Academic Orientation

1. Academic Orientation June 24, 2010

2. Baccalaureate Degree • Coursework • Lower Level Hours [100 & 200] • Developmental (Builds skills, counts toward course load, does not count toward degree) • College-Level • Upper Level Hours [300 & 400] • Writing Proficiency Requirement

3. Coursework General Education Requirements(Core Curriculum) [42 Hours] Major-Specific Courses Minor Electives Total Program [120 Hours]

4. Core Curriculum Mission The mission of the core curriculum is to prepare students for academic and professional success, social responsibility, and personal growth by providing educational experiences that integrate written and oral communication, critical thinking, problem solving, analytical and creative activity, and technical proficiencies.

5. Through the core curriculum courses, students will: • develop competence in: communication skills, basic mathematical principles, critical thinking, problem solving, and in the use of technology; • acquire knowledge and appreciation of human cultures and artistic endeavors; • develop the basis for an understanding of the environment; • recognize the importance of maintaining health and wellness; and • integrate knowledge and understanding by studying the interrelationships of the disciplines. 

6. General Education Requirements

7. Writing Proficiency Requirement • Meet Writing Proficiency Requirement through Writing Intensive Program • 4 Writing Intensive (WI) courses • ENGL 111 (1301) & 112 (1302) • 2 upper level WI courses within the major or designed for the degree plan

8. Course Load • Minimum for Full-Time = 12 Hours (4 courses) • Average = 13 – 16 Hours (4-5 courses) • General Education Requirements (3-4 Courses) • Major Exploratory Course • Maximum = 19 Hours (6 courses) • Issues to consider: • Work • Commuting time • Weekend commitments • Other activities

9. New Student Advising Report • Demographics • Test Scores (Highest Only) • Placement • Mathematics • English • Reading • Holds • Coursework

11. Mathematics Placement Rules • Required during Fall Semester • MATH 100 (Developmental) • MATH 101 (Developmental) • MATH 107 or Higher (Unless TSI complete)

12. College-Level Mathematics Placement Examination • Eligible for enrollment in: • MATH 107, 108, or 110 • Interested in enrolling in MATH: • 109 “Plane Trigonometry” • 111 “Math for Business II” • 118 “Pre-calculus” • 120 “Calculus I” • 131 “Introduction to Probability and Statistics” • Complete exam on Friday @ 8:00am in MATH 201

13. English Placement Rules • Required during Fall Semester • ENGL 100 (Developmental) • ENGL 111 (Unless TSI complete) • ENGL 112* (Unless TSI complete)* Requires credit for ENGL 111 [1301]

14. Holds – Clear to Register • Everyone • Academic Advising Required & Departmental Advising Required – by Faculty Advisor on Friday afternoon at end of advising appointment • Orientation – by FYE on Friday • Scholars Orien (Info Only) – Not a hold • As Need • No Deposit – Handled during check-in • TSI Advising Required – After TSI meeting on Thursday @ 4:45pmin TSC Room 219 • Others – Need to see department(s) before you can register

15. College-Level Coursework • Listed on Report • From “official” college transcripts (i.e., not high school transcripts) • Not Listed on Report • When building schedule, need to tell Orientation Advisor • When reviewing schedule with Faculty Advisor, need to tell him/her

16. College Transcripts • Your responsibility to submit “Official” transcripts to Undergraduate Admissions. • If the coursework is mathematics and/or English, the transcript needs to be submitted before the beginning of Fall 2010.

17. Questions & Answers

18. Timely Graduation

19. Timely Graduation • Tuition Rebate • Undergraduate Funding Limit • 3-Peat Rule • Texas State 6 Drop Policy http://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/timelygraduation/index.html

20. $1,000 Tuition Rebate • Program PurposeTo provide a financial incentive for a student to complete the bachelor's degree with as few courses outside the degree plan as possible. Minimizing the number of courses taken by students results in financial savings to the students, their parents and the state. • http://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/timelygraduation/1000tuitionRebate.html

21. Key Eligibility Requirements for Tuition Rebate • Students who were Texas Residents during their college career, qualify for the $1,000 rebate if they have attempted no more than three semester credit hours in excess of the minimum number of hours required for their degree. For example, a student who completes a bachelor's degree that requires 120 credit hours with no more than 123 credit hours attempted may qualify for this rebate. • Must graduate within four calendar years for a four-year degree or within five calendar years for a five-year degree

22. Why Timely Graduation is Important… Undergraduate Funding Limit Rule • The State of Texas provides that there is now a limit on the number of attempted hours an undergraduate Texas resident may attempt while paying in-state tuition at any public institution of higher education. • Enrollment in any Texas public institution for Fall 2006 and thereafter – no more than 30 attempted hours over degree requirement. Ex: 120+30= 150 hours before being charged the excessive hours fee. • Types of hours that count toward the “Undergraduate Funding Limit rule” include: • All semester credit hours attempted at Tarleton State University that were state funded at the undergraduate level, regardless of whether they count towards a degree • All state funded transfer hours attempted from any Texas public institution of higher education that the student attended • Hours attempted or hours dropped after the official census date of a semester • Optional internships • Repeated courses

