Eastern Connecticut State University

1. Eastern Connecticut State University Academic Success 101 Eastern Faculty, Advisement Center, & Career Services

2. Eastern Connecticut State University Intellectual Involvement, Imagination, Integration & Independence • Welcome to EASTERN! • Prepare for your future! • Locate resources! • Seek Advice (Advising Center) • Meet Your Faculty Advisor • Strategize Your Course Paths (Majors etc.) • Develop Career Skills (Career Services) • Plan For Graduation

3. Locate Academic-Career Advising Resources • Advising Center • Faculty Advisor • Faculty in Major/Minor Programs • Learning & Tutoring Center • Career and Internship Services

4. Print Academic Resources • ECSU University Course Catalog • (http://www.easternct.edu/advising/documents/easterncatalog_000.pdf) • - Semester Class Schedule • (http://eweb.easternct.edu/wfbprod/bwskfcls.p_termsel) • Student Advising Handbook • (http://nutmeg.easternct.edu/advising/documents/revisedAcademicAdvisingHandbook-10-08-08.pdf) • Student Handbook • (http://www.easternct.edu/studentaffairs/studenthandbook.htm) • Key Planner in Blackboard • (http://nutmeg.easternct.edu/business/keyPlanner.htm) • - Academic Forms • (http://www.easternct.edu/advising/forms.htm)

5. Academic Services Center • Work with “Learning Center” on Tutoring Resources • Conduct Basic Assessment Testing • - Record Declaration of Majors, Minors, & Advisors • Provide Information on Academic Programs • Coordinate Additional Help Resources (e.g.Mentors) • Explore major options

6. Your Faculty Advisor –First Meeting • Schedule meeting during first 3 weeks • Bring documentation • Transcript (if college transfer credits) • Key Planner • Degree Evaluation • Be prepared to discuss your plans & goals

7. Registration Meeting With Advisor - Meet at LEAST 1 Week Prior to Your Registration Date - Have your Plan of Study Schedule Worksheet filled out - Use pencil in case of changes - Utilize e-Web to come up with a preliminary draft version schedule - Verify “Things to Watch Out For” Checklist Items are OK - If declared Major and/or Minor, bring your program worksheet partially filled out in pencil (look for prerequisite chains & special permission requirements) - Obtain Registration Card (Register on 1st Card Date) Note: Remember your first and second years at Eastern are your years to explore subjects and areas that interest you.

8. Schedule Meeting with Your Advisor and Go Through Meeting Checklist

9. Course Selection Strategies • - If Undecided on Major/Career Area – EXPLORE!!! • - Consider 1-2 intro. courses in potential interest areas • - Take LAC courses that you are not familiar with areas • - Enroll in LAC courses and other basic skills course that will support a large range of careers that interest you. • - Register for LAC courses early on that you are weak in to be stronger in for subsequent courses. • - If Declared Major/Career Area – Talk with Experts! - Strategize with your advisor & area faculty • - Visit with professionals in your career area • - Chat with upper level program students

11. Long Prerequisite Chains!!! Spring Senior Fall Senior Spring Junior Fall Junior Spring Soph. Fall Soph. BUS 225 ECO 201 BUS 230 BUS 431 BUS 351 ACC 201 BUS 245 MAT 101 MAT 216 BUS 260 MAT 101 Register Or ECO 215

12. Major & Minor Registration Considerations • Declare your Major(s) and/or Minor(s) ASAP • (submit signed paperwork to Business Administration Office) • Review program “Recommended Plan(s) of Study” • Map out all long prerequisite chains for required courses in your Major(s), Minor(s)!! • Carefully consider how to use LACs to provide supporting & complementary skill sets • Get involved in special events & student clubs! • Network with Senior students & faculty

13. 4 Year Grad Plan – Spreadsheet Instructions An electronic spreadsheet version of the “4 Year Grad Plan” is available on the Eastern website for you to use for entering trail and actual four year course plans of studies. This electronic worksheet provides a quick way to verify that your trial plans of study meet “basic” Eastern requirements for graduation. It does NOT take into consideration specific program, major, minor or concentration requirements or exemptions nor any individual waivers, exceptions or substitutions that you may receive during your four years at Eastern. Downloading and Saving Spreadsheet The Four -Year Plan spreadsheet may be downloaded from the Business Key Planner. Save the Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet named “LACInteractiveSheetVer7.xls” to a folder you will remember on your computer’s “C” Drive and/or to a folder on your school network “Z” drive. Filling Out Basic Information on Degrees and Programs Using Windows Explorer navigate to the folder where you stored the spreadsheet file, “LACInteractiveSheetVer7.xls”. With the mouse double click the file name or icon to open up the spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. The first time you open the spreadsheet, your mouse cursor should be in cell “B2” of worksheet “Sheet1”. You will notice that on the bottom of the screen there are three more worksheet tabs. The four worksheets in the file are the following:

14. Complete Your - 4 Year Plan Interactive Worksheet using Dropdown Menus

15. Interactive 4 – Year Plan Automatically Calculates Multiple GPAs & Determines LAC Category Progress

16. Semester Survival Strategies • Talk to your Faculty Advisor & Peer Advocates • Meet with your professional advisor in the Advising Center • Visit The Academic Service Center for Extra Help • Math or English Labs • Professional, Student-Peer, & Software Tutoring • Work on Study Skills & Time Management • Obtain a Mentor (faculty, staff, student)

17. Manage Your Academic Progress • Utilize Advising Resources (faculty advisor, staff, etc.) • Track your progress using E-Web Services • Take advantage of Website & Library Resources • Visit with the Office of Career Services and Your Department Advising Staff • - Investigate Work Experience Options (Internships & Co-ops) • - Obtain guidelines and feedback on Your Resume or Grad. School App. • - Use the online assessment tool called Discover to explore personalized career suggestions • Note: Regularly check your progress at meeting Graduation Requirements!

18. Plan In Advance For Your Graduation • Regularly review your progress toward Graduation. • Monitor your overall GPA, as well as GPA’s in majors, minors, and concentrations. • Pay close attention to meeting special program requirements!!! • Stay on top of the job/grad school search!

19. Have a Great Four Years at Eastern!!!