High Point University © 2010

At High Point University the advising process consist of two parties working diligently and collectively together – the ADVISOR and the ADVISEE. Each party has responsibilities and obligations to perform in this joint process.

ADVISOR: A faculty member who facilitates University communication, coordinates learning experiences through academic course (semester schedules) and career planning, evaluates academic progress, and refers students to other campus resources.

ADVISEE: A student who has final responsibility for all decisions made related to their academics. The student is responsible for seeking advice and assistance from the advisor, knowing university rules and regulations, checking their university MyStuff and e-mail accounts for University communications, and maintaining accurate personal information (address, phone, etc.) on the university system.

There are four sub-sections of related information as noted below.

ADVISORS
Roles and Responsibilities of Advisors
Characteristics of Effective Advisors
Monitoring Academic Progress: [advising folder; advisor access; monitoring techniques; student conferences; repeating courses; appointment of advisors; changing major and advisor]

ADVISEES
Advisee Responsibilities
Monitoring Academic Progress: [advisor access; monitoring techniques; student conferences; repeating courses; appointment of advisors; changing major and advisor]
Other Student Information: [administrative office hours; catalog; class attendance policy; drop/add; incomplete grades; withdrawal policy; graduate attributes]
Grading System: [includes student status classifications]
University Resource Contacts

WEB REGISTRATION
Registration Process as Related to Advising
Faculty Web Registration Procedures

UNIVERSITY FORMS
Drop/Add
Ungraded Course Option
Independent Study
Directed Study
Credit by Examination
Student Career Intern Program
Degree Audit

ADVISORS

Roles and Responsibilities of Advisors
The advisor's role is an active rather than a passive one and the process of advising requires the following objectives to be met for each student assigned as an advisee:

1. Help students define and develop realistic educational career plans through schedule planning for each semester and summer school, if appropriate. Each student should have an up-to-date academic schedule plan through to graduation.

2. (If advisee is a new freshman or transfer) Meet with the advisee during the period of orientation to assist student with initial adjustment to university academic life. Special sessions should be scheduled throughout the first academic year.

3. (For continuing advisees) Meet at least once each semester with continuing students to plan for the coming semester (or summer) and to review/revise long range academic program schedules.

4. Assist students in planning a program consistent with their abilities and interests.

5. Monitor progress toward educational/career goals and meet at least once each semester to review the progress toward completing the proposed academic program and to discuss grades and other performance indicators.

6. Discuss and reinforce linkages and relationships between instructional program and occupation/career.

7. Interpret and provide rationale for institutional policies, procedures, and requirements.

8. Follow-up with the advisee on any report of unsatisfactory work (notice of class probation for poor attendance, notice of FA and/or failing grades, incomplete grades from past semester(s), etc.). Special attention should be paid to students who are placed on academic probation.

9. Approve all designated educational transactions (e.g., pre-registration/registration schedule, drops/adds, withdrawals, change of major and advisor, waivers, graduation requirements, etc.).

10. Try to make informal out-of-class/office contacts to underscore personal interest in the student as an individual.

11. Maintain an up-to-date advising folder, with a summary record of performance to date (grade reports, transcript, requirements completed, etc.), dates of conferences, notation of special circumstances, etc. This folder should be available for inspection, on demand, by the Department Chair or the student and should also be ready to be forwarded immediately to the student's new advisor upon notification by the Office of Academic Development.

12. Inform and, if necessary, refer students to other institutional resources when academic, attitudinal, attendance, or other personal problems require intervention by other professionals. (e.g., Office of Academic Development, Academic Services Center, Personal Counseling, etc.)

13. Proactively contact and be available for student advisees on a regular basis. Office hours should be posted on the advisor's office door and preferably given to the advisee early in the semester. Advisors should plan for extended hours during pre-registration advising.

14. Consult regularly with faculty colleagues in order to have up-to-date information. For career and graduate school options, advisors should refer advisees to the Career Development Center when more information is needed.