23. Undergraduate Funding Limit • This Legislation is an attempt to offer a financial incentive to encourage students to complete degree requirements in a timely manner (Texas Education Code §54.014). • Students are then subject to penalty of an additional $100 per semester credit hour for excess hours beyond their degree program. (12 hours = an additional $1200 dollars) • How do students gain excess hours? Drop classes unnecessarily, change their major often, take classes unrelated to their major, and often repeat classes. These actions can lead to additional fees being charged.  http://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/fundlimit.html

24. 3–Peat Rule • This Legislation was passed by the State of Texas to discourage students from repeating courses unnecessarily. • This has a financial impact on students who attempt the same course for a third time. • Texas residents will be charged an additional $100 per credit hour for the repeated course. This provision is described in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules (Chapter 13, Subchapter B, §13.25).

25. 3–Peat Rule WHERE CAN I GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT 3-PEAT RULE? • To read more about this program, please see Texas Higher Education Board Rules (Chapter 13, Subchapter B, §13.25). • Contact your Advisor for information. • View website at: • http://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/timelygraduation/threePeat.html

26. 6 Drop Policy • Undergraduate students enrolled at Tarleton State University are only permitteda total of 6 dropped courses, including any transfer courses dropped at another Texas public institution of higher education (Section Bill 2183, 80th Legislature; THECB Regulations, Chapter 4, Section 4.10 (a)). • Courses dropped before the census date (with no record) or while withdrawing from the University do not count as dropped courses under the six drop limit. • Students are encouraged to review the Tarleton’s drop dates and deadlines so they are not penalized when dropping a course. • http://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/limitForDrops.html

27. 6 Drop Policy - Definitions Adropped courseis a course a student is enrolled in after the census date who does not complete the course and receives a grade of Q as the final grade. This drop will be recorded on the student’s academic transcript.

28. 6 Drop Policy Exceptions Exceptions: • Courses dropped under the following documented circumstances are considered acceptable exceptions to this regulation and will not be counted towards the limit of six drops; • Courses dropped while the undergraduate student was enrolled at an institution of higher education located outside of the State of Texas and not receiving funding from the State; • Courses dropped while the undergraduate student was enrolled at an institution supported by private, rather than public funds; • Courses dropped because of severe illness or other debilitating conditions that affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course; • Courses dropped because of the student’s responsibility for the care of a sick, injured, or otherwise needy person if the provision of that care affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course;

29. 6 Drop Policy Exceptions • Courses dropped because of the death of a person who is considered to be a member of the student’s family or who is otherwise considered to have a sufficiently close relationship to the student and the person’s death is considered to be a showing of good cause; • Courses dropped because of the student’s active duty service as a member of the Texas National Guard or any branch of the armed forces of the United States; • Courses dropped because of the active duty services as a member of the Texas National Guard or any branch of the United States of any member of the student’s family who is considered to have a sufficiently close relationship to the student that the person’s active military service is considered to be a showing of good cause; • Courses dropped because of a change in the student’s off campus work schedule that is beyond the control of the student and that affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course; • Courses dropped for other well-documented good cause and approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

30. 6 Drop Informational/registration holds Students who drop a course after the census date will have the following informational/registration holds added to their academic record. This information is a warning system for students so they are aware of how many drops they have remaining according to the 6 Drop Policy. D0- 0 Drops Remaining (this will restrict registration)- Student should contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance. D1- 1 Drop Remaining (info only)- will not restrict the student from registration- WARNING! D2- 2 Drops Remaining (info only)- will not restrict the student from registration. D3- 3 Drops Remaining (info only)- will not restrict the student from registration. D4- 4 Drops Remaining (info only)- will not restrict the student from registration. D5- 5 Drops Remaining (info only)- will not restrict the student from registration. D6- 6 Drops Remaining (info only)- will not restrict the student from registration. Students may review these and other student hold information at: http://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/holdInfo.html

31. What the student can do to avoid these penalties… • Do not drop courses unnecessarily. • Do not withdraw from the university unless necessary. ( Doesn’t count toward 6 drop, but does count toward UG Funding Limit). • Work on core courses until you have decided on a major. • Invest a lot of thought when deciding on a major. • Avoid getting F’s in courses. • Review the Academic Calendar for official drop dates and deadlines for each semester.

32. Moral of the Story Take care of business and graduate within a reasonable time frame and it will save you…

33. Questions & Answers