1. First-Year Advising
Meeting 3:
Finishing Strong and
Thinking Ahead

2. Semester Wrap-Up
 Evaluate where you stand in each course using the
syllabus to determine how each of your completed
assignments counts toward your final grade
 Consult with instructors/professors
 Plan out and schedule your time
 Keep your focus through the end of finals rather than
the last day of classes

3. Course/Instructor Evaluations
Course/Instructor Evaluations
 Occur Monday, 11/26 – Friday, 12/7
 Are administered online via a link in an email
delivered to you UMW inbox
 Are anonymous
 Results go to Deans, Chairs and Professors
AFTER the semester is over
 Have questions? http
://academics.umw.edu/iae/outcomes-assessment-2/course-evaluation
/

4. Finals
Read the entire entry in the Dictionary of
Academic Regulations on “Examinations,
Final.” Even if you think you have figured it
all out or heard everything about finals, read
the entire entry.
 http://publications.umw.edu/dictionary/regulations
-a-to-z/examinations-final/

5. Studying and Preparing for Finals
Seven Study Tips
Guess the language and get the tip.

6. GuessGreek
the Language
Before classes end your instructor
will likely talk about the exam, make
sure that it is clear how each part will
count toward the whole. If it is not
brought up, ask.

7. Spanish
Guess the Language
Use prior exams as a guide to the
types of questions that will likely
be on the final and what the
instructor thinks is important.

8. GuessArabic
the Language
Some commitments will probably
need to be put aside for awhile -
ask for time off from work and let
family and friends know you will
have finals coming up so you need
to prioritize your time.

9. Latin
Guess the Language
Find out if the topics on the exam will be
cumulative or just material covered since the last
test. When studying, make a list of the broad
topics that will be covered and then fill it in with
more details as you study.

10. Guess Italian
the Language
Please note: “Foreign languages can be
an exception to that tip. Short (10-15
minute) study session, repeated two or
three times a day, more than 2 hour
Study for no are much more
effective than longer sessions15 minute
blocks at a time (taking when
studying foreignthe same subject, and
breaks) with languages.”
change Federico Schneidersubject when
- to a dissimilar
you switch.
Assistant Professor of Italian, UMW

11. Guess French
the Language
If you form study groups, choose
people with whom you will keep the
commitment to actually study
rather than letting it turn into a
gossip session or a party.

12. GuessGerman
the Language
Avoid cramming. The strongest case
against all-nighters is that depriving
yourself of sleep and good nutrition,
especially on a chronic basis, will work
against you when trying to recall and
apply the information you have just
learned.

13. Having What You Need
 Bring several writing instruments (i.e. a few
sharpened pencils and two pens)
 Have extra paper
 Have an appropriate answer sheet or blue book (if
required by instructor) – have more than one blue
book in case you write a lot
 Wear a watch
 Talk to your Professors in advance if you have any
accommodation requests from the Office of Disability
Resources

14. Preparing for the Exam
 Know the material. Nothing substitutes for being
exceedingly well prepared – complete all assigned
reading, review notes, practice problems, understand
cause-and-effect, be able to explain concepts and
connections to others.
 Be sure you have checked and rechecked to verify the
date and time of the exam
 Eat a light snack before the exam
 Get a full, good night’s sleep

15. Taking the Test
 Arrive a few minutes early to settle yourself and relax.
 For some people, reading over notes at the last minute
makes them more nervous.
 Map out your work timeline (with exact start and end
times rather than one hour here, ½ hour there), i.e.:
 2:15 - 3:15 – long essay
 3:15 - 3:45 – short essay
 3:45 - 4:45 – identify, multiple choice, etc.
 Pace yourself. Don’t rush and go on auto-pilot, which
may lead to skipping questions or misreading instructions.

16. Essays
 Take a few moments to mull over the question.
 Plot out a rough (and quick) outline so you can
organize your thoughts.
 Use a pencil, if possible, so that you can make
changes and corrections to grammar and punctuation
without looking messy or disorganized.
 Elaborate. This assumes you’re elaborating on
something relevant to the question; irrelevancies
won’t help your case.
 Leave time to read through and edit.

17. Quotable Quote on Essays
“Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false,
etc. are an opportunity for the instructor to see
what you don’t know; essays are a chance for
you to show him/her what you do know.”
-Dr. Liane Houghtalin
Associate Professor of Classics, UMW

18. Grades
 Registrar will e-mail your UMW account
when grades are posted in Banner (grades will
not be in the e-mail itself).
 After receiving this e-mail, log into Banner to
see your final grades.
 Print your final grades and keep a copy for
your records.