Characteristics of Effective Advisors

Advisor's who possess the following characteristics are most successful with students:
• interested in advising
• demonstrates a concerned and caring attitude toward advisees
• exhibits effective interpersonal and communication skills
• available to advisees
• frequent contact with advisees
• intrusive behavior with advisees
• knowledgeable of institutional regulations, policies, offerings, and procedures
• monitors student progress
• uses appropriate information sources and refers when necessary
• engages in developmental advising versus simply course scheduling

Monitoring Academic Progress

Student Advising Folder
A key to effective advising is the maintenance of a complete and up-to-date folder of information on each advisee. The Student Advising Folder needs to be both historical and current. It need not contain mid-term grade reports once a final grade report is received, nor grade reports once recorded on the transcript included in the folder. The typical folder for a freshman advisee would contain the following materials with the items being updated annually using MyStuff:

Mid-term Grade Reports
Grade Report(s) for completed semester(s)
Notation about office conferences
Class Probation Notices
Other University Communications
Up-to-date transcript (second semester)
Program Evaluation (degree audit)
Degree Progress Analysis Form

Advisor Access
It is clear, from numerous research studies, that effective academic advising can have a significant and positive impact on the success of students in the University. Academic advising presents an opportunity for a one-on-one relationship between student and faculty member that is separate from the classroom relationship. Particularly in a small university, students should feel confident that they have ready access to faculty to discuss their academic and career plans. Students should also have confidence in the knowledge and expertise of their advisors in providing accurate guidance in the design of an academic program and selection of specific courses. Faculty advisors also play a key role in monitoring academic progress and encouraging good academic performance.

Advisors are especially important during the student's first year at the university, when each student is developing a sense of commitment to the University and assessing the level of commitment that is reciprocated. From the perspective of the advisor, the advising process can provide some special rewards and satisfactions. It is particularly satisfying to see students who have overcome initial hurdles, often through the support of individual faculty, reach graduation a few years later.

Monitoring Techniques and Student Office Conferences
The mid-term Grade Report provides an early look at the student's academic results in the first semester. Deficiencies (C-, D's and F's) should be discussed with the student immediately upon receipt of mid-term grades. Likewise, receipt of class probation notices and involuntary withdrawals should be immediately discussed with the advisee.

Retention studies have indicated that an important factor in academic success is early intervention when a student encounters difficulties in classroom performance. The most critical period is the first semester of the freshman year, which appears to be the period when many students make decisions about their level of commitment to an institution.

The mid-term Grade Report is often the first indication of student progress [or the lack thereof]. It is sent to students just after completion of the first half of the fall and spring semesters. Advisors receive an e-mail report from the Office of Academic Development of grade deficiencies by student at the same time. It is highly recommended that a conference be scheduled immediately after fall/spring break with any student showing an unsatisfactory level of performance. Previous experience indicates that students with poor grades at mid-term will very likely end up with similar grades at the end of the semester unless some form of active intervention helps to get them back on track. At this point the advisor needs to discuss with the advisee the options of obtaining academic support through the Academic Services Center or dropping the course.

Advisors also need to give attention to attendance reports [Class Probation notices]. Poor attendance often indicates a lack of commitment and usually translates into poor grade performance. Early intervention conferences are recommended as soon as attendance problems emerge.

Advisors will receive grade reports for their advisees after the end of each semester on their MyStuff account. This provides another opportunity to review students' academic performance and to set up additional conferences as appropriate. These conferences should be used to discuss repeating courses in which the student has received a D or F grade, thus requiring a need to change their registration schedule.

Repeating Courses
Students who receive grades of "D" or "F" generally should be advised to repeat the course(s) as soon as possible to improve thier academic standing. When a course is repeated, the initial grade remains on the transcript; however, the higher of the two grades is used in calculating the students' grade point average (GPA) [and quality point balance (QPB) for students entering HPU before August, 2009]. Thus, repeating a course is one of the fastest and easiest methods a student has to improve their academic standing. Student athletes also need to make sure in repeat situations they have at least 12 semester hours in new courses. Students receiving financial aid also need to check with their financial aid counselor as to what effect, if any, dropping a course will have on their financial aid package.

SPECIAL NOTE: Of course, it is not necessary to wait for "official" communications to initiate either formal or informal contacts with an advisee. In fact, it may be more effective in some cases to talk with a student in a more casual situation, demonstrating that the advisor's concern for the student goes beyond their formal duties as an advisor.

Appointment of Advisors
An Academic Advisor is appointed for each student by the Office of Academic Development at the time of first enrollment. Generally, entering freshmen will be assigned to advisors within the area of their intended major. (In some instances, the departmental advising load of faculty, for example in Business, may prevent this.) Undecided students will be assigned to advisors independent of any particular academic plans. Either the student or the advisor can request a change of advisor at any time by means of a Change of Advisor form. No specific reason need be given for this change. This form can be completed in the Office of Academic Development. .
Students in the Evening Degree Program receive most of their academic advising from the staff for that program and are not assigned to specific faculty advisors. The students do have the opportunity to consult with faculty in the departments having majors in the Evening Degree Program.

