Student Orientation Advising and Registration Program

Student Orientation Advising and Registration Program Edmond Chibeau & Passent El-Kafrawy With some additions by David Stoloff and Wendi Everton

Session on Transitioning to Eastern from High School Dr. Wendi Everton, Psychology Dept. (evertonw@easternct.edu) and Dr. David Stoloff, Education Dept. (stoloffd@easternct.edu ) Your introductions - please tell us - who you are - where are you coming from - your potential major(s) - interesting information that you would like to share

Public liberal arts college ECSU Students: • share a sequenced, interdisciplinary curriculum that serves as a liberal arts foundation. • Eastern’s programs in • the arts and sciences, • teacher education and • professional studies.

What is a liberally educated person? • Philosophy of the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum • Engagement • Integration • Independence from Philosophy of the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum: Guiding Principles - http://www.easternct.edu/depts/lapc/LACC2006.htm

What does it mean to be a liberally educated person? • Eastern Connecticut State University is the state's public liberal arts university. As a predominantly undergraduate institution, Eastern develops outstanding students who integrate learning with expertise in their chosen fields of study for both civic and career success in a highly technological and rapidly changing world. From current mission statement - http://www.easternct.edu/mission.htm

Engagement • Do you have a music life? • What kind of music, how do you relate to it? • Is it part of who you are , who your friends are? • How about an intellectual life? • Do you have an intellectual life? • Is it part of who you are? • Can you tell how someone thinks by what they read? • Are you a citizen? • Of your family? • Of Eastern? • Of Connecticut? • Of the USA? • Of the world

Becoming a citizen of ECSU • Find study friends • Connect with professors, advisors • *USE your Eastern E-mail Account!!!! • Learn about our work outside the classroom • Attend University Hour, lectures, events … • Extracurricular activities: Clubs, sports … • Join MALES, American Humanics, Nonprofit Management, etc. (from first year!)

Opportunities Outside the classroom • Arts and Lecture series • Harry Hope theatre, AkusGallery • Student government • Academic clubs, • Organizations PRSSA, Public Relations Society of America • E3 and Chase Institute

Integration • ECSU's curricular and co-curricular programs emphasize integration Computers Communication

Interdisciplinary studies Interdisciplinary studies with Psychology Those who want to become teachers MUST have an academic major in addition to completing the teacher certification program

Independence • self-initiated learners • reflective, • independent thinkers. • These abilities enable Eastern graduates to take active roles in their personal lives, their workplaces and their communities.

Eastern different vs. High school? • It is up to you to attend class – do so. • Get ahead on homework, projects, group work • Learn when, where and how YOU study best • Keep records, files, class notes, texts • Prepare 3 hours per hour of class! • Manage your social, professional, and academic life

First Year Program • What is first year program: • Brings freshmen together in small classes • Promotes academic excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration • Helps first-year students adjust to college life. • A two semester program, • Fall semester: enroll in a thematic cluster • Spring semester: participate in a spring colloquium

First Year Program “The First Year Program at Eastern brings freshmen together in small classes designed to foster the development of a strong and supportive community of faculty and students. The program promotes academic excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration while helping first-year students adjust to the rigors of college life. A two semester program, first year students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a thematic cluster in the fall semester, and are required to participate in a spring colloquium beginning in the spring semester of 2008.” From http://www.easternct.edu/depts/fyp/

Cluster Program Package = Two courses + a 1 credit skill course • All students in a cluster take all three courses together • Two academic courses are (4 credit) • LAC Tier 1 requirement or • Introduction to a major • One credit course • Titles “Resources, Research and Responsibilities” http://www.easternct.edu/depts/fyp/cluster_program.htm

Cluster Program • First Semester: Learning Communities: Eastern's Learning Communities are visible groupings of students built around a thematic cluster. Clustering involves connecting two courses from different disciplines, with both faculty members work together to integrate themes across their respective courses. The benefits of clustering are that students make connections across disciplines, and spend time with the same students for a greater portion of the day, thereby increasing student cohesion inside and outside of class. From http://www.easternct.edu/depts/fyp/cluster_program.htm Fall 2007clusters - http://www.easternct.edu/depts/fyp/documents/Fall2007Cluster.pdf

Cluster Enrollment • First come, first serviced • First serve basis to 50% of Full time freshmen students • Send your form in as soon as possible • Contact : • FYP (860) 465-4567 • AAC (860) 465-4526 • Undeclared Students would be assisted to register and should visit Career Services (Office or Website) regularly for help with Major Declaration on time

Registration Information • Mathematics and English Requirements (must be completed within the first 30 attempted credits) • Biology/Biochemistry/Environmental Science Majors (see Dr. Mike Adams for more details)

Education Program • Early Childhood Education students are encouraged to have a subject matter major outside of education major • they may major in any discipline (psychology and sociology), • other than health and physical education. • Early Childhood Education certification • Integrated Early Childhood/Special Education, • Nursery – Kindergarten (N-K), or • Elementary Childhood Education (ECE) grades 1 – 3.

Education Program • Elementary Education students can major in any academic major other than psychology and sociology, or health and physical education. • Secondary education certification • Can major in English, Environmental Earth Science, Biology, or Mathematics, and History and Social Science in any social science major, with at least 18 credits in History,

Education Program • Students must maintain a 2.70 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or higher. • Students will be considered as pre-education, which is in essence undeclared, until they select their subject area major. • Pre-education students will have • a faculty advisor, from the School of Arts and Sciences. • Once they declare their subject area major, they will have a faculty advisor from their academic discipline.

Class Behavior • Cell phones, • talking, • lateness, • disrupting, • plagiarism, • act like a grown up! Picture from NC State Library website

Study Habits • Study habits • Study the first 6 weeks, relax in October (research shows that many students decide on their majors within the first 6 weeks on campus) • Get concepts, not just facts • Study groups • Learning center • departments tutors • Library • Professor • Appointment • Office hours

Thank You • Be systematically heroic in little unnecessary points, do every day or two something for no other reason than its difficulty, so that when the hour of dire need draws nigh, it may find you not unnerved and untrained to stand the test. • William James, US philosopher & psychologist (1842 - 1910) • Enjoy! • Be Excited! • Be Prepared! • Good luck! • Be in touch! • Thank you! • (Talking Points Taken from: Why do I have to take this course? AACU, Robert Shoenberg)

Student Orientation Advising and Registration Program