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Helpful Suggestions from the Advisement Staff -- and a Few Warnings
First, some helpful suggestions...
A primary concern of the staff at The College at Brockport is helping students to successfully complete their degree programs. This means that most individuals - beginning with the professor in the classroom, the academic advisor, the staff of the Counseling Center, chairpersons and deans - are usually able to answer questions, explain options, interpret policy and lend support. Students should realize, however, that the primary responsibility for meeting the degree requirements rests with you, the student. Thus, you will need to develop a capability for self-help. Some suggestions to aid you in developing this capability follow:
- Save The Undergraduate Studies Catalog that was issued to you at the time you enrolled, as it describes the graduation requirements for your program. If that program changes while you are enrolled at The College at Brockport, you will be given the option of completing the requirements in effect at the time of your most recent matriculation or completing the new requirements of the program. If you withdraw from Brockport and later are readmitted, you will be required to follow the program in effect at the time you are readmitted. Also, save your copy of Your Right to Know & Academic Policies Handbook since this book lists academic regulations and resources that you will find helpful.
- Throughout the semester, invest time in getting to know your advisor. In advisor/advisee relationships (as well as in all relationships) an investment of time is essential to develop trust and concern. Your advisor cannot help you to reach a particular goal if he/she does not know that you have one! Write down your advisor’s name, office number, phone number and e-mail address.
- Be sure you understand what is necessary to fulfill graduation requirements. All programs have a General Education component as well as courses specific to each major. The courses you select to fulfill the General Education requirements will give you a broad-based education and an opportunity to explore major or career areas that may be new to you.
- Be sure you understand the requirements in your major. For example, you may need to take a number of prerequisite or corequisite courses. These are courses which, while possibly not in the major area of study, provide a broad base of knowledge in support of the major. The major requirements for specific degree programs can be found in The Undergraduate Studies Catalog. Work closely with your major advisor!
- Tape a copy of the semester’s academic calendar to the door of your room. Circle in red all the important dates, e.g., last day to drop a course without academic penalty.
- Learn how to compute your grade point average. Check your grade averages each semester.
- If any semester GPA is below 2.00, make an immediate appointment with your academic advisor before or during the add period of the following semester. Make plans to repeat the same courses in which you received your low grades. NOTE: Check guidelines regarding repeat of courses and state financial aid eligibility.
- All students on financial aid should keep in close communication with the Financial Aid Office regarding application dates, requirements, academic progress, and academic status.
- Learn how to read and interpret your DARS audit report. Don’t simply rely on your advisor. Remember that you are ultimately responsible to see that you meet all degree requirements.
- Keep a copy of each form, letter, grade slip, exam, project, etc. in a special folder. You may need this material as a reference at a later time.
- Keep each semester’s undergraduate schedule (course listings) until the end of the Drop/Add Period of the next semester.
- Start career explorations NOW. Don’t wait!
Now, here are a few warnings.
Whenever you have formal policies and procedures mixed with human beings, misunderstandings are bound to arise. When they have to do with academic programs, the cost of misunderstandings can range from mild inconvenience to moderate catastrophe. If you pay attention to the following warning list of frequent Brockport blunders, you may well avoid paying any of the costs at all:
- Transfer students simply assuming all transcripts will be received in the Admissions Office before preregistration during their first semester at The College at Brockport. You will not be awarded transfer credits until all transcripts have arrived and been evaluated. If you transferred with an associate's degree, but your transcripts are not in, you will be not be able to register as a junior and will have to wait to register with freshmen, since you will have no transfer credits on your Brockport record.
- Dropping from full-time to part-time status without considering implications for your financial aid. You could jeopardize both state (TAP) and federal (Title IV) aid. Check in Financial Aid!!!
- Repeating a course at another college or university and expecting it to remove the previous grade earned at The College at Brockport. Courses may transfer, but grades don't. Old grades are figured in your GPA. If you want that grade removed, take the course at Brockport, not at another college.
- Transfer students making assumptions about transfer credits based upon discussions with other transfer students. While this may work in some cases, each student's transfer credits must be considered an individual package since decisions regarding credits are dependent on such variables as the semester the course was taken - and where - and date of matriculation at The College at Brockport.
- Assuming that your advisor is the one responsible for ensuring that you have the proper requirements for graduation. Take interest in degree requirements and program opportunities and take charge of your education.
- Not taking advantage of preregistration opportunities. If you do not preregister, you may end up registering for whatever is left at final registration as opposed to what you need.
- Repeating a course in which you previously received a passing grade to improve your grade point average (GPA). This is only a concern if you receive TAP or other state aid. Be safe by registering for 12 or more credits in addition to the repeated class. Sometimes this blunder is not reversible. Students have lost all of their state financial aid for a semester.
- Dropping a course without formally notifying the registrar. If you simply stop attending a course without formally dropping it, you will probably end up with a failing grade.
- Taking courses elsewhere when you already have the maximum number of transferable credits. You can transfer only a maximum of 64 credits from a two-year college, and 90 credits from a four-year college or university.
- Not repeating courses in which you have received an "E" grade or postponing the repeat until a later date. Since the second grade replaces the first, repeating immediately is the easiest way to avoid academic difficulty and to raise your GPA.
- Taking a course on an "S/U" basis (satisfactory/ unsatisfactory) because you think you may just squeak by and you don't want to risk your GPA. If you earn the equivalent of a "C-" or "D" in the course, you will earn a "U," which is failing. It won't hurt your GPA, but it won't help you graduate either.
- Taking a course on an "S/U" basis that is part of the General Education requirements or your major, minor, or certification program requirements. All such courses must be taken on a letter-grade basis.
- Simply assuming that your DARS report is always accurate. Read it carefully, and discuss any questions with your advisor, or stop in the Office of Academic Advisement. Course substitutions and waivers have to be entered manually and need to be reflected on the DARS report. You also want to be sure all of your information is displayed accurately.
- Assuming that if you leave The College at Brockport for a period of time, your degree requirements will be the same when you return. Not always! Familiarize yourself with the Leave of Absence/Separation policy.
- Not using electives wisely. Approximately a third of the 120 credits required for graduation are electives. How you use these electives is what customizes your degree, and will significantly affect your degree's worth in the marketplace. A second major, minor, or teacher certification comes from your electives. Study overseas, take an internship, study at another school as a visiting student, or look into other ways to maximize use of your electives.
