Parent Handbook for Academic Life

February 14, 2017 | Author: Charity Green | Category: N/A
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La Roche College 2010-2011 Parent Handbook for Academic Life at La Roche College

07/2014

“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”

Contents

~Albert Einstein

Welcome! ......................................................................................................................................3 La Roche College Mission .......................................................................................................3 What should I expect my relationship to be like with La Roche College? ...........4 How will La Roche help my student through the academic transition to College? .........................................................................................................................................4 What Academic Deadlines does my student need to remember throughout the year? .......................................................................................................................................5 What should I expect from my student academically? ...............................................6 What classes are typically taken freshman year? .........................................................6 Core Curriculum ........................................................................................................................7 What if my student completed some college credits in high school or has credits to transfer to La Roche from another college? ...............................................8 How are grades and the GPA calculated and what are the minimum standards and Dean’s List requirements? .......................................................................8 What can I do if my student gets poor grades? .............................................................9 What if my student has problems in other areas of college life? ......................... 10 Campus Resources & Contacts .......................................................................................... 11

For Your Student: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ~Thomas Edison

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“Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves.”

Welcome! Dear Parents and Families;

~Ernest Dimnet

On behalf of the entire community of La Roche College I want to say thank you for choosing La Roche and we are excited to be a part of your family’s college journey! There are many changes on the horizon for your student, both academically and personally, and we recognize the mutual impact of both on your family. We have developed the Parent Handbook for Academic Life at La Roche College to equip you with a few answers (and a little advice) on some of the typical concerns we hear from parents during the first year of college. We have also included contact information for both academic and student life offices and people who are available to address any questions or concerns you have that are not covered here. Whether you attended college yourself or not, this handbook will help you find the information you need to support your son or daughter through their academic transition to La Roche College. The Faculty and Staff here are committed to providing a learning environment that fosters academic achievement as together we create a world of compassion and peace. Sincerely,

Howard J. Ishiyama, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean

La Roche College Mission La Roche College, a Catholic institution of higher learning, founded and sponsored by the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence, fosters global citizenship and creates a community of scholars from the region, the nation and around the world. The College integrates liberal arts and professional education in creative ways, empowering all members of our community to become lifelong learners, achieve success in their chosen careers and promote justice and peace in a constantly changing global society.

For Your Student: “If you feel that you have both feet planted on level ground, then the university has failed you.” ~Robert Goheen, Time Magazine

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What should I expect my relationship to be like with La Roche College? Your relationship with your student’s school is about to change, but know that the Faculty and Staff at La Roche College have a reputation for providing caring and personal support to students during their academic career. Students will have knowledgeable teachers and academic advisors, and be well informed about support services available to them.

“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” ~ Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia, Professor & Author

The big difference for you as parents will be that you must depend on your students to advocate for themselves and communicate openly and honestly about their experience. Under the Family Rights and Education Privacy Act (FERPA), College personnel cannot talk to you about your student’s academic, health or behavioral information without written consent of the student. There is a form that is available in the Registrar’s Office that your son/daughter can fill out granting the College or certain offices permission to discuss their issues with you, but without this permission, College employees cannot discuss anything about your student beyond addressing policies or services. Students will be asked to designate EXACTLY WHOM we can speak with on this form. Please refer to the Campus Resources & Contact section at the end of this handbook for a list of names and contact information for various campus offices and resources.

How will La Roche help my student through the academic transition to College? College learning is very different from high school learning. In high school students are expected, in most cases, to prove what they know through reporting information or completing problems. In college, students must prove what they know by applying, synthesizing, analyzing and evaluating. These are what we call critical thinking skills, and few college freshmen are very experienced with these methods. Some students will do poorly on a few tests and papers until they begin to understand these new expectations. The La Roche Experience (LRX) course required in the first semester is designed to not only introduce students to La Roche College, but also equip them to begin learning in a new way. Students are introduced to La Roche tools including email, blackboard, turnitin.com and given a variety of assignments which are evaluated as much on skills as knowledge. LRX instructors often identify problems or issues that may become hurdles if not addressed. They also serve as sounding boards for students as many require regular journal entries which provide a window into the student’s early College experiences. In addition to the first semester course, the La Roche Experience includes 3 additional 1-credit courses that students will take in subsequent semesters. Student Academic Support Services exists to help students become active, independent and confident learners. Through focused efforts in Academic Advising, Career Development, Academic Counseling and Tutoring, and Accessibility and Compliance, students are exposed to and guided through the myriad of resources available to them to assist in their quest for college success. The Academic Counseling and Tutoring Office has academic support resources available to students free of charge. Students benefit from outside classroom experiences and programs to supplement and enhance classroom learning. Students are provided a variety of self-help instructional tools, ranging from computer programs to videotaped instruction. Students will also be provided with individualized instruction in learning and study skills.

