Friday, September 27, 2013

Fall Into the Advising Center for Registration!

You may feel like you've really just started your first semester but it's already time to start planning for the spring!  Picking your classes for the first time can be a stressful and overwhelming but the CAS Advising Center Staff is here to help demystify the process for you!

Follow these steps and you will be prepared for your appointment!


 

Pick Up Your Advising Materials!

If you haven't done so already, stop by the Advising Center in STT 209 to pick up your advising materials.  You will get your Appointment Letter which will tell you when you are scheduled to come in to meet with an advisor to get your schedule approved.  You will also receive your personal CAPP sheet and a registration form.

We're waiting for you!!

Attend a Registration Information Session

Each academic department will be hosting its own information session to help you prepare for your advising meeting.  These sessions will provide you with information specific to your major.

 If you are undecided, the CAS Advising Center is offering the following sessions to help you prepare:


September 30, 2013
12-12:50—LSC 333
2-2:50—BRN 102
4:30-5:20—HYL 102
5:30-6:20—HYL 102

October 1, 2013
9-9:50—LSC 333
2:30-3:20—MGH 110
3:30-4:20—MGH 110

October 2, 2013
9-9:50—HYL 102
12-12:50—LSC 333
2-2:50—BRN 102

October 3, 2013
 9-9:50—LSC 333
2:30-3:20—MGH 110

October 4, 2013
9-9:50—LSC 333
12-12:50—LSC 333

 


Before your appointment—Completely fill out your course Registration form. To do this you will:

  • Fill out the Semester Questionnaire in your appointment letter envelope.
  • Review the online catalog (www.scranton.edu/catalog) to determine what major and cognate courses are required for your major for the spring semester.
  • Review your CAPP to determine your progress in completing required general education courses. Decide which ones you would like to complete in the fall.
  • Use the purple sheet to guide you in accessing the online course search. Look up the courses you plan to take. Choose the specific sections for which you intend to register.
  • Put all course information on the Course Registration Form. Don’t forget to record all the CRNs and days and times for each course. (see example)


On the day of your appointment—arrive on time for your appointment.


Bring your completed Semester Planning Guide and your completed Course Registration Form. At this appointment, you will discuss your intended schedule with an academic adviser. Once your adviser approves your schedule, he or she will give you a registration term PIN.

On Registration Day


Friday, November 22—use your PIN to go online and register for your courses for the spring 2014 semester. Your PIN will become active between 3 and 4:15pm. Once it becomes active, you can go online to register for the classes your adviser approved. Your PIN stays active until the end of the first week of class in the Spring 2014 Semester. If you experience difficulty in registering, call the CAS Academic Advising Center (570-941-6323).  Details of this will follow in future blog posts.


Monday, September 23, 2013

Academic Difficulty and Dropping a Course--How to Stay Afloat




Welcome freshmen! The semester is in full swing and you should be beginning to get adjusted to life at Scranton.  You also should have a fairly good feel for your class schedule and probably have had a few tests or quizzes.  You have been completing assignments and attending classes for a month at this point.  With all this under your belt, you may be feeling confident about your academic abilities.  However, what do you do if things aren't going so well?


Ask for help!


From your faculty:


The first step you should take if you are struggling in a course is to seek help!  The staff and faculty are all eager to assist you.  Discuss your concerns with your professor.  He or she has likely heard it all before and has seen students succeed and fail many times.  Your professor is an excellent resource for study strategies.  Generally speaking, professors look much more kindly upon the struggling student that seeks help than the student who seems unconcerned about poor academic performance.   When grades are calculated, sometimes it helps if your professor has witnessed you making a genuine effort. 

From your advisor:


The advising staff in the CAS Advising Center can often help you troubleshoot your academic difficulties or can help you determine what your next move should be.  We are aware of resources that you can take advantage of and have experience helping freshmen successfully transition to college.  We love talking to students and helping them get on the right track.  Stop by and see us!!!

From CTLE:

The staff of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence can assist you in a multitude of ways.   They can provide you with tutors or help you to become a better reader.  CTLE is also responsible for providing disability services.  The staff of the Writing Center can review your writing to help you improve your papers.  The students who perform the best at Scranton are usually the ones who avail themselves of these services.  Visit their website to learn how they can help you succeed!!

What if Nothing is Working?!

So what if you have tried all these things and you are still performing badly in a class?  Or what if you hate the class and can't face attending it even one more time?  Come and talk to an academic advisor about your options!  Wednesday, September 25, 2013 is the last day to drop a course without a grade. If you drop a course at this point, it will not appear on your transcript and will not be calculated into your GPA.  If you drop between September 26 and November 11, you will receive a "W" for the course.  An advisor can help you decide what the right option for you is.

If you decide to drop the course, you will have to obtain a drop form from the CAS Advising Center, obtain the signature of your professor and Mrs. Butler, the Assistant Dean by 4:30 September 25.  This can be a time consuming process so don't delay if you believe you want to drop.


As always, we are here to answer your questions.  Stop in, call or email me!

Katie Robinson
CAS Academic Advisor
katherine.robinson@scranton.edu