Changing Your Schedule

Even if you felt incredibly excited and certain about your Fall schedule before the semester began, it's possible that only fifty minutes in a class can change your mind.  You still aren't committed to your schedule!  Let's talk about your options!

 

 

Adding a Class and Changing a Section/Time

Today, Friday, August 31 is the last day to add a course to your schedule for the Fall 2012 semester.  Changing the time, professor or section of your course is also considered adding a class, so today is the last day to do those things as well.  The CAS Academic Advising Center is only open until 4:30pm so you must make the change to your schedule before then.  You may call the advising center, email an advisor or stop by to add a course. 

 

Dropping a Course After the Add Period

Occasionally, it becomes necessary to drop a course after the add period.  Maybe, despite your best efforts and intentions, you feel unable to do well in a course.  Maybe you have changed your intended major and no longer feel it is desirable to continue in a certain class.  There are some important considerations when deciding to drop!

How do I drop a class?

If you wish to drop a class you must first visit the CAS Advising Center.  You'll meet with an advisor and complete a drop form.  After that, you must meet with your professor to get him/her to sign your drop form.  Then you must return the form to the CAS Advising Center. 

When can I drop?

There are two important dates to keep in mind when considering a drop:

• Wednesday, September 26--This is the last day to drop a course with NO GRADE.  The course will not appear on your transcript if you drop by this date.

• Friday, November 9--This is the last day to drop a course.  If you drop a course at any point between September 26 and this day, you will receive a "W" on your transcript. While a "W" does not provide an indication of academic performance and is not included in your GPA, it will forever be part of your academic record.  

How will dropping impact my academic progress?

If you drop a course after August 31, 2012, you will be unable to add a course to your fall schedule.  In order to complete any degree at the University of Scranton, you must earn a minimum of 129 credits during your time here. That means that you should complete an average of slightly more than 16 credits a semester if you wish to graduate in 4 years.  You can afford to drop a class the first semester, but if you make a habit of dropping after the add period, you may need to consider summer and intersession courses to stay on track for graduation.  Talk to an advisor for information that is more specific to you!

Welcome Freshmen!

 Welcome Freshmen!!!

Welcome Freshmen to The University of Scranton!!!  Your first semester in college is an incredibly exciting time but it can also present you with some brand new challenges!  In the CAS Advising Center, we are excited to help guide you as you navigate these uncharted waters!  No matter what concern you are facing, you can bring it to us first.  If we can’t help you, we will make sure we place you in the right hands!   

There are so many ways to get and stay in touch with us!

• In person:  We are located at 600 Linden Street and are open Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30. You can make an appointment or just walk in.

• By phone:  570-941-6323

• On the web:    

1. We update our blog every Friday with the information most relevant to you!  You can enter your email address in the box to the right to be informed when updates are made!
2. We maintain a Facebook page for quick announcements!
3. Our website is full of information and resources to help you make the most of your Scranton experience!

Here are some important things to know and consider as you head into the first week of class:

Location, location, location!

You should check your schedule online once more before classes start on Monday, August 28!  Occasionally, the location of your classes may change at the very last minute.  For physical education classes, you must report to the John Long Center where you will find the specific location of your class posted.  

You can still change your schedule! 

You have until Friday, August 31, 2012 to add new courses to your schedule.  During the first week of class you can change virtually anything on your schedule.  Just come by the Advising Center to make an adjustment.  You have until Wednesday, September 26 to drop a course, though you will not be able to add anything to your schedule or change course sections after the first week of class.

You can still change your major!

You have the entire first week of class to change your major.  Just drop in the CAS Advising Center and we can help!  If you decide to change your major after the first week, you will not be able to officially do so until the end of the Fall 2012 semester. 

We are here!!

I said it once already, but it bears repeating!  We are very pleased to welcome you to The University of Scranton and are committed to making your transition to life here as smooth and pleasant as possible.  Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns or to drop by just to say hello!

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

 

Welcome to Summer Orientation

Welcome, Freshmen, to The University of Scranton and to Summer Orientation 2012!  Our campus is buzzing with activity as the first group of new students begins the process of transitioning to life at Scranton.  It's an exciting time for everyone but it's only the beginning of our work together!  I will be updating our blog weekly throughout your first year at Scranton to provide you with information to ease the transition to college and to provide you with direction regarding majors and careers.  There's a lot to cover so let's get started!

What to Expect at Orientation

During orientation, you will have at least three opportunities to work with an advisor: Group Advising, Individual Advising and Walk-in Hours. 

