Student Success – For Parents and Students

September 4, 2012 in Academic Success, Advisement, New Students by Robyn Davis | No comments

For the first time today, I’m addressing parents AND students. I appreciate that the transition from high school to college is difficult for both students and parents. It might help to have some guidelines for conversations between parents and students about school in the first year.

For academics. Unfortunately, FERPA laws prevent anyone at UNR from sharing student academic information with anyone other than the student. We advise parents to ask their students specific questions to target their engagement in the classroom. Examples of questions that may be beneficial are:

  • Are you using each of your class syllabi regularly to stay current with your class required assignments and readings?
  • Have you utilized the library to study, meet with study groups or use technology resources?
  • Have you looked into available tutoring resources that you may need for your classes?
  • Are you using WebCampus to stay current with class assignments, materials and updates?
  • Do you know when your professors scheduled office hours are and are you willing to take advantage of them?

For advising: Although it seems like the dust has just settled for the fall semester, spring semester will come before we know it. By November, students need to be prepared to register for their spring classes. To prepare for this, students have many resources that they should take advantage of.

  • They should know how to access and use the Advising Manual and use it to research the various degrees and degree requirements.
  • They should be comfortable explaining the requirements for Business Pre-Majors. This includes knowing which of the classes they have completed and which they should try to enroll in for spring.
  • They should be aware of advising resources and policies including the College of Business Student Success Center in Ansari Business Building Room 409.

Important Dates for Fall 2012

August 17, 2012 in Adding/Dropping Classes, Advisement, New Students, Registration by Robyn Davis | No comments

From the Provost:

Some important deadlines are coming up:

August 17-September 7:

• Financial Aid begins disbursement to Student accounts.

• Students receiving financial aid may not drop below
full time if funded for full time enrollment without permission of the
Financial aid Office.

August 22:

• Distribution of Financial Aid refund checks begins.

August 24:

• Fall semester fee are due.

August 31:

• The last day to drop classes with a 100% refund.

August31:

• The last day to register for classes.

September 4-6

• Students who were previously registered by August 31,
may add classes, swap classes, or change levels of classes with instructor
permission.

September 7:

• Enrollments are cancelled for non-payment.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Admissions and
Records, 784-4700.

Finalizing your Fall Schedule: Checklist for Success

August 7, 2012 in Academic Success, Advisement, New Students by Robyn Davis | No comments

Now that all of our new incoming students have been through summer orientation, we went to remind everybody to recheck their fall semester schedules to make sure that everything is PERFECT for the upcoming semester! Follow the steps below and use our advising webpage – especially the BRAND NEW Advising Manual and PowerPoint Presentation for New Incoming Students.

Steps to finalize your fall semester schedule:

First, review your ACT/ SAT scores. Make sure that MyNEVADA shows the most current test scores.

  • Log on to MyNEVADA; select Student Center Dashboard (top left); select “Test Scores” from the drop down menu.
  • If your scores are incorrect:
    • Contact Admissions and Records to verify that they have received your latest scores.
    • Contact College Board to have your scores re-sent if Admissions and Records does not have them on file.
    • If your scores are correct, make sure that you are enrolled in the appropriate corresponding course according to Test Score Placement for Math and English.
    • If you do not feel as though your test scores accurately represent your math abilities, consider taking the Accuplacer.

Next, check your Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB) scores.

Then, verify the times and days of your classes.

  • Remember, balance is key – try to schedule your classes out so that you will go to class!
  • Set yourself up for success by creating a schedule that best fits your lifestyle.

Finally, verify that each of your classes is moving you closer to completing your degree.

  • Make sure that you are enrolled in an English class.
  • Make sure that you are enrolled in a math class.
  • Every other class in your schedule should be either a pre-business core class, core curriculum requirement or planned elective (like BUS 101).

Remember, the search box located on the top of every University of Nevada, Reno and College of Business webpage is a wonderful resource for finding any additional information you may need!

Steps for New Freshmen

May 16, 2012 in Academic Success, Advisement, New Students by Robyn Davis | No comments

We are so excited to begin the process of welcoming our new students to campus in the fall semester – and we are looking forward to helping students make a successful transition to the College of Business. At this time, students should make sure that they have taken care of a few things:

  • Complete each of the items in the To Do List in MyNEVADA
  • Make a plan for housing
  • Register for summer orientation

Once students have paid the Advanced Registration Fee and completed a short survey, they will be placed into classes for the fall semester. At orientation, we will discuss those classes and students will then have the opportunity to make changes to the fall schedule that has been created for them. Attend orientation early in the summer in order to have lots of time to fine tune the fall semester schedule.

University of Nevada Reno Quad

University of Nevada Reno Quad

Picture courtesy of UNR Housing.

Advice for Adding Classes

May 10, 2012 in Adding/Dropping Classes, Advisement, Registration by Robyn Davis | No comments

Lots of business students have some challenges getting into classes in the semester that they are finishing the pre-business core. We recognized this problem several years ago and developed a web application for students to request entry into classes that they can’t add via MyNEVADA – because all 300- and 400-level business classes (except ECON) require that students be declared into a specific business major to get in. In order to declare a business major, you must be enrolled in classes to complete the pre-business core, and it must be past the drop date on those classes.

The web application that I mentioned is the College of Business Add Slip System (CASS). The home page of CASS explains the criteria we use in approving add slip requests – please read it before submitting an add slip. Know that each add slip is reviewed by an advisor in the College of Business Student Success Center before being forwarded to the appropriate department and instructor for review.

If you are having trouble finding classes to take in the summer and fall:

Start with core curriculum. Enroll in any remaining core classes. If you are taking CH at TMCC, be sure to send official transcripts both after you enroll, AND after you receive a grade in the class. CH 201 is a prerequisite for MGT 496, MGT 462, ECON 334 and ECON 442, among other classes. Don’t let the fact that you took CH at TMCC delay you from registering in those classes.

Then, look at the pre-business core. If you completed pre-business core classes via AP or transfer work, make sure that you can see that work on your Academic Requirements Report (AAR) in MyNEVADA.

Finally, check the major worksheet for your intended major. Start with 300-level classes in the upper-division business core and in your major. Check the course prerequisites! You can submit an add slip for courses that you have met all prerequisites except completion of the pre-business core, and the instructor will decide whether to allow you in. Also, check MyNEVADA for open classes. You have a better chance of getting into classes that are currently open, rather than courses that are full.

And finally – use the student comments section in CASS to make your case to the instructor to allow you in. Remember – you are using CASS to request an EXCEPTION to the prerequisites for the course – tell us why you have to have that exception. Everybody in the College of Business is dedicated to helping students graduate in four years – but your initiative and the time you spend determining what you should take will pay off in getting the classes that you need. As always, if you need further assistance, send an email to advising@coba.unr.edu or call 784-4912×1 to make an appointment with an academic advisor in the Student Success Center.

« Older entries