Southern Maine Community College New Student Advising Fall 2009 Enrollment Services Office

Goals Know Your Responsibilities Understand Registration Policies Create a Schedule Begin Course Selection Use Web Registration Know Your Next Steps

Advising Process Registration vs. Advising Registration is the act of signing-up for courses. Advising is an on-going educational planning process between the student and their faculty advisor including academic progress, course selection, transfer guidance, and program completion.

Advising Process Your Role and Responsibilities Get to know your advisor early in the semester. Ask questions and remember to keep all records Share academic and personal goals with your advisor. Bring necessary materials to advising meetings. Become familiar with the academic policies of the college. Know your scholastic standing and GPA. Inform Enrollment Services of changes to contact information. Accept final responsibility for all decisions. Meet with your advisor each semester.

Advising Process Your Faculty Advisor’s Role and Responsibilities To assist with educational planning To clarify policies and procedures To provide career and field information To oversee academic progress To connect students with campus services

Academic Policies Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from classes Adjusting your schedule by adding or dropping classes is possible through the end of the first week of classes. Adding a class involves placing additional courses in your schedule. Dropping a class involves removing a course from your schedule without any financial and academic penalty. The last date for dropping a standard semester course for the Fall, is Tuesday, September 8th, at 5pm. After this date no classes may be added or dropped. Adjusting your schedule by withdrawing from a class is possible between the second and twelfth week. Withdrawing from a class involves removing a course from your schedule and requires full payment for the course. This will result in receiving a mark of “W” on your permanent record. This may adversely effect financial aid eligibility as well as academic standing. It is always recommended that students discuss course adjustments with their faculty advisor.

Developmental Courses Developmental Courses are pre-college level courses designed to help strengthen your academic skills and prepare you for college level work. Your test scores (Accuplacer, SAT, ACT, etc.) determine if you have to take a developmental course. Developmental Courses DO NOT count toward your degree. They are extra courses on top of what is required to get your degree. If you have to take them it may take you longer to finish your degree.

Steps to Selecting Courses Consult your Program Curriculum: This outlines all the courses that are required to obtain each degree.

Steps to Selecting Courses Consider the amount of time you are able to dedicate to your studies. Credit Hour – a credit hour is 50 minutes of in class time per week over a traditional 15 week semester. Be aware that it is expected that students will spend anywhere from two to three hours in out of class work for every credit hour. Most classes at SMCC will be three credit hours a few exceptions. For example lab sciences will require an additional one credit lab.

Steps to Selecting Courses Determine if you want to attend full or part time. Full-Time Status Students carrying 12 or more credits are considered full-time. Full-time students are eligible to apply for Housing, Athletics, and Full Financial Aid. Students who plan to complete a two year program in two years will need to take at least 15 credits per semester or take Summer classes. Part-Time Status Students carrying less than 12 credits are part-time. State grant eligibility is pro-rated for part-time students. Federal student loan eligibility requires 6+ credits.

Steps to Selecting Courses Consider Class Format and Location On-line courses Take place on the internet and require a moderate level of technological know how. If considering an online course, take the time to read through the linked webpage. Off Campus Locations Classes may be taken at a variety of locations, follow the above link for details. Online and off campus courses are highlighted in teal on the class schedule.

Steps to Selecting Courses Begin by registering for any developmental courses you have placed into. Your test scores, Accuplacer, SAT, etc., along with any previously completed college course work determine which, if any, developmental courses you must take. Developmental Courses do not count toward your degree. They are pre-college level courses designed to help strengthen your academic skills and prepare you for college level work. These courses are financial aid eligible but may lengthen how long it takes to obtain your degree.

Consider Academic Success Seminar (ACSS 104) T ime management. Why is it so important? Career Exploration. Develop a resume and portfolio. Learn specific study skills and strategies. Explore the learning process. Discover your learning style.

Exciting New Opportunity for Academic Success Seminar Try linked courses! This is an opportunity to take two courses with the same students, while working closely with two faculty who will share assignments and activities. ACSS (Academic Success Seminar) + ENGL (English Composition) ACSS (Academic Success Seminar) + ENGL (Basic Writing) ACSS (Academic Success Seminar) + MATH (Introduction to Algebra) Here’s what students have to say about linked courses: “Being in linked courses is great. It gave me, a first year student, a safety net of friends and teachers. I would love to take another linked course.” “We all got to know each other well, which is great. It made the transition easier.” “ I learned the importance of time management, studying, and balancing time and I put them to work in my other courses”

Steps to Selecting Courses Look for courses listed in the recommended first semester section of your program curriculum.program curriculum Check each course to verify that all pre/co-requisites have been completed or are in progress. Pre-requisites are courses which must be taken prior to a specific course, while co-requisites can be taken simultaneously. If you are unable to follow the first semester recommendations, you may choose courses so long as you meet any pre/co- requisites. Some courses are semester specific. It is recommended that you follow first semester recommendations as closely as possible.

Steps to Selecting Courses Some courses are restricted by program In order to register for restricted classes, you must be accepted to the program. This is subject to change. Some areas are listed below. Most Health Science specific courses.Health Science Automotive courses, listed as AUTO, on class schedule. Communications and New Media courses, listed as CNMS, on schedule. Construction Technology courses, listed as CONS, on schedule. Electrical Engineering Technology courses, listed as ELEC, on schedule. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing courses, listed as HVPL and HVAC on schedule.

My SMCC SMCC’s Web Portal My SMCC provides 24/7 access to: Web registration Your academic records Your degree audit (IMPORTANT NOTE: the Degree Audit section is currently under construction. Until it is completed, you should meet with your advisor to review your progress.) …and much more! The following slides will walk you through the process of accessing My SMCC and registering for classes. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with its many other features!

Steps to Using My SMCC  To begin, start at our homepage and click on “My SMCC”.homepage  Log-in using your user name & password (see “Login Information” for instructions). If you cannot login, contact the Help Desk at for assistance.  On the “Home” tab, use the “College Course Schedule” portlet to either Add/Drop courses from your current schedule, or to do a Course Search.  Check the box(es) on the courses you want to add/drop, then click on the “Add Courses” and/or “Drop Courses” button to complete your registration.

Check the box next to the course(s) you would like to register for, and then click “Add Courses ”.

Final Steps for Student Success Arrange payment with Student Billing. Check in with Financial Aid. Get parking sticker & ID at Security. Turn in proof of immunizations. Purchase books. For log-in assistance call our Help Desk at or visit their office in the Technology Center Room 102. Make any additional changes using My SMCC! Complete the Mandatory New Student Online Orientation via My SMCC.