Changing Major and Advisor
Student's desiring to change majors need also change advisors. To do this, the student needs to go to the Office of Academic Development and inform them of their desire to change. A new advisor will be assigned and both the new and current advisors will be informed. The current advisor then should forward the student's advising folder to the new advisor.

ADVISEES

Advisee Responsibilities
The advisee is an equal partner in the advising process. It is their education and their choices to make. Advisees have the following responsibilities:

(1) Clarify their personal values, abilities, interests, and goals.
(2) Contact and make an appointment with the advisor when required or when in need of assistance. If the student finds it impossible to keep the appointment, the student will notify the advisor.
(3) Become knowledgeable and adhere to institutional policies, procedures, and requirements.
(4) Prepare for advising sessions and bring appropriate resources or materials.
(5) Access and use MyStuff for academic updates and information updating.
(6) Follow through on actions identified during each advising session.
(7) Request re-assignment of a different advisor when changing majors.
(8) Accept final responsibility for all decisions made.

Monitoring Academic Progress

Monitoring Techniques and Student Conferences
Students are responsible for monitoring their own academic progress. However, advisors have an equal responsibility to discuss with a student their academic progress. The mid-term Grade Report provides an early "look" at the academic results of the first half of a semester. Deficiencies (C-, D's and F's) should be discussed with both your advisor and the course's instructor immediately upon receipt of mid-term grades. Likewise, receipt of class probation notices for attendance and involuntary withdrawals should be immediately discussed with your instructor and advisor, respectively.

The mid-term Grade Report is often the first indication of student progress [or the lack thereof]. It is highly recommended that a conference be scheduled immediately after fall or spring break with your advisor and the course's instructor. Previous experience indicates that students with poor grades at mid-term will very likely end up with similar grades at the end of the semester unless some form of active intervention helps to get them back on track. Basic options include obtaining academic support through the Academic Services Center or dropping the course.

Attention also needs to be given to attendance reports [Class Probation notices]. Poor attendance often indicates a lack of commitment and usually translates into poor grade performance.

End-of-semester grade reports also provide another opportunity to review academic performance and to set up additional conferences with your advisor as appropriate. These conferences should be used to discuss repeating courses in which the student has received a D or F grade, thus requiring a need to change the registration schedule.

Repeating Courses
Students who receive grades of "D" or "F" generally should repeat the course(s) as soon as possible to improve ones academic standing. When a course is repeated, the initial grade remains on the transcript; however, the higher of the two grades is used in calculating the students' grade point average (GPA) [and their quality point balance (QPB) for students entering HPU before August, 2009]. Thus, repeating a course is one of the fastest and easiest methods to improve ones academic standing. Student athletes also need to make sure in repeat situations they have at least 12 semester hours in new courses. Students receiving financial aid also need to check with their financial aid counselor as to what effect, if any, dropping a course will have on their financial aid package.

OTHER STUDENT INFORMATION

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS
8:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Friday

CATALOG (UNDERGRADUATE BULLETIN)
Students are under the requirements of the catalog of the year they entered or the year they will graduate, at the option of the student. A student who is not enrolled at the university for more than a year will be under the catalog of the year of re-entrance.

CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY
The University's Attendance Policy as approved by the faculty, January 8, 1990, is located in the Undergraduate Bulletin, Academic Program's section. (Also available to faculty in the Faculty Handbook)

DROP/ADD
To be valid, courses dropped or added must be initialed by the instructor teaching each course on the Drop/Add Form and signed by the advisor. The form then must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by the student. The student should retain their copy and the faculty advisor should put their copy in the students advising folder.

GRADE OF INCOMPLETE
A grade of "I" may be given when the instructor feels that the student should be allowed an extension to complete the course, due to illness or some other justifiable reason. If an "I" is given, an Incomplete Grade Contract must be completed by the instructor indicating the reason for the Incomplete, the work to be completed, and a completion date. Instructors are encouraged to establish early completion dates so as to prevent longer range complications.

POLICY FOR WITHDRAWALS FROM CLASSES AND FROM THE UNIVERSITY
The University's policy on Voluntary Withdrawal, Selective Withdrawal, and Withdrawal from the University can be located in the Undergraduate Bulletin, Academic Program's section. (Faculty need to see Faculty Handbook for description of policies that apply in this area.)