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For Your Student:

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Additional College resources such as tutoring, academic counseling, and study skills development are offered to students requesting additional assistance in achieving classroom success. The Accessibility and Compliance Office offers support and assistance to students with disabilities. Students can register with the office by providing current and valid documentation (documentation should be no more than three years old) outlining their disability/medical condition and what accommodations are recommended by the diagnosing or treating professional. Students are required to meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services to review what accommodations are appropriate and can be provided by La Roche College. Professors work with the Accessibility and Compliance Office to provide testing, classroom, and other appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to the curriculum. The Academic Advising Office helps students take charge of their future by walking them through developing academic and career goals, finding or confirming the right major, navigating college processes and policies, and finding the resources they need to make their college experience a success. The Academic Advising Office works with undeclared students to determine their personal and career goals, and how La Roche College can help them meet those goals. Services are also offered for students who are considering changing a major, adding a second major, or declaring a minor. The Career Development Office offers resources to assist students on their lifelong educational and career journeys. Beginning freshman year the Career Development Office offers individualized assessment tools and counseling in the areas of major and occupation selection to assist students in mapping out an educational path appropriate to their intended career goals. As students progress through their academic programs, career development continues with a full range of workshops, counseling, online career services and internship, employment and graduate school search assistance and referrals. Student Academic Support Services also houses the Academic Alert System through which instructors can report academic concerns as early as possible. When an instructor submits an Academic Alert, the student’s advisor and other appropriate professionals are notified and the student is contacted about the concern and offered help. People ready to respond to these alerts include academic advisors, coaches, and residence life professionals.

What Academic Deadlines does my student need to remember throughout the year? Students are bombarded by information about social events, programs and activities as soon as they arrive on campus. The essential ACADEMIC information students need is located on the Academic Calendar, available on the Registrar’s Office web page. Academic deadlines and events are also sent to students through the La Roche email account and are available on their “My.LaRoche” site. The La Roche email is considered an official form of college communication and students are responsible for the information they receive there. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT STUDENTS CHECK THEIR LA ROCHE EMAIL! Here are some highlights from the Academic Calendar: Add/Drop Period - This refers to any time students are allowed to make changes to their class schedule (drop or add classes, change class sections) with no penalty. Add/Drop ends approximately one week into the semester and the specific date will be noted on the Academic Calendar. If something changes in the student’s needs or wants, this period is the best time to make adjustments. Tuition Reimbursement Periods - Once the Add/Drop period ends, the full tuition reimbursement period ends and tuition reimbursement is pro-rated based on when the student withdraws from classes. These dates are noted on the Academic Calendar each semester. If a full time student (enrolled in 12 or

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more credits) drops a course, reimbursement will only be necessary if the student drops below full time credits (for example, if a student is registered for 16 credits and wants to drop 1 class, he or she will still be considered a full time student and tuition does not change. If they are only registered for 13 credits and want to drop a class, a percentage of tuition may be reimbursed depending on when the student drops, but financial aid and resident status if they live on campus may be affected. Be sure your student checks with you before dropping below full time status.) It is always recommended that students see an advisor and financial aid about changes to their class schedule before they make them.