Group Advising

First, you will have a group advising session with other students in your major.  During this session, an advisor will gather more information regarding your interests and background, explain how to read your schedule, will explain the catalog and general education curriculum and will begin to help you understand the requirements of your major or undecided program.  There will be time for you to ask questions. 

Individual Advising

All students are required to meet individually with an advisor.  These meetings take place in the Academic Advising Center.  For College of Arts and Sciences students, the Advising Center is located at 600 Linden Street.  At this meeting, you will discuss your schedule, any transfer or AP credit you have earned and your placement test results.  You can change your schedule at this time if you wish.  This is an excellent time to begin discussing your academic and career goals. 

Walk-in Hours

On the second day of orientation, from 1-4:30pm, you can walk-in to further discuss your academic concerns.  Academic advisors will be waiting to talk to you!

This is Only the Beginning

Orientation is just the start of our work together.  Your academic advisors are available all summer to answer your questions or discuss your plans.  You may change your schedule up until the end of the first week of classes!

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

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow...

When grades come out the week of May 21, you will officially have enough credits to be considered a sophomore student!  If you have been advised by the College of Arts and Sciences during your Freshman year, you should know that the end of this academic year signals our parting of ways. 

Parting Ways and Moving On

Here is what you can expect for your next academic year, depending on your situation!  If you will be:

• A Sophomore with a major declared in the College of Arts Sciences your new advisor will be a faculty member who teaches in your major.  Your file will be forwarded to your new advisor in June and you will be emailed with his or her contact information.  If you are not sure where to go for help, you can always call the advising center and we can direct you!

• A major declared in CAS with fewer than 27 credits you will remain in the CAS Advising Center until you have enough credits to earn sophomore standing.

• Declaring a major in the Kania School of Management you will now be advised by the KSOM Advising Center.  They are located in Brennan 206 and can be reached at 570-941-6100.

• Declaring a major in the Panuska School of Professional Studies you will be advised by the CPS Advising Center.  They are located in McGurrin 101 and can be reached at 570-941-6390.

• Not ready to declare a major you will be placed in the Exploratory Program.  You will continue to be advised by the CAS Advising Center.  However, because it is more critical that we help you determine your passion and chose a major, we will be expecting more of you.  You will be assigned to work with a specific CAS advisor and will need to comply with the requirements of the program.  Watch your mail during the month of June for more information on these requirements.  You can also follow this link for more information!

• A Sophomore with a low major GPA you will be placed into the Goal Attainment Program.  For most majors, you must maintain a 2.0 in the courses specifically designated major classes.  However, some majors have higher standards.  If you fail to meet these standards at the end of the Spring Semester, the Dean of CAS can remove you from your major and place you into Goal Attainment.  You will be assigned to work with a specific advisor in CAS Advising  and will have a lot of work to do.  Your advisor will work closely with you to determine if you are struggling in your major because it is not a match for your interests and abilities or because you need some help getting on track. You will be informed by mail in June if you are placed into the Goal Attainment Program.  You can also follow this link for more information. 

 Goodbye Doesn't Have to Be Forever

It is always bittersweet when the academic year ends.  The other advisors and I are pleased to see our students transitioning to the next stage in their academic careers and lives but we develop strong bonds with our students so it's never easy to say goodbye.  Please know that while we won't have your advising file and can't help you in most official capacities after June, we still want to hear from you.  Keep in touch and let us know if we can help you in any way!

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

Final Exam Prep

It’s crunch time!  Final exams for the Spring 2012 semester start Monday, May 14. If you haven’t begun preparing, it’s definitely time!  With all of the projects, presentations, quizzes and pre-final exams leading up to that week, this can be a pretty overwhelming time in the semester.  While the idea of studying for several massive exams can be daunting, it's very possible to soar through it!  I am going to provide you with some time tested tips to help you be as successful as possible on your final exams!

Plan and organize your time!

Success on finals has nothing to do with luck; it's mostly about being organized and properly managing your time.  You can break down your organization to make it more manageable:

• Find out how many final exams you have.  Not every professor gives a final. 

• Consult the Final Exam Schedule to determine when your finals will take place.  This can give you a starting point for determining what your week looks like.  Are all your finals at the beginning or the end of the week?  Are they spread out?  When will your most challenging finals take place?

• Determine if you are missing any resources.  Do you have all lecture notes, texts and handouts?  Examine the syllabus or consult any study guides to ensure you have everything you need! Do you need a tutor, time with your professor or a study group to help you succeed?

