Getting Started at

1. Getting Started at

2. The Beginning • Founded September 11, 1911 as Middle Tennessee State Normal School • Originally only a school for teacher education • First three buildings: • Kirksey Old Main • Tom Jackson Hall • Rutledge Hall • Middle Tennessee State Teachers College, 1925 • Bachelor of Science, first 4-year degree offered • Middle Tennessee State College, 1943 • Middle Tennessee State University, 1965

3. MTSU Today • 100+ buildings (started:3) • 500 Acres (started: 100) • 26000 students (started: 125) • Largest undergraduate University in Tennessee • 900 faculty members (started: 19) • Honors College, 1998, first founded in TN • Almost 100,000 alumni • First Ph.D. awarded in English, 2003 • “The People’s University” • Example: the sidewalks

4. Construction • Student Union Building • One Stop Shop – Student Services Building • Parking Garages • Science Building

5. High School vs. College • Differences? ? ? ? ?

6. High School vs. College • Size • Accountability • Responsibility • Independence • Difficulty Level • Diversity

7. College Survival • Set goals • Take personal responsibility • Persist, persist, persist • Get involved • Manage your time wisely • Learn about available campus resources • Know yourself • Live in the present, look to the future!

8. What Resources are Available? • Academic Advising • College Advisors • Faculty Advisors • University College Advising Center, McFarland Building, 898-2339 • Tutoring Services • Writing Center, Walker Library, 904-8237 • Math Labs, KOM 204 (lower) and KOM 252 (upper) • www.mtsu.edu/tutoring • Disabled Student Services, KUC 120

9. What Resources are Available? • James E. Walker Library • Business and Aerospace 24/7 Computer Lab • Learning Resource Center Multimedia Library and Computer Lab • Departmental Computer Labs • Residence Hall Computer Labs • Monohan • Lyon • Cummings and Corlew • Womack Lane • Scarlett Commons

10. What Resources are Available? • Health Services, 898-2988 • Free exams for all students, cheap services • Real doctors! Mon-Fri 8:00-4:00 • Make an Appointment! • Campus Recreation Center, 898-2104 • Mon-Thurs 6-11 • Fri 6-8, Sat 9-7, Sun 2-11 • Counseling Services, 898-2670 • Free service, appointment needed • Licensed counselors and psychologists • Confidential

11. What Resources are Available? • Food Services • The Grill and Cyber Café • RFoC and Raiderzone • Bistro @ Bragg, Buy and Fly, Walker Starbucks • Housing, KUC 300 • Resident Assistants • Public Safety – 2424 • Fully Accredited Police Force • Raider Escorts • Emergency Call Boxes • Text Messaging System

12. What Resources are Available? • Parking Services, 898-2850 • Car and Bike registration • Raider Xpress – 4 routes • 5 tickets = 1 boot • Speed Limit = 15 mph • Financial Aid, Cope 218, 898-2830 • Fill out FAFSA annually • Emergency loans available • Scholarship Applications due Dec. 1st

13. What Resources are Available? • Phillip’s Bookstore, KUC 1st Floor • Books to apparel to greeting cards • Book buy-back end of the semester • Money goes back to the university • Post Office, KUC 1st Floor • All students living on campus have one • Off campus students = $12/semester • ATMs located across from windows • Involvement Opportunities

14. What Resources are Available? • Career Counseling • Discuss work interests with an advisor • Explore possible careers and majors • FOCUS • Looks at personality, work, and life interests • Available to all MTSU students • Career Development Center • Formerly Career and Employment Center • Résumé writing, cover letter, and interview help • Lightning Job Source • Career Coordinators in each Academic College

15. Learn to use Technology Effectively • PipelineMT • RaiderNet • Personal Information Tab • Student Tab • Financial Aid Tab • Employee Tab • Campus Directory • MTMail • D2L • Many courses use as a supplement • Online courses very popular • Accessible through PipelineMT

16. Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) Requirements

17. The Basics • Eligible students receive $4000 per year • $2000 in fall, $2000 in spring, and up to $2000 in the summer if you attend full-time • You may receive the Hope until whichever comes first: • 5 years from when you start college are up • 120 attempted hours are reached • When you get a degree • Some students may receive more money based on factors such as family income, like the Aspire Scholarship, and the same rules apply