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES OF HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY GRADUATES
This set of clearly defined goals and objectives for the University's educational programs, educational support services and campus life, and administrative operations is printed in A Guide to Campus Life: The Student Handbook of High Point University.

GRADING SYSTEM

Fall semester, 1996, a "plus and minus" grading system was placed into effect at the University. For purpose of calculating averages, honors and academic standing, the following quality points are assigned to the letter grades: (Note: Students should be advised that faculty may elect not to use the plus/minus grading system in their course(s).)
"A"   = 4.0 quality points per semester hour
"A -" = 3.7 quality points per semester hour
"B+" = 3.3 quality points per semester hour
"B"   = 3.0 quality points per semester hour
"B -" = 2.7 quality points per semester hour
"C+" = 2.3 quality points per semester hour
"C"   = 2.0 quality points per semester hour
"C -" = 1.7 quality points per semester hour
"D+" = 1.3 quality points per semester hour
"D"   = 1.0 quality point per semester hour
"D -" = 0.7 quality point per semester hour
"F"    = 0.0 quality point per semester hour

GPA AND QPB CALCULATION METHOD

NOTE: Beginning in Fall, 2009, only the Grade Point Average (GPA) will be used to calculate academic standing; students who entered the University prior to August, 2009, will remain on the Quality Point Balance (QPB) calculation method.

To calculate the GPA [Grade Point Average], complete the following steps:
STEP 1. calculate the quality points earned by taking the number of credits a course is worth and multiplying it by the quality points associated with the specific earned grade (use the chart above). Example: ENG101 carries 3 credits and you earn a B+. To calculate: 3 X 3.3 = 9.9 quality points earned for the course.
STEP 2. calculate the quality points earned for each course you are taking and add them together to get your total quality points earned
STEP 3. take the total quality points earned and divide them by the number of credits used to calculate the total. example: 43 quality points earned divided by 16 credits taken = 2.6875 GPA

GPA FORMULA: QP's divided by credits attempted = GPA

To calculate the QPB [Quality Point Balance], complete the following steps:
STEP 1. calculate your total quality points for course taken (see GPA calculation method above)
STEP 2. multiply your credits taken by 2
STEP 3. take your total quality points and subtract your credits attempted X 2 or take STEP 1 minus STEP 2 above. Using the GPA example above, 43 quality points minus credits attempted X 2 [16 X 2] = QPB or 43 minus 32 = +9 qpb

QPB FORMULA: QP's minus credits attempted X 2 = QPB

ACADEMIC STANDING

Graduation Standard: A student must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to graduate from High Point University.

Quality Point Balance [applicable to students entering High Point University prior to August, 2009]: The difference between two times the number of credit hours attempted and the actual number of quality points earned is the quality point balance (QPB).

Academic Good Standing: A student will be considered in academic good standing if the culmulative GPA is 2.0 or higher [or if the QPB is no less than negative nine (-9).].

Academic Warning [applies only to students under QPB calculation method]: Any student who has a QPB between negative one (-1) and negative nine (-9) is in danger of not making satisfactory progress toward graduation.

Academic Probation: Academic Probation indicates that the student's academic performance puts him at risk of becoming academically ineligible and unable to return to the institution. Students may be on academic probation only two consecutive semester (summer excluded) or they will be ineligible to return to the University.

The following cumulative GPA standards apply to students entering in August, 2009 or thereafter and are on the GPA calculation method:
. . . Freshmen: 1.70 to 1.99 cumulative GPA
. . . Sophomores: 1.80 to 1.99 cumulative GPA
. . . Juniors: 1.90 to 1.99 cumulative GPA

Academic Probation [for students under the QPB calculation method]: Any student who has a QPB between negative nine point one (-9.1) and negative seventeen (-17) will be placed on academic probation. If the student is not currently on probation, he will have two consecutive semesters (summer terms excluded) to reduce the balance to at least negative nine (-9). Students failing to achieve this standard will be automatically Academically Ineligible in the following semester.

Academically Ineligible:
. . . For students on GPA caluclation method: Any student who has less than the GPA requirement for academic probation [1.7; 1.8; 1.9 respectively - see above] is Academically Ineligible to return to the institution. Students may appeal to the Admissions Committee and/or attend summer school to correct tehir academic deficiency and improve their academic standing.
. . . For stduents on the QPB calculation method: Any student who has a QPB of negative seventeen point one (-17.1) or more will be suspended from the University for one semester, provided that the student has not previously been suspended. A student suspended for academic reasons a second time will normally be excluded for two or more semesters.

