Academic Advising Center
Frequently Asked Questions
for Academic Advising Center
Question: 1. How are academic advisors assigned?
Answer: Students
are assigned to faculty advisors in the department of their major if
they indicate interest in a particular major on the admissions
application. If they do not indicate a particular interest, they are
considered to be undecided and are assigned to pre-major advisors
coming under the Advising Center. The pre-major advisor will assist the
student with making an informed decision about choice of major.
Students are urged to declare a major in their first year if they have
satisfied the conditions for declaring.
Question: 2. How do I declare a major?
Answer: Although
students are assigned to advisors in the major they indicate an
interest in on the admissions application, they are not considered
officially declared until they complete a Major Application. You will
need your advisor to sign this application before taking it to the
Registrar’s Office for final processing. If you entered the university
as an “undecided” student than you should initiate declaration of major
with your pre-major advisor. Some majors may require completion of
specific courses and a certain GPA (Grade Point Average), to be
accepted into the major. Students are urged to officially declare their
major in the first semester if they have satisfied the conditions to
declare. Should the student decide that they do not want the major they
selected on the Admissions Application, then they should contact the
Advising Center so that they can be assigned to a pre-major advisor. As
explained above, students not indicating a preference for a particular
major are assigned to a pre-major advisor who will assist them with
selecting a major attuned to their special interests and abilities.
These students should come to some decision about choice of major
within their first year or no later than their third semester.
Postponing declaration of major could result in it taking more than
four years to graduate.
Major Applications are
available in the Academic Advising Center located in 222 Dickey Hall,
Suite 235 or in the Registrar’s office located on the 2nd Floor of
Lincoln Hall. The Application can also be downloaded from the Registrar’s Website. Students should take this Application to their assigned advisor to begin the process for officially declaring a major.
Question: 3. When do I meet with my assigned advisor to schedule classes?
Answer:
Students are scheduled to meet with their assigned advisor during
Freshman Transition Week in August to schedule their first semester
classes and during the orientation program in January if admitted in
the spring semester. After students are admitted and pay their
admissions deposit, they will be notified about dates for Orientation
and initial course scheduling sessions. Thereafter, students will be
instructed on procedures for registering on-line in Web Advisor during
the mandatory registration period for all semesters that follow (fall,
spring, and summer). However, before they are permitted to
self-register, they must meet with their advisor to have the hold
lifted to permit them to schedule on-line. Registration forms will be
mailed to the student’s campus mailbox the day before they are
permitted to schedule starting with the senior class. The registration
form must be signed by t-register for classes during mandatory he
student’s advisor before being taken to the Registrar’s Office for
final processing. Students who do not pre- registration for classes
will have to wait to schedule when they return for the next semester.
Question: 4. How often should I meet with my academic advisor?
Answer: Students
are required to meet with their advisors for their initial course
scheduling session. They are also required to see their advisor to
discuss mid-term progress and to have them approve their schedule
before pre-registering for classes during the mandatory registration
period each semester. It is absolutely okay to see your advisor when
need dictates in that they are concerned about your progress and are
here to assist you with planning your academic curriculum and meeting
the requirements for graduation. Advisors’ typically post their Office
Hours in their department. Students should check with the advisor or
the department secretary to establish what the procedure is for making
an appointment.
Question: 5. How do I drop, add, or withdraw from a class?
Answer: You
can only drop and add during the scheduled time each semester. You
cannot drop or add beyond the deadline date. This is referred to as the
free add and drop period. If you choose to drop a class after the free
add/drop period, it is no longer a drop but a withdrawal. There is a
withdrawal deadline each semester (usually a week after mid-term) and a
grade of W will appear on your transcript. The W grade will not be used
in calculation of your GPA. In order to add, drop, or withdraw from a
course, you must procure a Drop/Add Form from the Academic Advising
Center or the Registrar’s Website. Take this form to your advisor to
get his/her approval and signature. After getting your advisor’s
signature; take the form to the Registrar’s Office.
Question: 6. Is there someone I can see if my advisor is not available?
Answer: Yes,
the Academic Advising Center is open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. It
serves the purpose to coordinate and reinforce advising services and
provides walk- in advising services to students who have an academic
concern or emergency. The Academic Advising Center is also a resource
center for advisors and the students they serve. Students are welcome
to come to the Academic Advising Center to ask a question about
academic policies and procedures; to procure major requirement sheets,
and course scheduling information, add/drop forms, Satisfactory
Academic Progress (SAP) Policies and other pertinent information.
Question: 7. Are there any restrictions imposed on students who are on
academic probation?
Answer: Students earning a GPA below
2.00 (C) are placed on Academic Probation. Students cannot take more
than 13 credits if they are on academic probation. Also, they are not
allowed to participate in sports or hold any university office until
they come off probation.
Question: 8. Can I be suspended from the university for lack of academic progress?
Answer: Yes,
failure to comply with our SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy)
can result in academic suspension. Basically, you must earn a minimum
GPA of 1.75 when you have completed 24 – 29 credits, a GPA of 1.90 when
you complete 30 – 59 credits and a GPA of 2.0 when you have completed
60 or more credits. Also, you must complete 75% of the credits you
attempt. After you have completed two semesters, failure to satisfy
either one of these requirements can result in academic suspension.
