Academics at IWU Dr Greg Shaw Professor of

Academics at IWU Dr. Greg Shaw Professor of Political Science Chandra Shipley, MSEd Director of Academic Advising

A brief agenda • • The student-teacher relationship Academic expectations Academic resources Some advice for parents First-year advising program Graduation requirement overview Questions and responses

Student-teacher relationship • As distinguished from high school: – A combination of classroom exchanges, assignments, mentoring, and extracurriculars – Ongoing mentorship across semesters as students grow; community building within departments • Multiple faculty roles: – Teachers, scholars / artists, community members • By design, we are busy but available: – Academic advising, office hours, research partnerships

Academic expectations • Excellence, excellence! • Pre-class preparation is key • Approximately two hours of study for each hour in class – college is a full-time (plus) job • Transition from consumers of knowledge to producers of knowledge • Competently and creatively challenging authority – question everything

Academic expectations • Some of the biggest challenges for students: – Active reading: note taking, textual criticism – Learning to ask, “Why do we pose the question this way? ” – Using office hours effectively – Responding to written feedback – Making time for high-impact extra-curricular activities (summers, internships, spring breaks) – Developing the courage to pursue lofty goals • Again, train to smartly question authority

Academic Resources • • Professors Advisors Academic Advising Center Academic Skills Series Writing Center Language Resource Center Departmental Tutors Library Faculty

Some advice • This will be a time of lots of decisions – Moving from a highly structured to a less structured environment – The best help from parents probably comes in the form of probing questions – Try not to panic when daughters and sons change majors (med-school? maybe not) • Creating a safe place for experiential learning, including occasionally falling down (and learning how to get back up)

What is First-Year Advising? First-Year Advising (FYA) is a program that facilitates a successful transition from high school to university life in which an IWU faculty member assists the student in academic planning and offers advice concerning academic decisions a student must make throughout his or her undergraduate career.

Who are the First-Year Advisors? • Faculty members who volunteer and are trained to work with first-year students • Assigned to each Gateway Colloquium course or is the Gateway instructor • Focus is on liberal arts foundation (general education program) • Follow template for recommended course of study for first three semesters of each major – Templates are available online

Role of the First-Year Advisor • Assist students with the transition into the university • Provide GUIDANCE in selection of courses and academic planning • Monitor anxiety about registration process • Promote reasonable balance of work • Facilitate assistance with academic difficulty • Direct access to resources (e. g. , psychological difficulty, career counseling, writing skills)

Role of the Student Come to appointments on-time Prepare for appointments Keep organized records Provide accurate information regarding interests and abilities • Be an active partner in the advising relationship • Follow through on referrals • Take responsibility • •

Role of the Family Member • Be available to support and encourage your student • Encourage your student to do things they can for him/herself • Re-direct your student’s concerns and questions to their FYA • Respect the role of the advisors • Remind your student of the various resources available to assist on campus • Utilize the Family Member Checklist on the Advising Center Website

Advising Process Overview Summer 2013 Fall 2013/Spring 2014 • Email from the Office of the Registrar - sent on 6/14 • Turning Titan: New Student Orientation • Fall Group Session and Individual Appointment for Spring/May Term Registration • Spring Group Session and Individual Appointment for Fall Registration • Individual appointments as needed – 1 group advising session with the students – 30 minute individual advising appointment with the student – Registration for remainder of classes is Friday morning

What’s After FYA? • Second/Sophomore Year: Transition to a faculty advisor in their major department. • Undeclared students: Either stay with their FYA or are assigned to the Director of Academic Advising.

Graduation Requirements The Basics • Major • Minor (Optional) • General Education Requirements • Electives (varies) • 2. 0/4. 0 GPA • +/- Grading system

UNITS The unit: Required to graduate: • 1 unit = 4 semester hours/6 quarter hours • 1 unit = minimum of 150 minutes/week in class • Majority of our classes are 1 unit • Typical course load is 4 units/courses per semester • • • BA = 32 units BSN = 32 units BFA = 32 units BM = 35 units BME = 36 units

General Education Requirements • • • Gateway Colloquium Analysis of Values The Arts Contemporary Social Institutions Cultural and Historical Change Formal Reasoning* Intellectual Traditions Literature Second Language* • The Natural Sciences* • Physical Education • Encountering Global Diversity Flag • Encountering U. S. Diversity Flag • 2 Writing Intensive Courses *The # of units required for these categories varies by degree.

Sample Schedules Business Biology Class Units Gateway 1 Biology 101 1. 25 Economics 100 1 Chemistry 201 1. 25 Math 110 1 History 151 1 French 101 1 TOTAL 4. 5 Nursing TOTAL 4 Psychology Class Units Gateway 1 Psychology 100 1 Biology 107 1. 25 Chemistry 110 1. 25 English 101 1 Human Nutrition 230 1 Spanish 201 1 TOTAL 4. 5 TOTAL 4. 25

Summer Reading Program

Academic Skills Series • Collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs • Series of 10 programs to assist students in the development of and/or strengthening of academic skills needed to be successful at IWU • Offered in the fall and the spring – Wednesdays at noon – Pizza provided for lunch • Students can attend any or all

Academic Advising Center Services include: • providing drop-in and academic advising by appointment • facilitating major exploration for undecided students or students considering changing majors • drafting semester-by-semester plans • assisting students experiencing academic difficulty • referring students to campus resources • coordinating academic accommodations • answering questions about advising, university policy, and registration www. iwu. edu/advising@iwu. edu 110 Holmes Hall 309 -556 -3231

Questions? * * yes, everything is fair game