When will I be assigned
an advisor?
When a student is accepted at
the university, he/she will be advised by a trained advisor who
will guide the student academically and discuss matters relating
to his/her academic program.
What do I need to bring to an advising session?
If you are a transfer student, you should bring all information concerning courses currently being taken which do not appear on your SHSU transcript (which can be accessed through Sam Web). If you are a beginning student, you should make sure all your preliminary entrance tests are on file with the Undergraduate Admissions office. We cannot advise and clear you if the proper test scores are not posted to your permanent SHSU transcript.
How long does an advising
session last?
The first advising session may
last anywhere from 20-30 minutes, depending on the questions asked
and the information desired. Usually students are shown a
degree plan for their proposed major; the degree plan's structure
is explained so the student can use it as a reference. Students
are encouraged to bring in an updated degree plan with them at each
advising session.
What is the core curriculum
and how many classes are required for completion? http://www.shsu.edu/catalog/corecurriculum.html
The core curriculum, mandated
by the Texas Coordinating Board, consists of 42 hours of college-level
courses which must be completed along with requirements for the
student's chosen major and minor (if applicable). The core
curriculum consists of six hours of English composition (English
164 and 165), three hours of mathematics (course determined by major),
eight hours of lab science (choices), three hours of fine arts (choices),
three hours of humanities (sophomore English or philosophy choices),
three hours of cultural studies (choices), six hours of American
history (History 163 and 164), six hours of political science (Political
Science 261 and choice), three hours of behavioral science (choices),
and one hour of kinesiology (KIN 215).
What is TSI and what
are the requirements for completion?
TSI stands for Texas Success
Initiative and involves either scoring high enough on a state or
national test or being exempt from the test because of earlier testing
(such as TAKS, SAT, or ACT). If a student has taken any of
the state approved tests (the THEA, Accuplacer, ASSET, or COMPASS)
and has scored at or above the required score, then the student
is ready to take college-level courses in English, mathematics,
and reading-intensive courses. Important information can be
found at this website and all students are encouraged to look at
this information: http://www.shsu.edu/~reg_www/tsi/index.html.
Information about the THEA and Accuplacer tests
can be obtained from SHSU's Testing Center at this location:
http://www.shsu.edu/~tst_www/
Can I test out of courses
and receive college credit?
Yes. Information about
the tests available can be found on SHSU's Testing Center website:
http://www.shsu.edu/~tst_www/
Where can I get a copy
of my degree plan?
The DARS degree plan program
is web-based and available to all enrolled students.
The program can be accessed through the Registrar's website at this
location: http://www.shsu.edu/~reg_www/dars/index.html.
When can I register for
my classes?
Each long semester there is an
early registration period which is normally in November and April.
Once a student has been advised and cleared, that student may register
for classes when his/her last-name letter is scheduled. Early
registration is arranged by classification with seniors registering
on the first day, then juniors, sophomores, and freshmen on following
days. All registration is online.
When can I be advised?
Advising begins each semester
soon after the semester begins. Once the schedule of classes
is put online by the Registrar's Office, students may be advised
and cleared. All students are encouraged to be advised as
early as possible in the semester to avoid having to wait once early
registration approaches.
Who must be advised?
All students are encouraged to
be advised to assure that they are taking classes relevant to their
individual degrees. There are four categories of students who must
be advised:
-
Students with
no SHSU GPA (all new freshmen and transfer students).
-
Students who
have below a 2.5 overall GPA.
-
Students subject
to TSI requirements.
-
Students who
have 90+ hours, including the current semester. This is to assure
that they are on the right track towards graduation.
How do I figure my GPA?
GPA's (Grade Point Averages)
are figured by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number
of hours attempted. For example, if you are taking four three-hour
courses and earn C's in all of them, you will have earned a 2.0
GPA [24 grade points divided by 12 hours.] To determine the
grade points earned, multiply the number of hours for a given course
by the number of the grade earned:
A = 4
B = 3
C = 2
D = 1
F = 0
(multiplied by the number of hours for course = grade points earned)
Online Grade Calculators
Semester GPA Calculator:
http://www.shsu.edu/~sam_www/semgpacalc.html
Other GPA Calculators: http://www.shsu.edu/~sam_www/studenttools.html
Can I repeat a course
I failed for a better grade and will this help my overall GPA?
Yes. You may repeat a course
in which an F was received one time; if a higher grade is earned,
that is the grade that will count for the course. The course
must be taken at SHSU for the new grade to impact your overall GPA.
You may also repeat courses in which you received grades other
than F's for higher grades, if you desire.
If I go on probation,
what do I do?
All students who are put on academic
probation will receive an email from the Registrar's Office after
the close of the semester indicating that they must be re-advised
and re-cleared in order to keep the next semester's schedule they
already have or to register for the upcoming semester. Probationary
students must meet with an advisor to determine the best course
of action to take to return to good standing by the end of the upcoming
semester. If students on probation do not return to good standing
(2.0), they are placed on suspension. In most cases, advisors
will suggest that you repeat courses, which is the quickest way
to bring up your GPA. Advisors may also suggest to probationary students that they participate in the HELP program, which is a monitoring program for these students.
What is the HELP program?
HELP (Help ELiminate Probation) is designed to aid the probationary students through the semester in order for the student to return to good standing by the end of the semester and to avoid being placed on suspension. Depending on the severity of the probationary status of the student, an individualized program will be created for the needs of that student.