Senior Eligibility: After 96 or more credit hours, a student must have a 2.0 GPA or the student will be declared ineligible and must go before the Admissions Committee for permission to continue at the University. If the student has never been ineligible previously, the Dean of Arts and Science can readmit the student for one semester. Any student failing to meet this standard may remain enrolled only with permission of the Admissions Committee.

Evening Degree Students: Any student who is enrolled in EDP will be subject to same rules as non-EDP students. For the purpose of calculation, a semester of enrollment will be considered to have elapsed with each additional 12 credit hours attempted (summers excluded).

UNIVERSITY RESOURCE CONTACTS

Students have access to wide variety of resources to support their academic and personal lives. Following is a list of resource contacts for students [and for faculty to use as referrals].

Academic Development and Academic Advising
Dr. D. Allen Goedeke, Associate Dean for Academic Development

Academic Records, Transcripts, Degree Audits, etc
Ms. Diana L. Estey, Registrar and Mrs. Ann Miller, Assistant Registrar

Academic Services Center [tutoring]
Mr. Craig Curty, Director

[Athletic Academic Advisor]/ Assistant Director of Athletics/ Senior Women's Administrator
Ms. April Wines

Athletic Programs
Mr. Craig Keilitz, Director of Athletics

Career Development Center
Mr. Eric Melniczek

Evening Degree Program
Ms. Tracy McCollum, Associate Dean for Evening Degree Program

Greater Greensboro Regional Consortium
Ms. Diana L. Estey, Cross-Registration Coordinator

Graduate Studies
Dr. Alberta H. Herron, Dean

Honors Program
Dr. Rick Schneid, Director

Individualized Major Program
Dr. James Stitt, Coordinator

International Student Advisor
Dr. Judy Danley

Learning Excellence Program:
Ms. Rita Sullivant, 403 Smith Library, x 9061

NCAA Compliance Officer
Mr. Mike Tuttle

Personal Counseling
Ms. Lynda Noffsinger

Student Career Internship Program
Mr. Eric Melniczek

Teacher Education
Dr. Mariann Tillery, Dean, School of Education

WEB REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION PROCESS AS RELATED TO ADVISING

There are several times during the year (in addition to other advising times) when advisors and advisees must meet together for the purpose of scheduling courses through the registration process.

As a part of the academic planning that takes place prior to the registration process, it is very important for advisors to monitor the selection and sequencing of courses with prerequisites in mind. Since it is the advisor who maintains a record of courses completed by an advisee (this record is also available to advisees on their MyStuff account, it is the responsibility of the advisor (and not the instructor of any particular course) to make sure the student has completed the necessary prerequisites. (In some courses, the permission of the instructor may substitute for prerequisites.) It increases the academic risks for students if they take courses for which they have not been adequately prepared. Therefore, checking academic records for prerequisites can increase the chances for academic success. (Prerequisites are included in course descriptions in the University Bulletin.)

1. Fall Registration: Prior to the start of classes, advisors will meet with all freshmen, transfers and returning students who have not completed registration to select courses for the fall semester. Students are responsible for completing registration on-line or through the Registrar's Office (requires a signed Registration Form).

2. Registration for Spring Semester: All students should plan to meet with their academic advisor at least a week prior to their designated on-line registration date for assistance in developing a course schedule for the upcoming semester/year. Advisors need to plan extended office hours and/or schedule conferences/appointments with their advisees. Advisees need to schedule appointments with their advisors.

3. Summer School Registration: Advisors and advisees should meet together to select courses to take during summer
     school (and/or, in many cases, to repeat). Students planning to take courses at other institutions should have those
     courses approved by the Registrar' Office before taking courses. Once courses have been taken, the student must
     request that an Official Transcript be sent to High Point University's Registrar's Office.

Faculty Web Registration Procedures

Each numbered item below is a NEW SCREEN.
Plan/develop each advisees schedule first, record on their Registration Form, then enter the courses following the sequence of steps below.