• Determine and make a list of what tasks you need to perform to prepare for each exam.  Do you need to:
• Skim through chapters in your textbook?
• Reread some chapters that are less clear to you?
• Study your notes or your professors PowerPoint slides?
• Memorize certain processes, vocabulary, dates, formulas, etc?  Develop an understanding of certain concepts?

• Determine how many hours you need to spend devoted to preparation for each exam.  Not all exams are equal.  Some may have more weight in the calculation of your grade and some may be more challenging for you.  Consult your preparation list for each class and determine roughly how many hours you need for each task. 

• Create a study schedule for the next two weeks:

You should plan to do at least a little work everyday.  It's better to be over prepared early on than to find out at the last minute that you are not ready for an exam!


Plan your study time in blocks and have a goal for each block of time. This will help you be more directed during your study.




Don't study harder; study smarter!
Success on finals isn't about staying up in your dorm room until 4am.   It's not about marathon cram sessions that leave your brain feeling like jelly.   It's about studying smartly.   

• Take Breaks!  Even the most dedicated student can only truly concentrate for about an hour at a time.  Set a timer and step away from your books for ten minutes every hour or so.  You may feel the pressure to keep studying, but you will be much more effective at learning and remembering if you take frequent short breaks!
•  Eliminate Distractions!  Not everyone can stand the silence of the library but it might be preferable to your distraction filled dorm room.  If you are trying to study while watching TV, looking at Facebook or texting, you probably will spend dozens of hours at your desk without reaping any benefits.  It's better to shelve these things during your studying time and save them for your break!
• Study in groups!  There's strength in numbers!  Studying in groups is helpful because it allows you to try out difficult material or to ask questions.  If you find a study group that you can trust, consider dividing up the work and writing study guides for each other.  This can help everyone make the most of their study time.

Take care of yourself!
 Preparing for final exams can be an exhausting and overwhelming experience.   If you are kind to yourself, you will be capable of learning and retaining more!  If you allow yourself to become too stressed or do not consider your health, you may get sick.  Consider the following:

• Get plenty of sleep!  You will lose effectiveness if you do not get enough rest.
• Eat right!  Nutrition is even more important during stressful times!
• Take breaks and don't overdo it!
•  Do something fun and relaxing everyday!  This will help you destress which will enable you to be more focused!

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

Managing the Aftermath of Registration

In the CAS Advising Center, the dust is finally settling after freshmen registration.  Last week, I provided some general advice regarding the process but now I would like to talk about some specific issues that arose and what you can do if you are affected!  My advice is usually the same:  contact the advising center!  However, here is the breakdown of some common registration concerns at this time.  It’s not all inclusive so just because you don’t see your concern, doesn’t mean we can’t help you!

 

"HELP!  I'm panicking because I can't get the course I want!!!

 

The class I want is “Reserve Closed” even though there are still seats!

 

Seats are reserved in some classes to allow specific majors the opportunity to enroll in them.  However, these reserves officially come off on Monday, April 30!  At this time you should be able to register for the course if there are open seats remaining.  If you have difficulty registering for a reserved course on or after April 30, contact the CAS Advising Center!  As long as there are seats, we can help you register for the course.  

I didn’t get my biology or chemistry!          

Many science majors, particularly those pursuing the biological sciences have incomplete schedules at this time.  Registration for Organic Chemistry was a little challenging for some.  Also, a number of sections of biology courses filled even before the start of freshmen registration and others, such as BIOL 241, were in high demand because they were not writing intensive.  If you were unable to get a biology course please know that we are aware of the situation and are working to address it.  

At this point I recommend you:

• Contact the CAS Advising Center as soon as possible to let us know that you did not get a biology course.  When you contact us, we will place you on the “wish list” for the course.  We will use the list not only to match any open seats with the students that need them but also to inform the Dean and the department chair about student needs.  There are no guarantees but sometimes, if there is need, departments can open new sections of courses. 

• Stay calm!  I know how stressful it is to not have a complete schedule right now, but we are absolutely here to help.  Your PIN is activated until the end of the first week of the Fall Semester.  If you get on the “wish list” both you and an advisor can keep looking for classes to open up throughout the summer.  Remember, not everyone who is currently planning to take biology or chemistry courses will stay enrolled in them.  Also, new sections occasionally open if there is enough need.  By the time the semester starts, you will definitely have a biology course and an organic chemistry on your schedule, even if you don’t get your first choice.  However, we can’t help you if you don’t ask us to, so don’t forget to contact the advising center!

I’m a CJ major but I couldn’t get into the recommended courses!

