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USC 298 Transfer Student Success (Fall 2010)
002 Wednesday 12:25-1:15pm Winston 005
1 Credit
Section 002 Instructors (Wednesdays 12:25-1:15)
Name: Katie Sheridan Name: Megan Albidrez
Title: Assistant Director, Academic Support Program for Title: Associate Director, Academic Support Program for
Student Athletes (ASPSA) Student Athletes (ASPSA)
Office: 306 Case Academic Center Office: 324 Case Academic Center
Hours: By Appointment Hours: By Appointment
Phone: 919.513.0997 Phone: 919.515.4501
Email: katie_sheridan@ncsu.edu Email: megan_albidrez@ncsu.edu
Course Description:
USC 298 is designed to assist new transfer students in making an effective transition to the rigors of a large
Research I university. The course is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to
address the academic and personal challenges as well as other transitional issues that may impact their progress
toward their degree. Classroom discussions, small group work, guided tours, faculty mentors and introduction
to resources, services and opportunities are all vital components of this course. Topics include: academic
adjustment, social adjustment, campus resources, major and career exploration, policies and procedures,
financial aid, and technology.
Pre-Requisites, Co-Requisites: None
Course Restriction: This class is restricted to first semester transfer students
Fulfillment of GEP: None
Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand what financial aid is available and how to apply for it.
2. Identify potential academic and non-academic pitfalls and create strategies to combat them.
3. Identify the definition of “transfer shock,” how it effects students, and how to avoid it.
4. Know where to find and apply NC State’s academic policies and procedures.
5. Identify resources on campus that will support and enhance their NC State experience.
6. Effectively navigate vista, webassign, my pack portal and other technological resources offered at NC
State.
7. Identify resources on campus through a mentor relationship.
8. Create a personal plan for academic and social involvement at NC State and in the local community.
9. Understand important facets of their degree audit so that they can develop an educational plan and a
timeline for graduation.
Textbook: Readings will be provided through the course website: http://vista.ncsu.edu/
Attendance:
Attendance in this class is fundamental to your academic success in any course. Attendance is mandatory with
exception of University excused absences approved by the instructor ahead of time. (See the University
attendance regulation at http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic _affairs/pols_regs/REG205.00.4.php for more
information on what constitutes an excused absence.) You will lose 5 points from your final total for each
Division of Undergraduate Academic Programs Page 1 of 9
USC 298 Fall 2010
unexcused absence and you will not be allowed to make up any in-class work missed on that day. Please
provide your instructor with the dates of expected absences as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to talk
with the instructor prior to your absence about any missed assignments or any other work you need to make up.
Academic Integrity:
The University has a stated policy on academic integrity that is found in the Code of Student Conduct
(http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_discipline/POL11.35.1.php). Academic misconduct is
a serious offense. I take very seriously the breach of the Honor Code, which states: I have neither given nor
received unauthorized aid on this test or assignment.
Incomplete Grade Policy:
This course will comply with university policy on incomplete grades. Please see:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/grades_undergrad/REG02.50.3.php. All assignments must be
turned in to earn a grade.
Class Assignments:
All class assignments are due on the date stated in the syllabus. No late work will be accepted. Only the
instructor can grant an extension for extreme circumstances at his or her discretion.
For Students with Documented Disabilities:
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of
available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services Office (http://www.ncsu.edu/dso/)
located at 1900 Student Heath Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC State’s
policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with
Disabilities Regulation at http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.1.php
Anti-Discrimination Statement:
NC State University provides equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and
employees. Accordingly, NC State affirms its commitment to maintain a work environment for all employees
and an academic environment for all students that is free from all forms of discrimination. Discrimination
based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation is a
violation of state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Harassment of
any person (either in the form of quid pro quo or creation of a hostile environment) based on race, color,
religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation also is a violation of
state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Retaliation against any person
who complains about discrimination is also prohibited. NC State’s policies and regulations covering
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation may be accessed at http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ or
http://www.ncsu.edu/equal_op. Any person who feels that he or she has been the subject of prohibited
discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 515-3148.
Online Class Evaluations:
Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last 2 weeks of fall and become
unavailable before finals begin: 8 a.m. November 22 through 8 a.m. December 8,
Students will receive an email message directing them to a website where they can login using their Unity ID
and complete evaluations. All evaluations are confidential; instructors will not know how any one student
responded to any question, and students will not know the ratings for any instructors.
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USC 298 Fall 2010
Evaluation website: https://classeval.ncsu.edu/
Student help desk: classeval@ncsu.edu
More information about ClassEval: http://www.ncsu.edu/UPA/classeval/
Grading Policy and Scale:
Course grades will be based upon cumulative points on all assignments and upon class participation (in the form
participating in class and small group work and discussions). The relative weight for each of these expectations
is listed below.
