, happiness and peace of mind. • …believe in themselves, feeling capable, lovable, and unconditionally worthy as human beings.* *Downing, Skip. On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and Life, second edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company