What happens if I am
placed on suspension?
All students placed on suspension
must meet with the Dean of their major college for re-admittance
on probation. If the student has early-registered for classes
and is suspended, the schedule is dropped until the student is re-admitted.
If the Dean allows the student to be re-admitted, then the student
must re-apply with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, be accepted,
then be re-advised by an academic advisor. Many times re-admitted
students are put into the SAM Center's MAP program as part of their
re-admittance conditions.
What is the MAP program?
The MAP (Monitored Academic Progress)
program is designed to help all suspended students receive the support
they need to return to good standing. Depending on the grade
point deficiency of the student, a MAP program is specially designed
for his/her needs, which may consist of periodic visits with a trained
academic mentor, grade check forms, and other support services which
can aid the student to be successful.
How are courses at SAM Houston numbered?
Courses have a three-digit designation, such as English 164. The first number indicates the level of the course: 1-freshman, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior, 5 and above-graduate. The second number indicates the number of credit hours: 1 = 1 hour credit; 2 = 2 hours credit; 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 = 3 hours credit; 4 = 4 hours credit. A zero as the second number indicates that the course can be taken for varied credit from 1 to x hours. The third number is reserved for the department to indicate either a sequence of courses (English 164 and English 165) or level of course.
Are there any prerequisites
for advanced courses?
Most departments will design
their programs so that courses are taken in a particular order,
therefore, many advanced courses will have prerequisite courses
on a lower-level. These are indicated in the catalog following
course descriptions.
IMPORTANT: There are five
core curriculum courses which must be taken before any advanced
courses can be taken. Those classes are English 164 and 165,
a college-level math course (not including Math 031 or 032), and
one lab science.
What are some other programs
offered by the SAM Center designed to help students succeed with
their academics?
First Alert is a program by which
professors refer students to the SAM Center who are doing poorly
in their classes or are not attending. The staff at the SAM
Center contacts the students to meet with them to determine the
best course of action to take in order to succeed in that class.
Study Skills classes are offered
to all students. These are six one-hour classes which meet
weekly for six weeks and cover such topics as procrastination, note-taking,
stress management, time management, and reading textbooks.
VIP (Voluntary Intervention Program) is for students to put themselves in a monitored program with the help of a mentor at the SAM Center. All the student needs to do is come to the SAM Center and request a meeting with a SAM Center mentor and the student will be accommodated. There are VIP forms available across campus in classrooms and also in residence halls.
What are other programs offered by the SAM Center to enhance the student's college experience?
GRE Preparation. These
intensive sessions are offered free to SHSU students to prepare
them for these graduate tests. Offered each semester, students
register for the review classes and are committed to recommended
preparation and scheduled session attendance. These sessions
are also offered to students at the University Center in The Woodlands.
Grassroots is a special speaker
program designed to allow students to interact with distinguished,
successful men and women of underrepresented populations.
Once each month, in the Olson Auditorium, a guest visitor will interact
with students with ways of becoming successful and share his/her
story with the audience. Following each Grassroots program,
there is a reception in the SAM Center so that the guest can meet
casually with students.
In
what situations would I need to take study skills?
You might be referred to take
study skills by an advisor, a dean, or a faculty member, but you can also volunteer to take study
skills if you feel that you need to refine your note-taking abilities,
relieve stress, adopt better time management, or read textbooks
with more accuracy.
When is the best time
to be advised?
Advising for the next semester
begins early in the semester. For example, advising for the
spring semester usually begins in mid-September and advising for
the summer and fall semesters begins at the beginning of February.
These beginning times coincide with the availability of the schedule
of classes online for the semester for which you will be advised.
How do I get in contact
with my advisor?
Advisors can be contacted by
email or by coming by the SAM Center for a one-on-one session.
How do I drop a class?
Dropping classes can be done
online until near the end of the semester. At that time, students
must go to the Registrar's Office for a dropping form. Students
may drop classes up until the last business day before final exams
begin.
How do I register?
Registration is online. Once
you have logged in, just follow the instructions for registration.
If you have any questions, please contact the help desk in Computer
Services (helpdesk@shsu.edu).
When can I make an appointment
and how do I set one up?
Appointments for advising are
made for the morning hours until noon up until two weeks before
early registration when no appointments are made due to the high
student traffic we experience. During afternoon hours all
walk-ins are advised.
What are some other university
offices I need to contact?
Undergraduate Admissions: http://www.shsu.edu/~adm_www/
Career Services: http://www.shsu.edu/~ccp_www/
Financial Aid: http://www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/
Orientation: http://www.shsu.edu/enrollment/orientation/index.html
Registrar's Office: http://www.shsu.edu/~reg_www/
Visitor's Center (tours): http://www.shsu.edu/~visitor/
Correspondence Office: http://www.shsu.edu/~cor_www/
Honors Program: http://honors.shsu.edu/
Residence Life: http://www.shsu.edu/~hou_www/
Scholarships: http://www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/scholarship.html
Testing Center: http://www.shsu.edu/~tst_www/
Campus Map: http://www.shsu.edu/map/
Catalogs: http://www.shsu.edu/catalog/
Bearkat One Card: http://www.shsu.edu/onecard/
Transfer Students: http://www.shsu.edu/prospects/transfer/
Joint Admission: http://www.shsu.edu/joint/
Transfer Equivalence Guide: https://ww2.shsu.edu/regr27wp/