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Student Evaluation
Assignment Due Date Total Points Points received
Journal 1 8/22 10 points
Bring Degree Audit to Class 8/25 15 points
Journal 2 8/29 10 points
Instructor Meeting 9/10 15 points
Quiz 1 9/15 20 points
Group Presentation 9/15 10 points
Journal 3 9/19 10 points
Mentor Meeting Worksheet 1 9/29 10 points
Journal 4 10/3 10 points
Quiz 2 10/13 20 points
Course Selection Worksheet 10/20 10 points
SIGI 3 Activity and Results 10/27 30 points
Journal 5 11/7 10 points
Final Presentation 11/10 or 11/17 20 points
Final Project 11/17 20 points
Mentor Meeting Worksheet 2 12/1 10 points
Final Exam 12/1 35 points
Attendance and Participation Daily 35 points
Total Points --- 300 points
Grading Scale:
USC298 Course Grade
A Ranges B Ranges C Ranges D Ranges F
A+ = 300-291 B+ = 269-261 C+ = 239-231 D+ = 209-201 F = <180
A = 290-281 B = 260-251 C = 230-221 D = 200-191
A- = 280-270 B- = 250-240 C- = 220-210 D- = 190-180
More information regarding grading regulations may be found on the University website:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/grades_undergrad/REG02.50.3.php
S/U Grading: Course may be taken for Credit Only. Credit will be give for a 70% (210 pts) or higher.
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Course Assignment Descriptions
Attendance, Class Participation and Online Discussions – Your active participation in this course is
encouraged. Instructors will ask your opinion on the readings, expect you to contribute ideas during the small
group work and want you to express your thoughts on the online discussion board.
Journal Assignments:
Students are expected to consider classroom discussions and assigned readings when responding to journal
assignments. Students should include how/if you were able to relate to the scenarios and examples provided by
instructors or classmates, what you learned from the group discussion, & how you would approach the
situations differently. Also, you will be asked to reflect on any areas or questions still left unanswered at the
end of the class. Journals will address each of the weekly topics and illustrate student reflection and
understanding of each of these. The journal reflections will be submitted through Moodle
(http://moodlepilot.ncsu.edu/) and are always due the Sunday (by 11:59pm) after they are assigned. Specific due
dates are listed under the assignments section in syllabus.
This assignment will be graded on the following:
Length/Style - Paper must be 2 pages, 12pt font, APA style (2 points)
Organization of material - organized, professional, and timely submission (3 points)
Thoughtful, relevant and thorough reflection (5 points)
Degree Audit Assignment:
To familiarize you with some of the technological resources and tools at NC State, and to start you thinking
about how the degree audit tool works and will help you plan for your education, this assignment requires that
you log into mypack portal and find your degree audit. Print the degree audit for your intended degree and
bring it to class. In addition to printing the degree audit, please review the contents and be prepared to discuss
the different areas of the general education and major courses that you have transferred in and will have to take.
Prepare questions for the instructors about transfer course placement (i.e. what counts where), about making
your academic plan, and about anything else that may be unclear about this tool that you can use to plan your
academic path. Journal assignments are linked to this assignment, so thinking about your academic plan for
graduation and how course placement affects this now will also make future assignments easier.
In-Class Group Presentation:
Students will be asked to work in small groups to collaborate and develop a presentation for their classmates.
The instructors will provide a list of topics for the groups to select from and ask that they research this topic.
The list of topics includes services and resources identified as important by students in previous USC298
classes. This assignment should illustrate the identification of resources on campus to enhance student
experiences and also help pave the way for further investigation to eventually plan for academic and/or social
involvement at NC State. The presentation should include visual aids including use of PowerPoint or websites
(laptop and projector will be provided).
This assignment will be graded on the following:
Content: Is the presentation useful? Does it illustrate the topic well enough? Is it professional and
organized? Are planning and thought evident? (4 points)
Length: must be at least 10 minutes long but not longer than 15 minutes. (4 points)
Visual aid: Do the websites shown reflect/illustrate the topic? Does it look professional? (2 points)
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Mentor Meeting – Students will be assigned a Faculty Mentor to meet with at least twice this semester.
Students are expected to use the meeting opportunities to: understand his/her role in the university, how he/she
assists students in their day-to-day activities, and recommendations they may have for you to be successful at
NC State. Please also use this opportunity to ask questions that you might be of interest to you. Faculty
Mentors are meant to help you indentify resources and find out how to become involved on campus. Students
will be required to complete and turn in a Faculty Mentor worksheet (located in the Moodle course locker).
Due dates: By or before 9/29 and 12/1.
