1. A & S Academic Advising Tips
Nancy Scannell and Anna Stewart
Spring 2016

2. Gen Ed Requirements BS vs. BA Finding courses
Specific Geo courses count for SS
Math 110 and 114 – prerequisites for Quantitative Analysis, but do not fulfill the requirement
Foreign Language – retroactive credit is earned for placement in 203 and 204.

3. Foreign Language
BS – students may select FL 203 level to fulfill Cultural Diversity requirement
BA – 8 credits is required. Students earn retroactive credit for 203 and 204 placement.
International students whose native language is not English and who have the appropriate visa may take English 102 to fulfill the FL requirement.

4. Permission to Double Dip?
Yes, within major or minor and Gen Ed.
No, with Individualized major or minor and Gen Ed.
No, within major and minor
No, within two majors
No, within dual degrees which also require 30 credits (60 quality points) above the required number for the first degree

5. Individualized Major or Minor
Not Both!

6. CAPS – Refer to Deans Committee on Academic and Professional Standards
Exceptions to the Catalog
Beware of excess credits in a discipline – 48 is the limit unless students plan to make up the difference over 124 credits
Withdraw after deadline
Course Substitutions beyond Sub #1

7. Drop does not mean Withdraw
Students may drop a course within one week of the semester start date with no sign of enrollment in the course on the transcript
Students may withdraw by the posted deadline on the academic calendar with a grade of “W” on the transcript
Exceptions after the deadlines must be approved by CAPS

8. S / U does not = Pass / Fail
S = Satisfactory grade of C- or above
F = grade of F = failure
U = Unsatisfactory grade of D+ or below;
No credit earned!
Please note: Valparaiso University does not offer a Pass / Fail option. We offer S /U.

9. Curriculum Change Forms
New or additional major
New or additional minor
Change of advisor
Switch in colleges – need Deans’ signatures
Drop major or minor
Change to Exploratory

10. Academic Work Load form is required for IS and for internships
Independent Study
Academic Work Load form is required for IS and for internships

11. Dual Degrees Consult the Catalog in these rare instances.
Students must earn at least 30 credits and 60 quality points in excess of the total number of credits needed for the first degree.
No course used to fulfill a major or minor in one degree may be used to fulfill a major or minor in another degree.
In those 30 credits, must earn a C or above.

12. Residency Requirements
30 / 40 credits must be earned at VU.
50% of all credits in major must be from VU.
50% of all credits in minor must be from VU.
Petition CAPS for exceptions.

13. Full-time vs. Part-time
All athletes and international students must maintain full-time status of 12 credits. Students may need to consult with Financial Aid. (Some financial aid packages require more than 12. For example, Indiana’s Twenty-First Century Scholars must maintain 15 credits each semester.)

14. General Studies GS 100: Strategies for Academic Success (1 credit)
GS 150: Exploratory Studies (2 credits)
GS 180: Civic Engagement (up to 3 credits with a maximum of 2 in a semester)
GS 390: Professional Skills topics courses vary each semester

15. Undergraduate Overload Petitions and Charges
Fees are incurred at credit #20. A petition is needed for credit #19 and above.

16. Applications to Graduate
Students now complete and submit on DataVU. A signed degree audit is no longer necessary.

17. Thank you for coming today!
If we can help you to serve our students better, please let us know!