Getting Started at

1. Getting Started at

2. The Beginning • Founded September 11, 1911 as Middle Tennessee State Normal School • Originally only a school for teacher education • First three buildings: • Kirksey Old Main • Tom Jackson Hall • Rutledge Hall • Middle Tennessee State Teachers College, 1925 • Bachelor of Science, first 4-year degree offered • Middle Tennessee State College, 1943 • Middle Tennessee State University, 1965

3. MTSU Today • 100+ buildings (started:3) • 500 Acres (started: 100) • 25000+ students (started: 125) • Largest undergraduate University in Tennessee • 900 faculty members (started: 19) • Honors College, 1998, first founded in TN • Now with 100,000 alumni! • First Ph.D. awarded in English, 2003 • “The People’s University” • Example: the sidewalks

4. Construction • Student Union Building – now open! • One Stop Shop (Student Services Building) – Fall 2014 • Parking Garages – Fall 2013 • Science Building – Fall 2015

5. High School vs. College • Differences? ? ? ? ?

6. High School vs. College • Size • Accountability • Responsibility • Independence • Difficulty Level • Diversity

7. College Survival • Set goals • Take personal responsibility • Persist, persist, persist • Get involved • Manage your time wisely • Learn about available campus resources • Know yourself • Live in the present, look to the future!

8. What should I know about? • Academic Advising • College Advisors • Faculty Advisors • University College Advising Center, McFarland Building • Academic Counselors • Part of the University College Advising Center • Will be with you all 4 years! • Tutoring Services • Writing, Math, Science, Economics • www.mtsu.edu/tutoring

9. What should I know about? • James E. Walker Library • Hundreds of computers • Study space • Free printing • Business and Aerospace 24/7 Computer Lab • Free printing • Phillip’s Bookstore, New Student Union • Books to apparel to greeting cards • Book buy-back end of the semester • Post Office, KUC 1st Floor • All students living on campus have service • Off campus students = $12 per semester • ATMs located across from windows

10. What should I know about? • Disabled Student Services, KUC 120 • Health Services, 898-2988 • Free exams for all students, cheap services • Real doctors! Mon-Fri 8:00-4:00 • Make an Appointment! • Campus Recreation Center, 898-2104 • Mon-Thurs 6-11 • Fri 6-8, Sat 9-7, Sun 2-11 • Counseling Services, 898-2670 • Free service and confidential • Licensed counselors and psychologists

11. What should I know about? • Food Services • The Grill, Cyber Café, Student Union • RFoC and Raiderzone • Bistro @ Bragg, Buy and Fly, Walker Starbucks, etc. • Parking Services, 898-2850 • Car and Bike registration • Raider Xpress – 3 routes • 5 tickets = 1 boot • Speed Limit = 15 mph • Public Safety - 2424 • Fully Accredited Police Force • Raider Escorts • Emergency Call Boxes • Text Messaging System

12. What should I know about? Get Involved!!! • Student Organizations • 250 + to choose from • Create your own with 5 members and an advisor! • Community Service Projects • Up Til Dawn, Habitat for Humanity • Leadership Opportunities • Blue Raider Leadership Summit February 2nd • Campus Activities and Events • Athletics (Free with student ID) • Campus Rec Center • Intramurals • Cheap movies

13. What should I know about? • Career Counseling – University College Advising Center • Discuss work interests with an advisor • Explore possible careers and majors • www.mynextmove.org • Changing your major • Can submit a request on Pipeline • Meet with new major advisor ASAP to stay on track! • Career Development Center • Résumé writing, cover letter, and interview help • Lightning Job Source • Career Coordinators for every major

14. What should I know about? • All freshmen required to meet with an advisor • Make sure you are taking the right classes! • Academic Alerts • Adding, Dropping • Add first 4 days • Drop first 14 days, no grade • Drop with grade of W through 60% of term • May affect Financial Aid, Lottery, etc. • Withdrawing from the University • ALWAYS seek advice before dropping anything!

15. Learn to use our technology • PipelineMT • RaiderNet • Personal Information Tab • Student Tab • Financial Aid Tab • Employee Tab • Campus Directory • MTMail • Online Catalog – catalog.mtsu.edu • D2L • Many courses use as a supplement • Accessible through PipelineMT

16. The Basics • Eligible students receive $4000 per year • $2000 in fall, $2000 in spring, and up to $2000 in the summer • You may receive the Hope until whichever comes first: • 5 years from when you start college are up • 120 attempted hours are reached • When you get a degree • Some students may receive more money based on factors such as family income, like the Aspire Scholarship, and the same rules apply

17. Grade Requirements • After 24 attempted hours: 2.75 GPA • After 48 attempted hours: 2.75 GPA • After 72 attempted hours: 3.00 GPA • After 96 attempted hours: 3.00 GPA • If at the 72 and 96 hour check points you have a 2.75 – 2.99 GPA, and a 3.0 semester GPA, you can keep your scholarship as long as you continue to make a 3.0 each semester