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~Author Unknown

Mid-Terms – Typically, mid-term exams are given during the 7th week of classes. Not all instructors submit mid-term grades. Grades may be accessed by students through their “My.LaRoche” account. Withdrawal Period – The day after Add/Drop ends through approximately the 10th week of classes (for 16 week courses; Accelerated courses have different deadlines. Exact drop dates available on the Academic Calendar online). Students may withdraw from a class or classes and receive a “W” on their transcript. There is a $50 fee for withdrawing from a class during this period. After the deadline, students will receive whatever grade they earn in the course or a “WF” (withdraw/fail) for withdrawing from class. Academic Advising & Registration – The Academic Advising period is approximately a 2week timeframe during which ALL students are required to meet with their assigned academic advisor to discuss what courses they should register for the next semester. Students register (add classes for next semester on “My.LaRoche”) on a staggered schedule based on the number of credits earned. Registration begins the first day of academic advising and remains open for four (4) weeks. Final Exams – Finals occur during the week after the last day of classes each semester. Grades are typically posted within a week of finals. Final exams vary from cumulative tests to final projects. The full Academic Calendar includes dates for breaks, refund amounts if withdrawing, and various fees involved for registration transactions throughout the semester. Please refer to the Registrar’s Office website for more specific information than found above.

What should I expect from my student academically? Many parents expect the same grades in college as their son/daughter achieved in high school, only to be disappointed with the first semester grades. The reasons students sometimes do worse their first semester in college is usually attributed to the new way of learning and expressing knowledge, in addition to the effects of transition to college. Remember that a tough roommate situation, homesickness, participation in athletics or too many social activities, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and wrong choice of major all affect grades. These are all new things your student will have to make decisions about while he/she is trying to learn how to manage his/her time on their own.

What classes are typically taken freshman year? Student class schedules are built by academic advisors before they arrive for their first semester, then students meet with an advisor and build their own schedule for their second semester and all academic terms beyond. First semester schedules typically include 3-4 core curriculum classes and 1-2 major or major exploration classes (e.g. if a student is undecided on a major but is considering psychology, we would schedule them in Intro to Psychology). In some majors such

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For Your Student: “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” ~Henry Ford

as science, elementary education or design majors, the curriculum is sequential and fairly dictated for the first semester. A student must be enrolled in 12 credit hours to be considered full time. The maximum allowed credits per semester without additional tuition charge is 18. We strive to enroll students in 15-16 credit hours each semester to keep them on track to graduate in 4 years. Taking fewer credits over time could extend the time to graduation. Core Curriculum The Core Curriculum provides liberal arts/general education coursework for all students. The Core challenges students to develop the habits of mind and spirit necessary for lifelong intellectual, spiritual, and cultural growth through a distinctive curriculum that anticipates the advancing levels of critical thinking and inquiry required by current and future graduates.

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” ~ Elizabeth Stone

Some students test into developmental or pre-college level courses. These courses are designed to assist a student in preparing for fundamental college course work. Students are placed in these courses when their performance on placement tests demonstrates that they will benefit from the extra academic assistance, review and preparation for fundamental college courses. Beginning with developmental courses (which your son or daughter may or may not have to take) the classes included in the Core Curriculum are as follows: ▪MATH0010 Basic Mathematics I (developmental and taken only if placement requires) 3 credit hours A course designed to meet the needs of students demonstrating deficiencies in basic mathematics skills. The course includes a review of the basic operations involving whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion. Emphasis is placed on problem solving. Course does not apply toward college graduation credit requirements. ▪MATH 0015 Beginning Algebra (developmental and taken only if placement requires) 3 credit hours This course is intended for students studying algebra for the first time and for those who need a review of basic algebra before taking college algebra. The topics to be covered are the basic properties of real numbers, equations and inequalities, graphing of equations and inequalities, polynomials and factoring of polynomials, proportions and rational expressions, systems of equations, roots and radical expressions, and quadratic equations and their graphs. Course does not apply toward college graduation credit requirements. ▪ENGL1010 Practicum in College Reading and Writing (taken only if placement requires) 6 credit hours This course is designed to prepare college freshmen for reading and writing at the college level. Through evaluation of a writing sample by English Faculty completed at Placement Testing, some students will be required to complete this course prior to taking ENGL1011. The Credits for this course count toward credits required for graduation, and students who perform very well may place out of ENGL1011 (may be able to skip this course) and move directly into ENGL1012 in their second semester. ▪La Roche Experience 4 credit hours This is a series of four (4) one-credit courses beginning with an introduction to La Roche, its history and a review of academic skills students will need to grasp in order to do well academically at La Roche College. Subsequent courses will cover topics related to the

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For Your Student: “You've got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice.” ~Steven D. Woodhull

College mission including a study of diversity, global regions of conflict and economic justice and should be taken in the first three years of college ▪Fundamental Courses (12 credits) College Writing I:

ENGL1011 & ENGL1011L (Writing Lab)

College Writing II:

ENGL1012

College Algebra:

MATH1010

“If a manwe “Where empties love is his home, into purse home histhat head, our feetman no maycan leave, takebut it not our away from hearts.” him. An ~Oliver WendellinHolmes, Sr., investment Homesick in Heaven knowledge always pays the best interest.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Practical Computer Applications: ISTC1005 ▪Select Courses (12-18 credits) Students take one (3 credits) course in each area depending on interest and major. SEL-HS: SEL-SCI: SEL-LIT: SEL-SOC: SEL-REL or PHL: SEL-AES:

History Science Literature Social & Cultural Systems Religion or Philosophy Aesthetics (history and expression of the Creative Arts)

▪Community and Global Courses (3 credits each totaling 6 credits) Two semesters of the same Modern Language may count as the Community and Global requirements. ▪Modern Language Courses: Students must take at least one semester of a language if they have not taken any in high school. Current language options at La Roche College are Arabic, French, and Spanish.

What if my student completed some college credits in high school or has credits to transfer to La Roche from another college? Students with credit for courses they took as a high school student or prior to starting La Roche College must provide an official college transcript from the credit-awarding institution (i.e. College Board if it is AP credit or a college transcript from another institution). As a first time freshman at La Roche, these transcripts should be sent to Office of the Registrar and the Office of Student Academic Support Services should be notified that credits are coming so it can be immediately noted in your student’s advising file. Please have your student alert his or her academic advisor if he or she is enrolled in a course for which you think he or she already has college credit.

How are grades and GPA calculated and what are the minimum standards and Dean’s List requirements? Each grade is assigned a numerical equivalent as follows: A = 4.0; A- = 3.7; B+ = 3.3; B = 3.0; B- = 2.7; C+ = 2.3; C = 2.0; C- = 1.7; D+ = 1.3; D = 1.0; D- = .70; F = 0 To calculate a QPA, the grade’s numerical equivalent is multiplied by the number of credits a course is worth. This product represents “quality points”. The sum of quality

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For Your Student: “A degree is Forcollege Your Student: not a sign that one is a finished “No one can product make but an indication you feel inferior a person is prepared without your for life.” consent.” ~Reverend Edward Malloy

~Eleanor Roosevelt

points is divided by the sum of credits attempted and yields the QPA. For example: Course Credits X Grade = Quality Points College Writing 3 A (4.0) 12.0 College Algebra 3 B- (2.7) 8.1 Information Systems 3 C (2.0) 6.0 Public Speaking 3 D (1.0) 3.0 Music Appreciation 3 F (0.0) 0.0 15 29.1 (quality points) ÷ 15 (credits attempted) = 1.94 (QPA)

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"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to twentyone, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." ~ Mark Twain

Students must keep the cumulative QPA above a 2.000. Full-time students whose cumulative QPA’s falls below 2.000 (1.800 for freshmen) or who are subject to a second placement on academic warning may be placed on academic probation for their subsequent fall or spring semester of enrollment. Part-time students who have accumulated 12 credits attempted and whose cumulative quality point averages fall below 2.000 (1.800 for freshmen) may be placed on academic probation for their subsequent fall or spring semester of enrollment. Any student placed on academic probation is required to work with a designated academic support advisor on strategies to enhance his or her academic performance. Any student placed on academic probation may be restricted to no more than 13 credits for his or her subsequent fall or spring semester of enrollment, and may be subject to other conditions as required by their academic support advisor or the Academic Standing Review Board. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, you must have completed a full-time schedule (at least 12 credits exclusive of Pass/Fail credits), have a QPA of at least 3.5, and have no grade lower than a “C”. You will be notified by letter from the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs if you have made the Dean’s List.