19. Probation
 The University standard for good academic standing
is a 2.0. If you earn less than a 2.0 your first semester
at UMW, you will return on Probation.
 The purpose of Probation is to warn students that they
are not doing satisfactory work and to stimulate them
to improve their performance.
 A student placed on “academic probation” may
continue to participate in extracurricular opportunities
offered by the institution except those that require a
specific GPA threshold.
 Failure to make satisfactory academic progress while
on Probation will result in Suspension.

20. Repeating Courses
 If you receive a C- or lower in a course, you
may repeat the course if it is offered.
 Students currently enrolled in a prerequisite
course must pass the course to be eligible for
the subsequent course.
 If you receive a C-, D+ or D in a prerequisite
course, you cannot repeat the course once you
complete the subsequent course.
 More details on the Repeat Policy can be
found here: http://publications.umw.edu/dictionary/regulations-a-
to-z/repeating-courses/.

21. Repeating Courses:
Conclusions
 You should monitor your grades and adjust your
schedule as soon as possible.
 Call the Office of Academic Services (x1010) if you
have any questions about repeating a course.
 Be sure to take advantage of tutoring and study skills
workshops (see Academic Services webpage).

22. Use Banner to Plan
 Run a “Degree Evaluation” in Banner (which is
called a “What If Analysis” before you declare a
major.) The Degree Evaluation/What-If Analysis
will sort your completed coursework (and courses for
which you are registered) into degree requirements
(General Education, Intensives, major classes,
electives, etc.)
 You can run a “What-If Analysis” in more than one
potential major to compare degree progress and
consider options.

23. Scheduling Issues
Pre-registration for Spring 2013 is underway.
 Do you know your Registration Appointment Time?
 Do you have any holds on your account?
 What should you do if your preferred class isn’t open
when you register?
 Monitor the open course list. When an opening becomes
available, register for the class immediately.
 Contact the instructor or the department to see if there
is a waiting list to get into the class.
 Plan to take the course in summer session or in a later
semester.

24. Disability Resources
Students with disabilities should be certain
that they request accommodations for the
spring semester. Students must request
accommodations each semester and should
do so as early as possible. You should
contact them (x1266) immediately if you are
currently receiving accommodations and
haven’t yet contacted them about the spring
semester.

25. Academic Calendar
Review the Academic Calendar for Spring 2013
(http://academics.umw.edu/calendar/spring-2013/).
 Know the deadline to add a class
 Know the deadline to drop a class
 Know the deadline to withdraw without a grade of F
 Know the deadline to change from graded to Pass/Fail
Good luck! Finish Strong!

26. Academic Probation, Suspension, Dismissal
 Students in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs are
expected to make satisfactory academic progress by maintaining a 2.00
overall cumulative UMW GPA, the standard required for graduation.
Students who fall below a 2.00 overall cumulative UMW GPA are in
academic jeopardy and are subject to these probation, suspension and
dismissal policies.
Evaluation of academic standing is based on two factors: The number of
attempted credits and minimum overall cumulative GPA

27. Probation
 A student is placed on probation whenever the student’s
overall cumulative UMW GPA falls below 2.00.
 A notation of the student’s probation status is entered on the
student’s permanent record.
 A student placed on “academic probation” may continue
to participate in any extracurricular opportunities offered
by the institution except those activities that require a
specific GPA threshold.
 All students on probation who have not achieved the requisite
minimum overall cumulative GPA at the conclusion of each
fall or spring semester will be suspended/dismissed, according
to the terms in your academic catalog.

28. Suspension/Dismissal
 Students who do not make satisfactory progress (please see
chart below) while on probation will be suspended/dismissed.
 No student can be suspended after only one semester at the
University.
 As appropriate, a notation of the student’s
suspension/dismissal status is entered on the student’s
permanent record.
 A suspended student may not register for any classes at
UMW (semester or summer) until his or her term of
suspension expires.
 A dismissed student is ineligible to obtain a degree from
UMW or to continue enrollment in courses offered by the
University.

29. Number of Attempted Credits Minimum Overall Cumulative GPA
 12-30 1.60
 31-45 1.80
 46-60 1.90
 61-122+ 2.00