1. The Undergraduate Colleges & Supporting Your Student’s Success

2. Overview Goals of the Undergraduate Colleges
The Undergraduate College Experience
Graduation Requirements and the Stony Brook Curriculum
Sample schedules
Supporting Student Success

3. What are the Undergraduate Colleges?
Six learning communities that ground the first-year at Stony Brook, based on broad academic and social themes
Spring admitted students are only placed into 3 of the 6
Provide an integrated approach to undergraduate education
Designed to support the transition from high school to college; build community; and prepare students for personal and academic success

5. The Goals Connect Plan Expand
- University and mission as an academic community
- Faculty, staff, peers, and campus resources
Plan
- Prepare students for success: academic, social, personal
- Advising and academic support to complete credits in good standing
Expand
- Explore theme of the college
- Explore strengths, interests, and possible academic/career paths

6. The Undergraduate College Experience
Undergraduate College Faculty-Staff Team:
Faculty Director
Undergraduate College Advisor(s)
Residential Quad Director
Residence Hall Directors
Undergraduate College Centers:
Buildings/spaces affiliated with each UGC
Common area for students within Colleges
Classes, programs, residential students live within same quad
Students enjoying the annual Mendy Extravaganza

7. The Undergraduate College Experience
Orientation and Opening
Customized Academic Advising
First-Year Seminar 101 (First Semester)
Optional but encouraged: First-Year Seminar 102 (First Semester)
Co-curricular Programs and Events
Battle of the UGCs
Thematic programs and events
UGC Academies
5 interdisciplinary minors
6 certificate programs
Allow students to continue UGC affiliation beyond the first year
Student getting hair cut for the UGC Battle Against Cancer event.

8. Orientation Opening Thursday, January 19th
Students will be grouped together by Undergraduate College
Students celebrate the official start of their academic journey at Stony Brook and learn about resources available to them.
Students take the first step towards graduation: meeting their advisor and registering for their first semester courses.
Opening
Sunday, January 22nd
Students have an opportunity to meet the UGC Advisors, Faculty Director, Quad Director, and other team members for the first time.
Students participate in activities with other students in their College to build community and learn about the theme.
Students continue to build connections and learn about the University, including academic expectations, getting involved, and the resources available.
First Year Students Celebrating the Opening of school at First Night Out

9. Customized Advising and Support
Each college has 1-2 academic advisors who serve as a primary support for students for their first year.
Students can consult their advisor regarding course selection and registration, major and minor interests, and other academic issues or concerns.
Proactive outreach concerning deadlines and upcoming events is provided.
Advisors work closely with academic departments, other academic resource offices, and their UGC teams to create a network of support for students.
Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library

10. First-Year Seminars First-Year Seminar 101 (Required)
One-credit introduction to the University, taught by staff, faculty, and administrators; graduation requirement
Typically students
Continued academic advising and support
Co-curricular programs and experiences built into the class
Each FYS 101 has a UGC Fellow within the class, an experienced student who acts as a mentor and resource for students in their transition to college
First-Year Seminar 102 (Encouraged)
One-credit topic-based academic seminar, taught by faculty
Small and interactive courses
Topics of instructors’ choosing: that appeal to first-year students
Introduces students to membership in a scholarly research community
Emphasis on faculty-student engagement (lunch, field trips)
Designed to build relationships between faculty and students that are expected to last throughout a student’s time at Stony Brook

11. First-Year Seminar 102 Songs of Bob Dylan The Art of Comics
Intro to Studio Recording
Heavy Metal Music: The Universal Language of Youth Angst
Natural Disasters in North America
The Search for Happiness
Medicine and the Media
Ethics and College Student Life
Yoga for Academic Wellness
Forensic Science Chronicles
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Theme Parks in the 21st Century
3D Modeling for Games
Robotics
People and Pups
Leadership Through Sailing
Speed! Driving at the Dawn of the Automotive Era

12. Co-Curricular Programs and Events
Out-of-class activities that complement and extend the class experience
Shared, thematic programming designed to support student interests and transition
Opportunities for interaction between students, faculty, and staff at the University
Students on a trip to the zoo

13. Graduation Requirements
Completion of a declared major
Completion of at least 120 credits for BA and BS degrees; 124 credits for Journalism; 128 credits for BE degrees
Completion of at least 36 credits at Stony Brook after 57th credit earned (Residence Requirement)
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
Completion of at least 39 upper division credits (300 and 400-level courses)
Completion of the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC)

14. The Stony Brook Curriculum
Rationale: Students need to obtain the skills necessary to be a life-long learner and productive citizen in the 21st century
Interconnectedness between disciplines
Technology skills
Emphasis on experience
Fulfill four categories to experience breadth and depth of learning
All categories fulfill specific learning objectives

15. SBC Policies
Requirements between a students’ major, minor, and Stony Brook Curriculum may intentionally overlap
Certain courses may satisfy more than one objective or category
Students must earn a C or higher in some categories to satisfy the course objectives
Appropriate scores on some AP exams may satisfy certain categories
Transfer courses evaluated to be equivalent to SBU courses may satisfy a category or objective with a grade of C or higher

16. Sample First-Year Student Schedule
College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business, or School of Journalism
Non-Science Majors
First-Year Seminar 101
1 Credit
Math
3-4 Credits
Major/Minor courses
Foreign Language or Writing course
SBC course
3 Credits
Total
13-16 Credits

17. Sample First-Year Student Schedule
College of Arts & Sciences
Science Majors and/or Pre-Health Students
First-Year Seminar 101
1 Credit
Math
3-4 Credits
Natural Science course (SNW – probably CHE)
Major/Minor courses
3 Credits
Foreign Language or Writing course
Total
13-16 Credits

18. Sample First-Year Student Schedule
College of Engineering & Applied Sciences
First Year Seminar
1 Credit
Math
3-4 Credits
Natural Science (PHY or CHE)
4-5 Credits
Major/Minor Courses
2-3 Credits
Writing Course or SBC
3 Credits
Total
13-17 Credits

19. Supporting Student Success
The first year
The importance of the first six weeks
Staying on campus
Getting involved in clubs/activities
Creating connections
Visiting professors’ office hours
Finding a place to do work/study
Identifying someone to talk to

20. Supporting Student Success
Support their exploration of different academic options
Academic difficulties are not uncommon in the first semester – encourage students to talk to their advisor and utilize campus resources to manage those difficulties
Encourage them to get involved on campus and make connections with other students, regardless of whether they are commuter or residential students
Be understanding of their time and new academic and social commitments
Let them do the talking!

21. Your Student’s Responsibilities
Review new student materials, including the new student worksheet and electronic materials provided in an electronic folder
Make sure their SBU is set as their primary account and that they are checking their regularly
Maintain their own calendar of academic deadlines and class assignments
Be familiar with University policies, degree requirements, and resources on campus
Communicate regularly with their advisor(s), 101 seminar instructors, and Professors
Be comfortable seeking help if they need it and advocating for themselves

22. Contact Information:
Undergraduate Colleges
N3071 Frank Melville, Jr. Memorial Library
(631)