Laura Pittman's BSU Academic Advising Blog

Options to Explore

2012-01-26T10:39:00.003-05:00

Almost three weeks have gone by since the start of the Spring Semester. Hopefully that means that you are establishing a routine for yourself that includes being successful in the courses that you are taking.

Here are some things to keep in mind as the semester continues:

February 20 is the first day to register for summer classes online or on campus at BSU.

Spring Break begins March 5. University administrative office will remain open (that means I'm around!), but classes will not be in session.

The Course Withdrawal Period ends on Tuesday, March 20. Up until that day you can withdraw (ie: "remove") a class from your schedule by completing the appropriate form through the Registrar's Office in Lucina Hall B43.

Course Registration for Fall Semester begins in April. Over the next several months you will get more information about when to register for classes, how to register for classes, and when to make an appointment with me (to choose those classes).

Grades Out! Questions?

2011-12-23T13:32:00.002-05:00

Did you know that Fall Semester 2010 grades are now available online at www.bsu.edu/studenservices by clicking on the link for "My Education Gateway." You will need to log in with your BSU username and password but are welcome to do it anywhere that you have internet access.

If you have questions or concerns about individual grades that you received, you need to contact the professor for those particular classes to get more information. The University does have a formal grade appeal process, in writing, that you can read at http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/StudentRights/PoliciesandProcedures/StudentCode/67GradeAppeals.aspx. Basically, if you are wanting to appeal a final grade you must first inform the instructor or, in his or her absence, the department chairperson, within ten (10) school days after the final grade is posted by the Registrar’s Office. The request for review of the grade must be submitted in writing (via letter or email) to the faculty member. The faculty member or, in his or her absence, the department chairperson, must respond via letter or email with a decision regarding the student’s grade within five (5) school days after receipt of the request.

Finals on the Horizon

2011-12-08T11:02:00.003-05:00

I'm sure that you've noticed that Finals Week is just around the corner which means that the preparation period for your Final Exams should be right now!

As you plan out your strategy for preparing for exams, here are some general tips:

Give yourself sufficient time to prepare for the exam. For example, if you have a test on Thursday, you will want to begin studying now (as opposed to the night before).

Imagine the test as one step in a process. Actually it is the last step in the process! Lay out the steps: attending class, taking notes, creating a study guide, completing practice quizzes, etc.)

Schedule an appointment with your instructor (or drop by office hours!) if you have questions about the exam or any material that may confuse you.

Participate in study groups, SI sessions, or prepare with another student. But avoid studying with other students who seem intensely anxious.

Request Spring Semester Classes TODAY!

2011-10-10T12:24:00.004-04:00

Course Request for Spring Semester 2012 starts TODAY (October 10)! You can request classes online (www.bsu.edu/studentservices) up until Tuesday, November 1.

If you have not yet made an appointment to discuss your spring semester schedule, major/minor, degree analysis progress report (DAPR), or degree issues, schedule one today by calling (765) 285-1161 during normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.).

Advising Week on the Horizon

2011-09-08T10:36:00.002-04:00

Already I've been getting questions from students about how to schedule classes for the Spring Semester and when (don't worry if you aren't even thinking about this yet... those are the "go getters"). For any new freshmen, before scheduling an advising appointment you must first attend one of the Pre-Registration Advising Meetings during Advising Week (September 12-16).

If you haven't already, you will receive emails and postcards detailing the dates and locations of these meetings. You can also get more information from our website: www.bsu.edu/advising.

What's Next?!?!

2011-09-02T10:39:00.011-04:00

As the second week of classes comes to a close, and we look ahead at the weeks to come, you may be wondering what happens next when it comes to advising. You may even hear from your instructors or friends that you will need to schedule an appointment to meet with your academic advisor at some point.

The next "BIG THING" you need to be aware of is that during the week of September 12 (two weeks away), you will be required to go to an Pre-Registration Academic Planning Meeting. There are tons of these meetings held during Advising Week (almost 20), but you just will pick out the one that works best around your schedule.

These required meetings will get you prepped for scheduling Spring Semester 2012 classes and give you tons of basic and important information about how to do academic planning. You must attend one of these meetings if you are a new freshman at Ball State.

When are they? You will receive postcards and emails about the upcoming Pre-Registration Academic Planning Meetings, and you may see some fliers in your residence halls or hear about them from your RA.

Changing Schedules -- Options and Non-Options

2011-08-24T11:46:00.002-04:00

My office has been flooded today (with people... not water!). I've been seeing students back to back since 8 a.m. this morning, and the majority have all had the same desire: to change a schedule.

Do you need to change your schedule but have no idea what to add?

The problem, as you may be aware, is that many classes are full. Additionally, if you are unable or unwilling to do early classes or night classes, that can further prevent you from making changes. Regardless... as of TODAY (Wednesday, August 24) here are some classes that have some good times and good space available:

AHS 100 (Introduction to Art)
AQUA 214 (Beginning Swimming)
BIO 100 (Biology for Modern Society)
CHEM 100 (People and Chemistry)
EDSEC 150 (Basic Concepts of Secondary Education)
FIN 101 (Fiscal Wellness)
FR 101 (Beginning French 1)
NREM 101 (Environment and Society)
RELST 160 (Introduction to Religion in Culture)
SOC 224 (Family and Society)
SP 101 (Beginning Spanish 1)

Welcome to Ball State University!

2011-08-22T10:15:00.008-04:00

My oldest daughter got on the bus this morning for the third week of second grade, so the past few months have been a flurry of activity getting ready with back-to-school clothes, supplies, shoes, etc. We've officially registered her for school, paid book fees, met the teacher, and browsed through the lunch menu. She is still so excited about school, and she tends to get everyone else swept up in the excitement.

My hope for you as you start on this collegiate academic journey is that you also have that same sense of expectation and excitement about your experience here on campus. By this time you should be making plans for settling in at Ball State University (if you are living in a residence hall), and maybe you have had the opportunity to start planning how to succeed in the classes that you will be attending. I’m sure that if this is your first time on campus, everything will feel new, different, and initially overwhelming.

My desire is that as your Academic Advisor I will be able to alleviate the worries that you have regarding your academic life during your fall semester here at the university. I am looking forward to seeing you at least once during this semester. In the meantime, here are some things to keep in mind while you are trekking to and from classes.

*Within the next month you will receive a postcard from me letting you know that it is time to attend a Pre-Registration Advising Meeting. You can choose to attend any of them but most are located in residence halls around campus. You are required to attend a meeting before you can request/register for Spring Semester 2012 classes.

*Once you have attended a Pre-Registration Advising Meeting, start thinking about Spring Semester courses and call to schedule an appointment with me. Planning for the spring comes up fast, so don’t procrastinate in setting up your appointment once you have attended the required meeting.

*The Academic Advising web site (www.bsu.edu/advising) is continually updated, and we add more and more information to it all the time. When you have questions, check the web site first! Chances are that you will find the answer there without having to call me.

*One of the primary ways that I will keep in touch with you about important dates, activities, and events is through email. It is imperative that you check your Ball State University email periodically even if it is not your main email address. You can also check out my announcements on your Blackboard web site at my.bsu.edu.

I realize that adjusting to life at Ball State can be a blast and a trial at the same time. If you have questions or concerns about ANTHING, please give me a call at (765) 285-1161 or reply to this email at lpittman@bsu.edu. I will be happy to help you in any way that I can.

Good luck with those first few weeks of classes!