1. Academics at IWU Dr. Greg Shaw. Chandra Shipley, MSEd Professor of
Academics at IWU Dr. Greg Shaw Chandra Shipley, MSEd Professor of Director of Political Science Academic Advising

2. A brief agenda
The student-teacher relationship
Academic expectations
Academic resources
Some advice for parents
First-year advising program
Graduation requirement overview
Questions and responses

3. Student-teacher relationship
As distinguished from high school:
A combination of classroom exchanges, assignments, mentoring, and extracurriculars
Ongoing mentorship across semesters as students grow; community building within departments
Multiple faculty roles:
Teachers, scholars / artists, community members
By design, we are busy but available:
Academic advising, office hours, research partnerships

4. Academic expectations
Excellence, excellence, excellence!
Pre-class preparation is key
Approximately two hours of study for each hour in class – college is a full-time (plus) job
Transition from consumers of knowledge to producers of knowledge
Competently and creatively challenging authority – question everything

5. Academic expectations
Some of the biggest challenges for students:
Active reading: note taking, textual criticism
Learning to ask, “Why do we pose the question this way?”
Using office hours effectively
Responding to written feedback
Making time for high-impact extra-curricular activities (summers, internships, spring breaks)
Developing the courage to pursue lofty goals
Again, train to smartly question authority

6. Academic Resources
Professors
Advisors
Academic Advising Center
Academic Skills Series
Writing Center
Language Resource Center
Departmental Tutors
Library Faculty

7. This will be a time of lots of decisions
Some advice
This will be a time of lots of decisions
Moving from a highly structured to a less structured environment
The best help from parents probably comes in the form of probing questions
Try not to panic when daughters and sons change majors (med-school? maybe not)
Creating a safe place for experiential learning, including occasionally falling down (and learning how to get back up)

8. What is First-Year Advising?
First-Year Advising (FYA) is a program that facilitates a successful transition from high school to university life in which an IWU faculty member assists the student in academic planning and offers advice concerning academic decisions a student must make throughout his or her undergraduate career. 8

9. Who are the First-Year Advisors?
Faculty members who volunteer and are trained to work with first-year students
Assigned to each Gateway Colloquium course or is the Gateway instructor
Focus is on liberal arts foundation (general education program)
Follow template for recommended course of study for first three semesters of each major
Templates are available online

10. Role of the First-Year Advisor
Assist students with the transition into the university
Provide GUIDANCE in selection of courses and academic planning
Monitor anxiety about registration process
Promote reasonable balance of work
Facilitate assistance with academic difficulty
Direct access to resources (e.g., psychological difficulty, career counseling, writing skills)

11. Role of the Student Come to appointments on-time
Prepare for appointments
Keep organized records
Provide accurate information regarding interests and abilities
Be an active partner in the advising relationship
Follow through on referrals
Take responsibility

12. Role of the Family Member
Be available to support and encourage your student
Encourage your student to do things they can for him/herself
Re-direct your student’s concerns and questions to their FYA
Respect the role of the advisors
Remind your student of the various resources available to assist on campus
Utilize the Family Member Checklist on the Advising Center Website

13. Advising Process Overview
Summer 2013
Fall 2013/Spring 2014
from the Office of the Registrar - sent on 6/14
Turning Titan: New Student Orientation
1 group advising session with the students
30 minute individual advising appointment with the student
Registration for remainder of classes is Friday morning
Fall Group Session and Individual Appointment for Spring/May Term Registration
Spring Group Session and Individual Appointment for Fall Registration
Individual appointments as needed

14. What’s After FYA?
Second/Sophomore Year: Transition to a faculty advisor in their major department.
Undeclared students: Either stay with their FYA or are assigned to the Director of Academic Advising.

15. Graduation Requirements
The Basics
Major
Minor (Optional)
General Education Requirements
Electives (varies)
2.0/4.0 GPA
+/- Grading system

16. UNITS The unit: Required to graduate:
1 unit = 4 semester hours/6 quarter hours
1 unit = minimum of 150 minutes/week in class
Majority of our classes are 1 unit
Typical course load is 4 units/courses per semester
BA = 32 units
BS = 32 units
BSN = 32 units
BFA = 32 units
BM = 35 units
BME = 36 units

17. General Education Requirements
Gateway Colloquium
Analysis of Values
The Arts
Contemporary Social Institutions
Cultural and Historical Change
Formal Reasoning*
Intellectual Traditions
Literature
Second Language*
The Natural Sciences*
Physical Education
Encountering Global Diversity Flag
Encountering U.S. Diversity Flag
2 Writing Intensive Courses
*The # of units required for these categories varies by degree.

18. Sample Schedules Business Biology Nursing Psychology Class Units
Gateway 1
Biology 101
1.25
Chemistry 201
History 151
TOTAL
4.5
Class
Units
Gateway 1
Economics 100
Math 110
French 101
TOTAL 4
Nursing
Psychology
Class
Units
Gateway 1
Biology 107
1.25
Chemistry 110
Human Nutrition 230
TOTAL
4.5
Class
Units
Psychology 100 1
Biology 107
1.25
English 101
Spanish 201
TOTAL
4.25

19. Summer Reading Program19

20. Academic Skills Series
Collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs
Series of 10 programs to assist students in the development of and/or strengthening of academic skills needed to be successful at IWU
Offered in the fall and the spring
Wednesdays at noon
Pizza provided for lunch
Students can attend any or all 20

21. Academic Advising Center
Services include:
providing drop-in and academic advising by appointment
facilitating major exploration for undecided students or students considering changing majors
drafting semester-by-semester plans
assisting students experiencing academic difficulty
referring students to campus resources
coordinating academic accommodations
answering questions about advising, university policy, and registration
Holmes Hall 21

22. Questions?*
* yes, everything is fair game