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Welcome! ��� Graduate Pathways

Tramaine Polk Graduate Academic Advising Pathway Program

Who is your Pathway Advisor?

•  Tramaine Polk, MS •  University of South Florida Alumni-Go Bulls!!! •  M.S in Professional Counseling •  5+ years in Counseling and Higher Education

•  Programs include Engineering, Biology, Education and Other

Making an Appointment

Making an Appointment •  Make an Appointment through Grades First – Step 2

Making an Appointment •  Make an Appointment through Grades First – Step 3

Making an Appointment •  Please go to the front desk first! •  Please put the reason for the appointment…

Your Advisor Helps with…

Tramaine Polk trpolk@usf.edu

Academics q  Registers classes q  Academic goals q  Reviews midterm grades q  Discusses majors q  Reviews PW requirements

Adjustment q  Provides USF resources & contacts q  Offers feedback on cultural situations

and appropriate uses of language q  Provides language to use in

challenging situations q  Assists in navigating new experiences

Progression q  Reviews requirements q  Explains process & dates q  Organize graduate meetings

q  Informs students of progression decisions

What I can’t do… •  Change your grade •  Speak to you professor to change your grade •  Change your schedule once you are in the program •  Change you from Standard to Accelerated •  Change you for Accelerated to Standard after the first week of classes.

When Should you Meet with your Academic Advisor? •  Proactive •  Beginning of the term •  Midterm •  End of term •  Reactive •  Failing Grade on an Exam •  Student Code of Conduct Violation •  Attendance Issues

What are my goals?

MASTER DEGREE (Graduate from USF)

TRANSITION TO USF (PROGRESSION)

Successfully completed Pathway Program – earned approximately 30 credits

INTO USF Pass ALL Pathway courses and keep a high

GPA

Accelerated vs. Standard

Accelerated Standard

1 Semester Pathway: -  Meet GRE or GMAT Requirement -  Adjust to US education system -  Pass all classes (no grade forgiveness)

2 Semester Pathway: -  Meet GRE or GMAT requirement -  Adjust to US education system -  Pass all classes -  EAP: English for International Students

Important things to know for Pathway Students •  You are non-degree seeking student until passing your Pathway •  While you are in the Pathway Program, You are not able to make schedule

changes on your own •  You must seek academic advising from INTO-advisors not your department

advisor-unless you have been instructed otherwise

What types of grades do you need? •  For entry into an USF program students must have: * 3.25 GPA (minimum) * At least one “A” * No grade lower than “B” * No “W” or “I” grades

•  Depending on the degree program selected, students may also need to meet the minimum GMAT or GRE scores. How can you earn good grades?

•  Be sure to attend all classes •  Take good notes and complete ALL homework assignments •  Make an appointment with your professor when you do not understand something •  Participate in class •  Go to the tutoring center

What is a credit hour and GPA? A credit hour equals the amount of time you study in a course each week Examples: You attend Business Communications 3 hours a week = 3 credit hour You attend EAP 6 hours a week = 6 credit hours Your GPA is your Grade Point Average. It is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted

GRADE GPA A 4.0 B 3.0 B- 2.70 C 2.0

Do’s and Don’ts in American Universities DO

–  Sit in the front of the class –  Take good notes –  Ask questions and participate –  Arrive on time

DO NOT –  Arrive to class late –  Sleep in class –  Answer phone class or text message during class –  Speak your first (native) language in class

What to Avoid in the Academic Environment? •  Plagiarism

•  Cheating

•  Disruptive Behavior

Plagrism •  Plagiarism is the act of taking another person’s writing, conversation, song, or

even idea and passing it off as your own. This includes information from web pages, books, songs, television shows, email messages, interviews, articles, artworks or any other medium. Whenever you paraphrase, summarize, or take words, phrases, or sentences from another person’s work, it is necessary to indicate the source of the information within your paper using an internal citation. It is not enough to just list the source in a bibliography at the end of your paper. Failing to properly quote, cite or acknowledge someone else’s words or ideas with an internal citation is plagiarism.

