Family Weekend Academic Affairs

1. Family WeekendAcademic Affairs Friday February 8, 2019 Dean Amy Bibbens Associate Dean for Academic Resources & Student Success Dr. Bill Daub Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Elizabeth Connolly Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs

2. What we’ll touch on • Student paths through the curriculum • Core, Majors, HSA • Academic resources • Summer plans • Questions

3. First-Year Students • Mostly Core courses this semester • Core samples all disciplines 2nd semester includes: biology, physics (mechanics), chemistry, linear algebra, differential equations, HSA10 (Critical Inquiry, multiple discipline choices), lab • Building blocks for what students do later

4. Sophomore/Junior Students • Sophomores beginning to focus on majors – GPAs rise for many • Juniors solidly in majors and looking toward capstone research/Clinic • Continuing work on HSA requirements • Planning path to 128 credits

5. What’s next after Core? Choosing a major • Required courses • Major electives • Capstone experiences (research, Clinic) • Individual Program of Studies & off-campus majors

6. What’s next after Core? Capstone experience • CS, Engineering: all Clinic • Math, Physics: departments offer Clinic or research • Biology, Chemistry: departments offer research, but Clinic available

7. What’s next after Core? Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts (HSA) • Ten courses beyond the core • Concentration and distribution requirements • Writing intensive course • Minimum five on-campus courses

8. What’s next after Core? Advice for course selection in major • Major advisor • Other professors in the major • Registrar • Website, catalogue, resources sent by registrar • Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Advice for HSA course selection • HSA advisor • HSA professors • Registrar • Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

9. Academic Requirements • 128 credits to graduate • Core + major + HSA < 128 • Number of elective units is major-dependent • Average course load 16 units per semester (5 classes plus lab/PE/colloquium)

10. Academic Resources & Support The Three Deans • Dean Bibbens: academic or personal support, communicating with faculty, study strategies, time management • Deans Daub & Connolly: course selection, core and major requirements, drops/withdrawals • Workshops & events: pre-registration, study strategies, time management

11. Academic Resources & Support • Professors • Advisors • Academic Excellence for Core courses • Writing Center • Proctors, Mentors, PALs (Peer Academic Liaisons) • Study groups

12. How can you help? Remind them… • Academic challenge is part of learning experience • Access available resources • Develop a network of support

13. Summer – what to do with it? • Spend time with family & friends • Decompress • Travel • Work • Summer research • Internship • Summer math

14. Summer Research engineering chemistry Australian collaborator engineering physics engineering

15. Summer research • 10 week immersive experience • Stipend provided • Close to 200 students work with 40+ faculty each summer • All departments well represented • Even rising sophomores may get positions

16. Summer Math • Two half courses normally taken in sophomore fall taken over first three weeks of summer • Costs: tuition, room and board • Provides flexibility in sophomore fall semester • Fast-paced and intense academic experience which may not fit everyone’s learning style

17. Questions? Dr. Bill Daub daub@hmc.edu Dr. Elizabeth Connolly connolly@hmc.edu Dean Amy Bibbens abibbens@hmc.edu

18. Computer Science Policies https://www.cs.hmc.edu/program/policies

19. Summer experiences • No evidence any one summer makes a huge difference for “next steps” • Good, just not critical • Definitely not critical for first-years! • Grad schools want HMC students • Clinic guarantees work-like experience