1. Begin by going to the university homepage; click on MyStuff (upper right hand corner).
2. Click on "Log In" (upper right hand corner)
3. (Be sure your CAPS LOCK key is turned OFF); type in your username (same as for email), hit TAB; enter your password; next, click on SUBMIT
4. Click on "Faculty"
5. THIS IS YOUR "MAIN MENU":
6. You first need to clear the student. Click on "Advisees" then click on current term (ex. Fall 2010) and check-off the appropriate adviee(s) under the "Advised ?" column.
7. TO SELECT COURSES OR TO REGISTER A STUDENT, click on "My Advisees" Select term for which the courses ar eintended by clicking on down arrow, select the appropriate term, then click SUBMIT
8. Your advisees are listed on the left margin; last name alphabetical, select desired student, click on the "Action" drop down menu and select EXPREG - Express Registration, click SUBMIT;
9. This is the "Express Registration" screen; enter the courses from your advisees "Registration Form" by following these steps:
a) enter course 1 by typing in the three-letter designation for the course (ex. ENG) or select from pull down list and click; TAB
b) type in course number (ex. 1101); TAB
c) type in section number (ex. 01); TAB
d) use the pull down and click on the semester (ex. 2010 Fall);
e) enter course 2 following the same process as above;
f) etc., etc, until all courses are entered
g) click on SUBMIT (this does NOT register the student - you have merely created a "Preferred Sections" list of planned courses from which the student can later register or the advisor can directly register the advisee)
10. The "Register and Drop" screen next appears from which registration can be completed by the student or by the advisor. You will notice the screen has 2 parts: Part 1 is the "Preferred Sections" which list the courses you have selected to register for the upcoming semester; Part 2 is the "Current Registration" schedule of courses currently being taken.
11. Click on "Register" from the drop down menu then SUBMIT. Next the "Registration Results" screen; will tell you if any course section is full, or any other problems with a particular course selection (prerequisites, etc.) are encountered;
a) if no problems or error messages, the schedule has been accepted; PRINT;
b) if a section is full, select a new section or different course; then SUBMIT
c) when a schedule is completed, PRINT
12. Click on "Main Menu" and repeat the above process to register the next advisee
13. When all advisees have been registered, click on "Log Out" and then click "OK"

HINTS FOR SUCCESS
1. PATIENCE: Don't rush the system – give the system time to operate. DO NOT DOUBLE CLICK! Should you click on buttons more than once, the system is very sensitive – you may receive an error message and will need to click on "main menu" and/or "Log In" again.
2. IDLE SCREEN: If your screen is idle for longer than 30 minutes, the system will automatically log you out. This is a security feature. Simply "Log In" again.
3. NAVIGATION: DO NOT USE the "BACK" or "FORWARD" buttons, they are only enabled on certain features, get into the habit of using the "Main Menu" for navigation rather than using your browser.

UNIVERSITY FORMS

A number of specialized forms are used by the University for specific academic purposes. A listing and brief explanation of the purpose of each is listed below. More detailed explanations are contained both on the application form and in the University's Undergraduate Bulletin. All forms are available in the Registrar's Office.

DROP/ADD [also called the Change of Registration Form]: This form is used to change your registration schedule either by dropping and/or adding a course(s). The ADD date is always the end of the first week of classes after which classes may not be added to your schedule. The DROP date is always the Friday of the week after fall or spring break. Specific dates for an academic year are posted on the University Calendar.

UNGRADED COURSE OPTION FORM: Students in their sophomore through senior year may opt to take one course per semester on an ungraded or credit/no credit basis provided the course is not a general education, major, or minor requirement. Also, a student may not take any more than 18 credit hours on an ungraded basis and not be on academic probation. Change to an ungraded basis must be completed before the end of the ADD period.

INDEPENDENT STUDY: Students in their sophomore through senior year may opt to take one, three-hour independent study course per semester. Independent Study is defined as the combined study, research, learning , and reporting that is completed independently by a student on an agreed upon topic with a professor who serves as the supervisor and resource person. The student is responsible for developing and organizing the entire course which is neither the same or similar to an existing course offered in the University.

DIRECTED STUDY: A directed study course is the study of a prescribed course content of an existing course in which the student, usually due to a schedule conflict, is unable to attend the scheduled class session. A maximum of 4 courses may be taken as directed studies and no more than one in a semester.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION: Also known as a "Course Challenge," this allows a student to receive credit for a course by demonstrating mastery of its subject matter usually via a comprehensive test. Not all courses are available for challenge and other restrictions apply. See the Undergraduate Bulletin.

STUDENT CAREER INTERN PROGRAM (SCIP): Student may earn between 6 and 15 credits by completing an approved internship at an appropriate intern site related to one's major. Additional specific details are available in the Internship Handbook available from Dr. Kelly Norton or Mr. Eric Melniczek.

DEGREE AUDIT: Students should sign-up in the Registrar's Office to have a formal Degree Audit completed during their second semester Junior year or first semester Senior year.