Question: 9. If I get suspended for academic reasons, what conditions must I satisfy to return to the university?
Answer: If
you are suspended from the University for not meeting our SAP
(Satisfactory Academic Progress) requirements, you can appeal your
suspension. An Appeal of Suspension form (also available on the
Registrar’s website) will be enclosed in the suspension letter the
Registrar’s office sends you. You should mail the completed appeal back
to the Registrar by the required deadline. Thereafter the Academic
Standing Committee will read your appeal and if the Committee considers
your reasons for lack of academic progress is/were due to extenuating
circumstance, they may decide to overturn or revoke your suspension. If
they overturn your suspension, they will grant you a semester of
progress probation and you will be required to participate in the Early
Monitoring Alert Program (EMAP) sponsored by the Student Services
Office.
Question: 10. Should I repeat a course I failed?
Answer: Yes,
particularly if the course is a developmental course, a core
requirement, or a course in your major. You must earn minimum "C"
grades in your major subjects; however two (2) courses completed with a
"C-" are permissible.
Also, by repeating an F course,
it is easier to raise your GPA, if you earn a higher grade. We do not
divide by the credits when calculating your GPA a second time if you
earn a higher grade.
Question: 11. Is there a program to help students on academic probation?
Answer: Yes, this program is called EMAP (Early Monitoring Alert Program), and
is offered by the Office of Student Services located at 101 Lincoln
Hall. Students will be notified and told they must participate in the
program if they are on academic probation or have been allowed back on
a progress probation after being suspended for academic reasons. The
Academic Standing Committee is notified when the student does not
fulfill his/her obligation to participate in the program and can result
in the studentbeing denied another progress probation.
Question: 12. In the event I get sick during the semester or have to leave school
for some reason or other what should I do?
Answer: If you have to leave school and intend to return to complete your
studies then you need to notify your instructors so that they do not assume
you are absent from class. Also, it is recommended that you do this before
leaving campus so that you can arrange to complete any missed assignments or tests. If it is not
possible to see your instructors before you leave, then you should
contact your advisor so that he/she can notify your instuctors. Also,
it may be possible to appeal for I’s (incomplete grades), or W’s
(withdrawals) if your departure occurs at the end of the semester. If
you have no intent of returning to complete your studies, then you
should contact the Registrar’s Office to officially withdraw for the
semester. If you choose to not return to the university all together,
then you should also complete a withdrawal form. By taking this
approach, you can avoid getting F grades for all your courses.
Question: 13. What GPA must I earn to graduate from college and to qualify for graduate or professional school?
Answer: You
must earn a minimum of 2.0 (C average) GPA in most programs to
graduate. However, pre-professional programs (Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine,
Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physical Therapy, etc…), will require a higher GPA
(3.00 minimum). The Education Department requires a 3.00 average and a
passing score on Praxis I & II (National Teachers Exam).
Also, you must take an admissions test required by each professional program; and earn a qualifying score to be considered for admission to the professional or graduate institution.
Question: 14. What are the names of these professional tests?
Answer: They include but are not limited to the following:
DAT = Dental Admissions Test
GMAT = Graduate Management Admissions Test
GRE = Graduate Record Exam
LSAT = Law Scholastic Aptitude Test
MAT = Millers Analogies Test
MCAT = Medical College Admissions Test
OAT = Optometry Admissions Test
PCAT = Pharmacy College Admissions Test
VAT = Veterinary Admissions Test
Question: 15. When do I have to take these tests and how do I prepare for them?
Answer:
Typically, students take these tests in their junior year. If you do
not earn a qualifying score on the test, you can take them over.
Specific guidelines on content and preparation for these tests are
available in the Career Services Center, located at 241 Dickey Hall.
Also, information on coaching programs for boosting you score is
available.
Also, go to www.studyguidezone.com for free resources for students and
beginning professionals, and anyone else who wants to improve his or her score on a standardized test.
Question: 16. If I am a transfer student, do I receive credit for all courses I took at the previous college or university?
Answer: No,
only courses you earned a C or higher grade in will transfer. Your
courses will be evaluated for equivalency; and if they do not transfer
in for equivalent credit, they usually transfer in as electives. Your
advisor will assist you with the process for completing the Transfer
Equivalencies form.
Question: 17. As a transfer student, can I declare my major upon admission?
Answer: Yes, you can declare your major upon admission as long as you have satisfied the conditions for declaration.
Question: 18. If I am a student with disabilities, is there someone I can consult with concerning special accommodations?
Answer: Yes, Student Support Services make provisions for students with disabilities. Please go to the Student Support Services website for more information.
Question: 19. I am a veteran, are there special services for veterans?
Answer: Yes, Student Support Services also provides those services. Please go to the Student Support Services website for more information.
For answers to your other questions please review the table of contents in The Freshman Guide
to Course Selection on this website and the Academic Section of the college bulletin located on
the Registrar’s website. Also, please read the Fall and Spring editions of the Academic
Advising Center Newsletter or email or call us. We look forward to serving you, and helping
you have a good academic experience at Lincoln University.
Lincoln
University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1570 Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box
179, Lincoln University, PA 19352 \ (484) 365-8000
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