About the Academic Advising Center
The variety of programs at SUNY Fredonia requires that every student meet with an academic advisor periodically to review progress and plan her/his academic future. Academic advisors can help students monitor their educational progress and keep up with new courses and programs. In conjunction with a student's assigned advisor, the Academic Advising Center (located on the 2nd floor of Fenton Hall) is available to help interpret academic policy and procedure.
Fredonia recognizes the advising process as individualized teaching. In support of this philosophy, the Academic Advising Center is actively committed to the professional development of faculty and professional staff advisors.
2008 SUMMER ORIENTATION
The dates for Summer Orientation for our Fall 2008 incoming class are as follows:
- Transfers (One day session) June 25 This session is now full and closed.
- Freshmen (Two day session) June 30--July 1 This session is now full and closed.
- Freshmen (Two day session) July 7--8 This session is now full and closed.
- Freshmen (Two day session) July 10--11 This session is now full and closed.
- Freshmen (Two day session) July 14--15 This session is now full and closed.
- Freshmen (Two day session) July 17--18 The deadline for sign-up has now passed and this session is closed.
Students who did not attend summer orientation and have paid their admission deposit will receive a postcard in the mail in early August with information about the August Orientation and Registration that occurs on Sunday, August 24th. Information about this Orientation will also be posted on the orientation website after August 1st. http://www.fredonia.edu/orientation/summer2008.asp
We believe that students need a full orientation to be successful at Fredonia. If you are unable to attend Summer Orientation, you will be invited to attend the final Orientation on August 24th. It is not possible to set-up individual appointments.
The Liberal Arts Freshman Year Experience
At Fredonia, Liberal Arts students are those students who have not yet chosen a major. The Liberal Arts Freshman Year Experience is a mandatory, year-long program designed to assist Liberal Arts students in their exploration and selection of a suitable major. For more information, visit The Liberal Arts Freshman Year Experience web page.
Frequently Asked Advising Questions
While advising questions are as individual as the students who ask them, here are some of the most commonly asked ones. The answers are from the 2005-2007 catalog. Remember, the catalog is your contract with the college, and, as such, it should always be your first point of reference; then check for answers to your specific questions with your assigned advisor or the advising office. Asking informed questions is part of your job as advisee.
Q. What is the difference between dropping a course and withdrawing from one?
A. When you drop a course on or before the drop deadline, the course does not appear on your permanent record. When you withdraw from a course on or before the withdrawal deadline a WC will appear on your record. The drop and withdrawal deadlines are published each semester by the Office of the Registrar and can be found in the appropriate Course Offerings Bulletin (p.195).
Please note: you may still have financial obligations regarding these courses. Refer to the Student Accounts web site at http://www.fredonia.edu/admin/studentaccounts for the withdrawal policy and refund schedule.
Q. Why should I pay serious attention to course prerequisites?
A. Many courses have prerequisites which are listed in the catalog. A professor can ask you to leave the course if you do not have the prerequisite because you would not be prepared to take it. For instance, do you think you could be successful in an upper level psychology course if you did not take Intro to Psych first? Probably not (p. 195).
Q. What is probation? Do I get a parole officer?
A. Well, no, but you will have to meet with your advisor at least three times during the semester. Probation occurs when your GPA (Grade Point Average) falls below a 2.0 which is the minimum average needed to graduate. On the other hand, a 3.3 GPA earns you a place on the Dean's List, and that is a very good place to be (p. 199).
Q. How do I get my average up to a 2.0?
A. Get out a piece of a paper and a pencil and grab a copy of your transcript and let's go!
1. Write the total number of credit hours you have attempted here (GPA hours on transcript) _____
2. Write the total number of credit hours you are taking (or plan to take) this semester _____
3. Add lines 1 and 2 ______
4. Multiply line 3 by 2.0 (the desired GPA) ____
5. Write the total number of quality points you have completed here (QPts on your transcript) _____
6. Subtract line 5 from line 4 _____
7. Divide line 6 by line 2 _____
This is the GPA that you will need this semester to have an overall GPA of 2.O.
An example:
Suzie has earned 12 GPA hours. Her Quality Points are 17.10 and her current GPA is 1.42. She is going to take 16 credit hours this semester.
1. GPA hours 12
2. Credit hours this semester 16
3. Lines 1 and 2 together 28
4. Line 3 x 2.0 56
5. Total QPts 17.10
6. Line 5 subtracted from line 4 38.90
7. Line 6 divide by line 2 2.43
Suzie needs a 2.43 GPA this semester to have a GPA of 2.0 and to be off probation.
Q. Would it help me to retake a course under the course repeat option?
A. Only you know the answer to this one. A student may repeat a course and have the first grade excluded from the calculation of their cumulative quality point average (GPA) if the course is an exact equivalent of the previous course taken. When courses are repeated, the initial grade will remain on the transcript, but an "E" will appear to the right of the initial grade earned, indicating that this grade is excluded from the GPA average calculation. Will it help? That's up to you! At least you have a new chance (p. 197).
In the example above, if Suzie repeated the course she failed first semester, instead of needing a 2.43 to get off probation, she would need a 2.03.
Please note: Repeated courses may not meet the full time requirements for state funded financial aid. Refer to the Financial Aid Guide section on eligibility for more information.
Q. Will my transfer credits from IMSmart U count?
A. If you come to Fredonia as a transfer student, your transcript(s) from your other college(s) will be evaluated on a transfer evaluation form. This form will be in your advising folder and you should use it to see where your credits apply to Fredonia's requirements for graduation. Questions about this evaluation should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.
Once you are a student at Fredonia, you must get prior approval to have credit taken at another college or university transfer in. For instance, if you wanted to take a summer class at a college near your home, you would need prior approval from the chairperson of your major department, your minor department (if applicable), and the Registrar. There is a Transfer Credit Approval form available at the Registrar's office and you will need a copy of the course description(s) from the other college catalog. Everyone just wants to be sure that the course really is equivalent to the one required here (p. 197).
Q. Can I go to college forever without declaring a major?
A. Absolutely not! Of course you need a major to graduate and, in fact, you will not be allowed to course select if you have not declared a major by the time you have 60 hours. As much as you may like to prolong the matter, you are here to get an education, and part of that rather difficult process is deciding what you want to be - at least for the next 25 years or so! That's not to say that you can't change your major - more than once if you'd like! You can do that by obtaining the Change of Major form from the Office of the Registrar, getting written approval for the change from the department chairperson of the intended new major, then getting the approval of the department that you are leaving and returning the form to the Registrar's office. Remember - some majors have GPA requirements, so keep those grades up! (p. 194).