1. Academic Success UT Martin Style

2. Freshman are friends….. NOT FOOD
Welcome to UT Martin! It is a great day to be a Skyhawk and we are privileged that you have chosen us as your home for the next 4 years. UT Martin is recognized for its high quality education, small classroom sizes and friendly faculty. It will be important to you meet the faculty in your department and know your professors. Although some of these characters DO look like some of our professors, we do not eat Freshman for breakfast.
Freshman are friends….. NOT FOOD

3. Success is YOUR responsibility
Get organized and Get READY
High school
7 hours a day/5 days a week
7 hours x 5 days = 35 hours per week
College
15 credits = 15 hours in the classroom
MWF 10:00 to 10:50 (3 hours a week)
TR 10:00 to 11:15 (3 hours a week)
35 – 15 = 20 hours to STUDY
Some of you are coming to UTM with lots of Dual Enrollment or Dual Credit hours. Some of you have just completed Advanced Placement classes and test and some of you did not attend a high school where you had these opportunities. Either way, you are here AND you had to meet our entrance requirements, so UT Martin is recognizing your accomplishments and knows that you are ready for this challenge.

4. A DEGREE Soar in Four 15 hours (credit) a semester
2 semesters a year = 30 credits per year
30 credits x 4 years = 120 credits
120 credits =
A DEGREE
The reason you are here is to get a degree! Or, find a degree path. Know that everyone in this room is dedicated to helping you make this happen. Students EARN grades, grades are not given. Work hard and work smart. Your degree is only 4 shorts years away. If you think about it, your high school years [probably] went by quickly.

5. Exploratory Majors Get into a major QUICKLY Time spent
Lengthens the time to your degree
Don’t know?
Go to Career Planning and Development!!
Exploratory majors are not degrees. You will have to quickly find an academic degree pathway. It is smart to get into a department as soon as you can. If you do not know what you want to do, then you need to visit the Career Planning and Development center. They will help you explore your options and discover your strengths and interests. Advising is complicated if you do not have an academic plan.

6. Math & English Complete Math and English YOUR FIRST YEAR
Know the requirements for your major
Take 100 level classes in your department
Students who complete these classes are more successful in college!!
Research shows us that students who complete their Math and English in their first year…are more successful. Additionally, take classes that are 100 or 200 level classes in your department. Get some exposure to what your degree might be like. If you know you are going to struggle in Math and or English… seek assistance early on. Going to tutoring is SMART and not punishment. Do you know WHO goes to tutoring all the time? The smart kids. Why, because they accept what they don’t know and seek help. Don’t think that “you’ve got this”….

7. Buy Your Books
This is not a LOAN! It is a request to take the cost of your books out of your REFUND check. (MAX $750)
Your check will be for the refund amount minus the cost of your books.

8. Official
Your UT Martin is the OFFICIAL mode of communication on campus.
YOU MUST CHECK YOUR UT Martin account regularly
You can forward your ut.utm.edu to your personal
“I didn’t know” is NEVER the correct response!

9. 21st Century Access UT Martin Portal
Banner Self-Service (grades, Fin. Aid, Advisor, schedule, holds, addresses, etc.)
Canvas – online class assistant
Flight Plan
UT Martin
Library
OrgSync – +120 clubs
Handshake – job finding service

11. 21st Century Access

12. CLASS GRADES Canvas – “classroom management system”
Class assistant online for most classes
Syllabus
Assignments/homework
Due dates
Videos
Reading
Submitting assignments
CLASS GRADES

13. How do I know Degree Audit programs
FlightPlan
This program lists all the classes in a degree program. You can “run” this online audits at any time AND use it for a “what if I change my major” scenario.

14. Grade Point Average Know how to calculate your GPA
This will be taught in GENS 101
3 different GPA’s
UTM GPA (UTM classes only, excluding dual enrollment/Credit, repeated course grades replaced)
Lottery GPA (UTM GPA only with repeated course grades averaged)
Overall GPA (UTM GPA + Dual enrollment/Credit)

15. Disability Resources Student must register with Disability Resources
Accommodations in the classroom can be:
Note taker, extended time on tests
Assistive technology
Quiet test taking environment
Recorders/closed captions/sign language

16. Disability Resources
Now is NOT the time to decide you can handle college WITHOUT:
Your medication
Assistance
Accommodations
Disabilities can be temporary

17. Success Counselors Each Freshman will have a Success Counselor
Meet twice a semester
Transition from high school to college
Assist with problem solving
My ID card doesn’t work
I can’t find my class and my roommate
I think I’m in the wrong major
I lost my calculator
I am homesick

18. It doesn’t take much to become a train wreck

19. Success Counselors Help the student find academic help
Start with your Professors
Supplemental Instruction
Small Group S.T.E.M. tutoring
Writing Center
Reading Center
Mathematics Learning Center

20. Veteran Services If you are a dependent of a Veteran
Drawing benefits or not
There are services available to you
UC 232 Veterans Lounge
Johnny Dyer, Veterans Services Coordinator

21. Student Success Center Clement Hall
Success Counselors
Disability Resources
Small Group S.T.E.M. Tutoring
Supplemental Instruction
Academic Warning (probation) Counseling (GPA below 2.0)
Conditional Admit advising

22. Time Management
Remember you have 20 hours a week to study…. Plan them out
Organization
Planner
Class Attendance
Develop good habits
Every student needs to
study!

23. Study Tips Go to the Library Find your preferred method of studying
Databases
Find your preferred method of studying
20-30 minutes is better than cramming
Build relationship with Professors and other students

24. Parents You know your student best Encourage them
Ask to see their grades and what is posted on Canvas
Come to campus and go to a game with them
Support their involvement in a club
ENGAGED students THRIVE better!

25. Questions?