18. Enrollment Requirements • You may be a full-time or part-time student to get the Hope Scholarship • Full-time students receive $2000 per semester • Part-time students (6 hours to 11 hours) receive part of that $2000, depending on how many hours they take • You cannot skip a semester, unless it is the summer semester. If you take the spring off and reenroll in the fall, you will not have the Hope Scholarship

19. Enrollment Requirements • After the 14th day of the semester, you may NOT drop below full-time status, or else you will lose your Hope Scholarship FOR-E-VER • You are allowed to drop classes until the 65th day of class, but never, ever, ever drop a class without consulting your advisor first • If you are taking 16 hours, you could drop one 3 hour class and still be at 13 hours, so you would be eligible still • Part-time students can’t drop below 6 hours

20. Grade Replacement • If you fail a class or do poorly in one and you retake the class, that grade can be replaced in your Lottery GPA • Lottery (or TELS) GPA is different that your regular MTSU GPA! • Your TELS GPA counts all grades, no matter what you have retaken; MTSU replaces your grade automatically if you retake a class once • You are allowed to replace only ONE grade in your TELS GPA over the course of your educational career, and a form must be signed by an University College Advising Center advisor to do so

21. Regaining your Scholarship • If you lose your scholarship due to grades at a checkpoint, you can get it back at another checkpoint by bringing your GPA back up • Example: You lose it after 24 hours with a 2.5 GPA. When you hit the 48 hour check, you have a 2.75. You can fill out a form and get it back! • You can only regain the scholarship ONCE! • Again, if you lose your scholarship because you dropped below full-time status or skipped a semester, it is gone for good

22. Lottery Tips (and for Life) • Grades should be A’s, B’s, and a few C’s • Try not to drop classes, start with what you think you can handle, those classes count against your total hours! • On that same note, you should try and take at least 15 hours just in case something goes wrong with a class and you have to drop it • ATTEND CLASS – It really does help your grade • Consult an advisor often, at least once a semester if not more

23. Academic Success Series How to Get Started at MTSU January 29th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Tyler Henson - Advisor, University College Advising Center • This session will cover topics including how to navigate RaiderNet & D2L, understanding the Lottery Scholarship, and helpful tips about GPA and academic standing. How to Use Your Time Wisely February 5th at 4:30pm -Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Becca Seul - Advisor, University College Advising Center • Time management is something most students struggle with on a daily basis. This session will cover techniques to help you better manage your time. How to Study and Prepare for Tests February 5th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 248Presenter: Gia Jones - Advisor, University College Advising Center • This session will cover tips on note taking, how to effectively study your notes as well as tips for navigating different types of tests. How to Be a Successful Veteran Student February 12th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Heather Conrad, VetSuccess On Campus Counselor • This session will discuss educational benefits to include Post 09/11 GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation, as well as others. We will briefly discuss all other potential veterans benefits, and explain our new program, VetSuccess on Campus and the services available through this program.

24. Academic Success Series How to Study and Prepare for Tests February 19th at 4:30pm -Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Gia Jones - Advisor, University College Advising Center • This session will cover tips on note taking, how to effectively study your notes as well as tips for navigating different types of tests. How to Use Your Time Wisely February 19th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 248Presenter: Becca Seul - Advisor, University College Advising Center • Time management is something most students struggle with on a daily basis. This session will cover techniques to help you better manage your time. How to Use the Library February 26th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Kristen West - Assistant Professor, Walker Library • Come find out what successful MTSU students know about the library and learn how to utilize the various resources available. How to Give a Winning Presentation March 19th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Danielle Stefanski - Advisor, University College Advising Center • This session will cover tips and tricks that will help students refine their presentation and public speaking skills. How to Use Your Academic Advisor March 26th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Travis Tipton - College Advisor, College of Basic and Applied Sciences • This session will cover information on how to know who your advisor is; how to get the most out of your time with your advisor, and what questions you should ask your advisor.

25. Academic Success Series How to Think Critically April 2nd at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Hilary Stallings - College of Liberal Arts • This session will go over what critical thinking is (and isn't), provide a structure for evaluating your thinking, and show how it can be applied to a college level classes. How to Choose the Right Major for You April 9th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Mark Convery - Advisor, University College Advising Center • Having trouble choosing a major? This session will cover techniques on helping you find the right major and career field that best fits your personality and abilities. How to Relax and Chill and Still be a Successful Student April 16th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Lisa Schrader - Director, Health Promotion • Being a college student is stressful! Academics, jobs, friends, and family can pull you in many directions, and there never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done. This session will cover how stress can impact your academics and your health. Leave with some surefire strategies to help you de-stress your life. How to Prepare for Final Exams April 23rd at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446 April 30th at 4:30pm - Walker Library Room 446Presenter: Eric Miller - Advisor, University College Advising Center • This interactive session will focus on helping students prepare for final exams. Specific attention will be placed on assisting students with time management, reviewing helpful study skills, and discussing effective test taking strategies. **Note:  This session will be held twice to accommodate various student schedules.  The same information is presented at both sessions.