What can I do if my student gets poor grades? Communication is key to helping your student recover from a bad grade or tough semester. As a parent you might consider re-visiting your expectations before addressing the problem with your student. Ask yourself if your expectations were set in consideration of all the external influences involved in a major life transition. Consider if they are reasonable and consistent with your son/daughter’s ability. Lastly, think about what you know now about your son or daughter’s experience with the transition to college. If you didn’t anticipate the level of homesickness your son or daughter experienced or misjudged how well they were prepared for college-level academics (some high schools prepare students better than others) you might want to reposition your response to poor grades. One of the biggest factors that affect first semester academic success is class attendance. Students skip classes because attendance is not always required and they have difficulty understanding the value of the classroom experience in their learning. When a student has a legitimate reason to miss class like sickness, many times he or she has already missed a number of classes and thus gets even further behind. As much as students like to think they can catch up, there is an experience missed in the classroom that can never be recovered and the impact of that will mostly be felt in the final grade. Poor first semester grades are rarely attributable to lack of ability, because even the underprepared student has access to many support programs. The catch is that students

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For Your Student: "To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you too may one day be president of the United States." ~ George W. Bush

must make the decision to advocate for themselves and seek out help - and many times they just don’t. Once you are clear about what you expect, have a calm discussion about their performance and be prepared to re-negotiate goals and work together to develop next steps. Generating a plan that both parents and students create together has a better chance for success. For everyone’s benefit, empower your student to advocate for him or herself and refer him or her to the services available. The Office of Student Academic Support Services offers free tutoring, help labs in various subjects, support for students with disabilities or learning challenges and a mentoring program. The English Department also has a Writers’ Center where students can work on their writing skills and get feedback on their writing assignments before turning them in for a grade. Academic Advisors can also help make referrals or discuss options for improving grades. You can also refer to the Registrar’s Office website for policy information like repeating courses, seeking an “incomplete” for a class or options for dropping courses.

What if my student has problems in other areas of college life? We always recommend that you encourage your son or daughter to contact faculty, staff or service areas themselves to address their concerns. Information and facts tend to get confused or misinterpreted when too many people are involved, but we do understand that there are times when parent involvement is necessary. Refer to page 11 for a list of contact information for various offices on campus where staff members can assist your student in non-academic issues during their college experience. Please feel free to solicit our help or ask questions at any time, and we will always do all we can to make the La Roche College experience a good one for everyone.

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Campus Resources & Contacts Academic Advising – Academic Bldg. 211 Erica Germanoski Coordinator of Academic Advising 412-536-1129 [email protected] Academic Counseling and Tutoring – Bold Hall 260 Diana Peterson Coordinator of Academic Counseling and Tutoring 412-536-1226 [email protected] Athletics – Kerr Fitness Center Jim Tinkey Director of Athletics 412-536-1011 [email protected] Bookstore – Academic Bldg. 217 Timothy Jones Director 412-536-1139 [email protected] Career Development – Academic Bldg. 211 Becky Rosswog Coordinator of Career Development 412-536-1788 [email protected] Center for Student Development – College Center 118 David Day Assistant Dean for Student Development 412-536-1070 [email protected] Counseling & Health Services – Bold Hall Lori Arend – BH263 Director of Counseling Services 412-847-2506 [email protected] Erin Dorsch – BH259 Counselor 412-536-1051 [email protected] Accessibility and Compliance – Bold Hall 253 Sarah White Coordinator of Accessibility and Compliance 412-536-1177 [email protected] Financial Aid – Science Center 109 Sharon Platt Director of Financial Aid 412-536-1125 [email protected] Housing & Residence Life – Bold Hall 270 Christopher Willis Director of Housing & Residence Life 412- 536-1194 [email protected]

Information Technology Student Help Desk 412-847-2300 [email protected] International Student Services – College Center 210 Natasha Garrett Director of International Student Services 412-536-1296 [email protected] La Roche Experience Sr. Michele Bisbey, Ph.D. Director of LRX 412-536-1255 [email protected] Library – Wright Library LaVerne Collins Director of Wright Library 412-536-1064 [email protected] Mission and Service Sister Elena Almendarez Director of Mission and Service 412-536-1053 [email protected] Public Safety – Science Center 112 David Hilke Director of Public Safety 412-536-1104 [email protected] Officer on Duty 412-536-1111 Registrar’s Office – College Center 224 Joan Cutone Registrar 412-536-1079 [email protected] Student Academic Support Services – Academic Bldg. 211 Marie Deem Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Student Academic Support Services 412-536-1130 [email protected] Student Accounts – College Center 224 412-536-1030 [email protected] Student Life – College Center 210 Colleen Ruefle Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students 412-536-1071 [email protected]

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