•  Source: http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/plag/whatisplag.php

Plagiarism •  VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE! •  Plagiarism Contract •  Plagiarism Quiz DO NOT COPY AND PASTE! CITE YOUR WORK! DO YOU KNOW WHAT CITATION IS?

Plagiarism Contract

What if I have a problem with my class? •  If you do not understand something…….talk to your professor

•  If you want extra help with something….go to a tutor!! –  Tutors available for all content courses –  Writing Center located in library

•  If you have a problem with your schedule, courses, or anything

else that affects your academic studies…come see your assigned advisor!

How can you find your professors? •  Each professor gives you a syllabus of their course which includes important

information about the class, such as important test dates and assignment dates. The syllabus also includes your professor’s name, office location and email address. Do not lose the syllabus. Use it at all times.

•  When scheduling appointments with your professor use his/ her email address. Use proper email etiquette.

•  Use Canvas! * Canvas is an online place for your class to meet, hold discussions, post

important documents and find your classmates’ email addresses. * You can access Canvas at my.usf.edu *All of your classes will be listed on Canvas. Make sure to check it often.

What can I discuss with my professor during office hours? •  Don’t be nervous! They are there to help you! •  Clarification on instructions for assignments •  Strategies for improvement in the course •  Suggestions for supplemental materials that may assist in understanding

course content •  Additional feedback on graded assignments

Good to know… •  If you have class all day

–  Pack food –  Get rest –  Arrange for rides if you are off campus –  Look up classes ahead of time –  You can’t change your schedule

•  Don’t be afraid to make friends –  Attend campus events – WOW week – CSI Office –  Speak English as much as you can –  Talk to classmates and be friendly

Good to know.. •  Graduate School Expectations -Use Critical Thinking Skills when completing all exams and assignments -You will be expected to be an active participant in Group Assignments -Time Management is critical to being successful in graduate school •  Pathway is challenging – but it can be done!

–  Students find it hard to balance classes and studying –  Get help soon! See your advisor –  Go to tutoring! –  It can be done!

Important Contact Information •  Your instructors will contact you through your @mail.usf.edu email

account. You must check this email account everyday.

•  You will receive emails from: –  Karolina Goldberg (Asst. Director) –  Tabitha Raj (Advisor) –  Tramaine Polk (Advisor) –  Michael Magyar (Testing) –  INTOTranscriptEvaluations

Always read and respond

to these emails

When do we get to meet like this again? At our graduate Pathway Meetings We will meet to discuss •  Academics •  Testing •  Progression Requirements •  Strategies for Success in College •  Course Scheduling and Planning Dates and times coming soon…be sure to CHECK YOUR EMAIL ☺

What should you do to get the most out of your experience at INTO-USF? •  Be Involved •  Utilize Resources •  Learn new information in your chosen field

•  Let yourself have some fun

•  Study as much as possible

Things to remember… •  Do not miss the first day of each class. •  Purchase your textbooks during the first week. •  Please do not go directly to the respective departments-see your pathway

advisor. •  See where you classes are ahead of time on USF Campus Map

Things to remember… •  Pathways meetings are not on your OASIS schedule •  GMAT and GRE prep courses are not on your OASIS schedule •  Do not be absent from your first day of class or you will be

dropped •  Ask for help when you need it. That’s what we’re here for!

Questions? •  Now is the time to ask You can also email your academic advisor questions if they are personal (not for the group) •  If you have a question regarding scheduling email: IntoGradPathway@usf.edu Be sure to include your name/U number/and the course number that you are having issues with. •  You may schedule an appointment to meet with your advisor (eScheduler) or

come by during walk-in hours. WELCOME TO THE GRADUATE PATHWAY PROGRAM!

We hope you have a successful semester!