This is a common situation for CJ majors.  While the catalog recommends that you complete specific courses such as Research Methods, American Policing and The American Court System during your first semester of sophomore year, many students are unable to register for them until a later semester.  That is perfectly acceptable as long as you have made sure to register for one or two other criminal justice courses.  If you were unable to find suitable alternatives, contact the advising center and we can help!

The class I want is closed but the professor said I could be “written in”...

It is very uncommon for a student to be added to a closed course.  Ordinarily, a professor’s permission is not enough to get an override into a course.  Usually, there are a number of people awaiting a seat in a closed course so it would be unfair to place someone into a closed course ahead of them.  Beyond considerations of fairness, permission is not enough because often a course is closed because of issues with physical space or contracts.  However, if you would like a closed course, let us know and we will place you on the “wish list”!

My account is still on hold and I haven’t registered yet!! HELP!!!

I realize this is an incredibly stressful situation but don’t forget we are here to help!  It is never preferable to register late, but it definitely does not mean you won’t be able to get the classes you need.  You can try to register yourself with your PIN or you can come by the advising center for assistance.  You may not get an optimal schedule, free from morning or evening courses, but we will help you get classes. 

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

It's Time For Fall and Summer Registration!

 Freshman Registration begins tomorrow, Friday, April 20 at 3PM.  By now, you should have met with an advisor in the CAS Advising Center to ask questions, review your schedule and receive your term PIN.  When your PIN becomes activated, you will follow these instructions to register for your fall and summer courses. Wondering what to do if you have problems? 

 

Common Summer/Fall Registration Woes

• The Course I wanted is closed!  Can I be written in?  Ordinarily, it is not possible to be written into a closed course, even with the professor’s permission.  However, the CAS Advisors maintain a wish list.  If the course you truly want is closed, stay calm!  Register for the next best thing and then send one of us an email with your R# and the name and CRN of the course you are trying to get into.  Course enrollment fluctuates after final grades come out as people change their minds or determine that they can no longer take the courses they have planned.  If you are on the wish list, both you and your advisor can check during the summer for openings.  Additionally, getting your name on the wish list is beneficial because, if there are a lot of people waiting for a course, departments will occasionally open new sections but we need to know that you are waiting for a seat!

• The course I wanted says “major restriction” but I am declaring that major! Many courses are restricted to specific majors.  If you are currently in the process of declaring a major and are unable to register for an open section of a course for that major, call the CAS Advising Center immediately!  We can add you to the course!  In contacting us please remember:

Advisors, like Geri Botyrius, are here to take your calls during registration!

1.  Call us--don't try to come in!!  By the time you make it in to see us and we get off the phone with students who are calling for help, all of your classes might close!  It's always best to call!!

 2.  Completely sign out of your myscranton account!  Only one person can be logged into your registration at a time!  If you are logged in, we can't help you!  It can take a long time for the computer to log you out and the longer it takes, the less likely it is you'll get the classes you want!

3.  Be prepared!  Have your R# and the CRN of the course(s) you want on hand so we can help you faster!

• The course I want is “reserve closed”!  What does that mean?  Many courses reserve a certain number of seats for students in particular majors.  Once the non-reserved seats are taken, students who are not in those majors are not able to register for the class.  Reserves usually come off a week after registration.  Email your advisor to tell them you didn’t get a seat.  If the course is open when the reserve is removed, your advisor can add you to the course. 

•   My Account is On Hold!! Login to your myscranton account to make sure you are not on hold before registration begins.  When you have a hold on your account, neither you nor your academic advisor will be able to register you for the classes.  Most holds are financial.  You will need to talk to the Bursar’s Office to resolve the problem.  They are located in St. Thomas Hall room 201 and you can call them at 570-941-4062.

• I never came in for registration!  If you haven't kept an initial advising appointment for fall preregistration, and you are not currently scheduled for an appointment, the CAS Advisors will not be able to help you until Monday, April 23.  We are solidly booked up until registration now.  Until you have your initial appointment, you can't get your PIN and therefore can't register or be registered for fall classes.  If you call during registration, we can't help you! We open at 8:30am...be here as early as possible to improve your chances of getting into the courses you want!

Other things to chew on...

Bella is "chewing on" all this advice!

• Your PIN becomes activated tomorrow but it stays activated until the end of the first week of the fall semester.  There is a lot of time for courses to open up!  Be patient and don't panic!

• When you completed your preregistration, you and your advisor both signed off on the schedule you planned.  Your advisor certified that the courses you chose were consistent with your academic goals and would help you progress toward timely graduation in your major.  If you make changes to your schedule besides switching sections or adding a PHED course, you should check in with your advisor to make sure you will still be on track!

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