Course Selection Worksheet:
To further familiarize you with your online degree audit and mypack portal planning tools and to facilitate the
utilization of this for developing your educational plan through graduation, you will be provided a worksheet
that will aid you in organizing your thoughts about course selection for spring semester. The completed
worksheet will require that you consult your online degree audit (from an earlier assignment) and make
informed decisions about the courses that you want to take next semester and be able to articulate what
requirement areas the courses will fulfill. This assignment will address learning outcomes #6 and #9 and will
require significant thought on your part about both the next semester's plan for coursework and the overall plan
for taking courses up to graduation. Be prepared to articulate why you chose each course and indicate on the
worksheet what requirements the courses will fulfill. This assignment will facilitate the discussion that you have
with your adviser about the classes you want to take next semester.
Final Project & Presentation:
For your final assignment, you are charged with getting involved in some area of the university whether it be
socially or academically. You can join a club, sport, group, etc. Your assignment is to develop both a paper and
presentation to discuss the area of your involvement at NC SU and how it has helped integrate you here as an
NCSU student. This assignment will illustrate your ability to identify resources on campus to make your
experience better and your personal plan to utilize these resources. Final Projects will be due in class on 11/17.
Final Presentations will be given in class on 11/10 or 11/17.
This assignment will be graded on the following:
Project
o Length - Paper must be 2 pages double spaced, 12pt font, APA style (5pts)
o Explanation- Please describe the group/club/activity you selected. How did you get involved in
this group? What was your role? What did you get out of your involvement? Will you continue
this activity? Are there any other aspects of NC State that you are interested in learning more
about? (5pts)
o Reflection- Now that you are done with the course, think about how you have grown and
changed as a transfer student. How did your involvement on campus help in this growth? (5pts)
o Evaluate- Please evaluate yourself in this course. Please give an honest evaluation on how you
have engaged with the material, your classmates, and the activities. Also evaluate the course-
what did you like? What should be improved for the future? (5pts)
Presentation on group/club/activity that you got involved with
o Length- must be at least 5 minutes (10pts)
o Use of Visual Aids- You must use at least one visual aid for your presentation (power point,
handout, brochure, etc.) (10pts)
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Quizzes and Final Exam – Your knowledge of the course subject matter will be assessed throughout the
semester. Your instructors will confirm the date and time of your final exam.
Extra Credit – In an effort to encourage involvement on campus, you will have the opportunity to earn up to
10 points of extra credit for attending a workshop or campus event and submitting a signed Workshop
Worksheet. Each satisfactorily completed worksheet will earn 5 points of extra credit to be added to your final
grade. You can see a list of qualifying workshops at the link below. Additional workshops and events will be
announced in class. If you learn of a campus workshop, event, lecture, etc., that is not listed, please ask your
instructor if it would qualify for extra credit.
List of Spring 2010 Workshops: http://www.ncsu.edu/oasis/students/academicskills.htm
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Weekly Schedule
Week Topic Assignment
Week 1 Course Overview and Requirements Journal 1 Due
8/18 Introductions
Review Class Syllabus and Introduction to Vista
Transfer Summaries and Degree Audits
Week 2 Academic Skills and Expectations Bring Degree Audit to Class
8/25 Transfer Summaries and Degree Audits Journal 2 Due
Academic Policies
Undergraduate Tutorial Center
Week 3 Academic and Social Transitional Issues Schedule Meeting with Instructor
9/1 Transfer Shock
Transfer Student Panel – “Hear from Your Peers”
Technology at NC State
Introduction of Group Presentation Assignment
Week 4 University Connections and Group Work Schedule Meeting with Instructor
9/8 Student Health Services
Counseling Center
Witherspoon Student Center
Multicultural Student Affairs
African American Cultural Center
Week 5 Group Presentations Quiz 1
9/15 Student Presentations Journal 3 Due
Week 6 University Connections
9/22 Campus Recreation/Intramural Sports
CSLEPS
Week 7 Case Studies and Discussion Mentor Meeting Worksheet 1 Due in Class
9/29 Small Group Work Journal 4 Due
Week 8 Enhancement Opportunities and Resources
10/6 Co-Operative Education
Undergraduate Research & Fellowship Advising
Study Abroad
Week 9 University Academic Policies and Procedures Quiz 2
10/13 Preparing for Course Selection and Registration
Adviser and Student Expectations
Week 10 D.H. Hill Libraries
10/20 Tour and Review of Services and Resources
Week 11 Major and Career Decision Making Course Selection Worksheet due in Class
10/27 Career Services
Financial Aid
Introduction to SIGI 3
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Week 12 Major and Career Decision Making SIGI 3 Results due in Class
11/3 SIGI 3 and Further Discussion on Majors and Careers
Small Group Work
Introduction of Final Project and Presentation
Week 13 Oral Presentations Journal 5 Due
11/10 In-Class Presentation
Week 14 Oral Presentations / Final Projects Final Project due in Class
11/17 In-Class Presentations
Week 15 NO CLASS
11/24 Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 16 End of Semester Review Mentor Meeting Worksheet 2 Due in Class
12/1 Semester Evaluation Final Exam
Note: Syllabus subject to change – see course website for updates http://moodle.wolfware.ncsu.edu
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