18. Grade Requirements • After 24 attempted hours: 2.75 GPA • After 48 attempted hours: 2.75 GPA • After 72 attempted hours: 3.00 GPA • After 96 attempted hours: 3.00 GPA • If at the 72 and 96 hour check points you have a 2.75 – 2.99 GPA, and a 3.0 semester GPA, you can keep your scholarship as long as you continue to make a 3.0 each semester

19. Grade Requirements 1st Semester Not Good, 2nd Semester Good = 2.7, Scholarship Lost

20. Enrollment Requirements • You may be a full-time or part-time student to get the Hope Scholarship • Full-time students receive $2000 per semester • Part-time students (6 hours to 11 hours) receive part of that $2000, depending on how many hours they take • You cannot skip a semester, unless it is the summer semester. If you take the spring off and reenroll in the fall, you will not have the Hope Scholarship

21. Enrollment Requirements • After the 14th day of the semester, you may NOT drop below full-time status, or else you will lose your Hope Scholarship FOR-E-VER • You are allowed to drop classes until the 65th day of class, but never, ever, ever drop a class without consulting your advisor first • If you are taking 16 hours, you could drop one 3 hour class and still be at 13 hours, so you would be eligible still • Part-time students can’t drop below 6 hours

22. Grade Replacement • If you fail a class or do poorly in one and you retake the class, that grade can be replaced in your Lottery GPA • Lottery (or TELS) GPA is different that your regular MTSU GPA! • Your TELS GPA counts all grades, no matter what you have retaken; MTSU replaces your grade automatically if you retake a class once • You are allowed to replace only ONE grade in your TELS GPA over the course of your educational career, and a form must be signed by an University College Advising Center advisor to do so

23. Regaining your Scholarship • If you lose your scholarship due to grades at a checkpoint, you can get it back at another checkpoint by bringing your GPA back up • Example: You lose it after 24 hours with a 2.5 GPA. When you hit the 48 hour check, you have a 2.75. You can fill out a form and get it back! • You can only regain the scholarship ONCE! • Again, if you lose your scholarship because you dropped below full-time status or skipped a semester, it is gone for good

24. Lottery Tips • Grades should be A’s, B’s, and a few C’s • Try not to drop classes, start with what you think you can handle, those classes count against your total hours! • On that same note, you should try and take at least 15 hours just in case something goes wrong with a class and you have to drop it • ATTEND CLASS – It really does help your grade • Consult an advisor often, at least once a semester if not more

25. Academic Success Series All Sessions start at 4:30 PM in the Walker Library room 446 • How to Use Your Time Wisely - January 31stTime management is something most students struggle with on a daily basis. This session will cover techniques to help you better manage your time. • How to Study and Prepare for Tests - February 7thThis session will cover tips on note taking, how to effectively study your notes as well as tips for navigating different types of tests. • How to Balance School, Work and Family Life - February 14thThis session will help students develop skills and find resources that are needed to balance their personal and professional lives.  This session will share information for traditional and non-traditional students. • How to Use the MTSU Library - February 21stCome find out what successful MTSU students know about the library and learn how to utilize the various resources available. • How to Give a Winning Presentation - March 13thThis session will cover tips and tricks that will help students refine their presentation and public speaking skills.

26. Academic Success Series • How to Use Your Academic Advisor - March 20thThis session will cover information on how to know who your advisor is, how to get the most out of your time with your advisor and what questions you should ask your advisor. • How to Set Goals and Stay Motivated - March 27thThis session will cover information on how to reach your personal and professional goals through exciting motivational techniques.  Students will learn how to stay motivated and positive despite the obstacles they may face. • How to Unwind, Relax, Chill and Still be a Successful Student - April 3rdBeing a college student is stressful! Academics, jobs, friends, and family can pull you in many directions, and there never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done. This session will cover how stress can impact your academics and your health. Leave with some surefire strategies to help you de-stress your life. • How to Choose the Right Career for You - April 10th Having trouble choosing a major? This session will cover techniques on helping you find the right major and career field that best fits your personality and abilities. • How to Prepare for Final Exams - April 17th & April 24th (Two Sessions)This session will provide a helpful guide to students who are not sure how to study for final exams. NOTE: The same information will be covered in both sessions. Two dates are scheduled to accommodate more students.