1. WELCOME NEW FOOTE FELLOWS!
Pre-Orientation Webinar
Presenter: Melissa Hechtman, Program Manager

2. Welcome to the University of Miami!
The Foote Fellows Program honors and reflects the educational vision of former UM President Edward T. Foote, who retired in 2000 after serving the University for twenty years.
Within the framework and terms of each college’s curricula and major programs, Foote Fellows are exempt from the University General Education requirements. This freedom allows you to build an education unique to your goals and interests.
We will support you in creating a rigorous, dynamic curriculum and enriching your education.

3. ACADEMIC ADVISING Designated academic advisors work with Foote Fellows within each school and college.
College of Arts & Sciences Dr. William Scott Green Ms. Melissa Hechtman Ms. Athena Sanders School of Architecture Ms. Ana M. Santana School of Business Administration Dr. Elisah Lewis School of Communication Mr. Luis Herrera
School of Education & Human Development Ms. Gina Astorini College of Engineering Dr. Ram Narasimhan Frost School of Music Dr. Steven Moore School of Nursing Ms. Deborah S. Paris Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Dr. Gary Hitchcock
Students may also reach out to advisors in their academic departments.

4. PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM ADVISORS
Pre-Health Advising and Mentoring Pre-Health Advising Website Dr. Michael Gaines Dr. Tiffany Plantan Pre-Law Advising A&S Pre-Law Advising Website Dr. Elisah Lewis (Business) Ms. Eva Alonso (Communication)
Students may also reach out to advisors in their academic departments.

5. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Foote Fellows are EXEMPT from University General Education Requirements within the terms of their school or college curriculum.
General Education requirements include:
Areas of Proficiency
English Composition*
Writing Across the Curriculum
Mathematics*
Areas of Knowledge (Cognates)
Arts & Humanities
People & Society
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
*Schools/colleges may require Foote Fellows to take courses such as English Composition or Mathematics as pre-requisites for required courses.
Foote Fellows are not exempt from pre-requisite courses.
Some general education requirements may be necessary for admission to medical/graduate school.
Foote Fellows may satisfy General Education Requirements by choice or with AP/IB/Dual Enrollment credit.
Foote Fellows may choose to enroll in Cognates.

6. ACADEMIC FREEDOM
The Foote Fellows Program allows students freedom to individualize their education and pursue unique academic goals.
Foote Fellows use this freedom in different ways, including (but not limited to):
Pursuing double or triple Majors*
Pursuing multiple Minors
Pursuing a dual degree*
Choosing courses of interest across multiple disciplines
Focusing solely on one or few areas of study
*Dual/Triple Majors and Dual Degrees must be approved by each School/College. Foote Fellows must consider the required courses and credits for each major in creating a feasible academic plan.
Foote Fellows may also use their academic freedom to:
Study abroad one (or more) semester(s)
Participate in undergraduate research
Pursue internships
Complete a thesis or special project
You name it!

7. DOUBLE MAJOR VS. DUAL DEGREE
Double Major – A student completes the requirements for two majors while earning one bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.S., B.B.A., etc.)
Dual Degree – A student completes the requirements for two bachelor’s degrees (example: B.A. and B.S.)
To obtain two different undergraduate degrees, you must complete all the requirements for each degree.
A second undergraduate degree on the same level requires a different major and a different minor.
If the degrees are in two different schools, you must meet the requirements with distinctly different majors and minors, where ever applicable, in each school.
While certain general education requirements may be applied to both degrees, you cannot double count a major or a minor to satisfy the requirements for degrees in different schools or different disciplines.
Requires approval from each academic department and the Office of the Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education

8. Seminar for Foote Fellows
“Books that Matter” Course (FSS 199, HON 330) FSS 199 and HON 330 are two courses created for our Foote Fellows and taught by Drs. Green and Russo. The goal of the class, in which you will read books in non-fiction prose, is to help us decide which books “matter” and which books don’t—and why. These seminars offer an opportunity to study major works of non-fiction, under the guidance of faculty members from across the University. We examine important works which, by means of their strong, connected argumentation, challenge the way we respond to, interpret, and shape reality. Emphasis in the course falls mainly on the logical structure embedded deep within the text, and less on content per se, so that a student’s effort is not directed towards a reading of “great books” but rather the discovery of “significant arguments.” By learning to read, question, and enjoy important intellectual studies of the past and present, students will be able to read, question, and enjoy what will be the influential books of non-fiction published in their lifetime, whether in public affairs, science, social science, economics, history, film and media studies, philosophy, psychology, etc.

9. Opportunities & Resources for Foote Fellows
“Books that Matter” Course (FSS 199, HON 330)
Foote Fellow Programming Board
Foote Fellow Mentors
Departmental Honors
University Honors (Summa cum Laude, Magna cum Laude, cum Laude)
Undergraduate Research
Butler Center for Service & Leadership
UM Civic Scholars Program
Toppel Career Center
The Launch Pad
Study Abroad
Office of Prestigious Awards & Fellowships

10. Prestigious Awards & Fellowships
The Office of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships:
Provides undergraduate students with a range of services to maximize their candidacy for nationally competitive awards, fellowships, and scholarships
Promotes awareness and knowledge of scholarship opportunities through campus media and information sessions
Provides individual mentoring to help students match their personal qualifications and goals to nationally competitive scholarship programs
Meets with potential applicants to review and assist in refining the application packet, personal statement and other materials
Coordinates campus review/nomination processes for awards requiring institutional endorsement like the Rhodes, Fulbright, Goldwater, and Truman
Conducts mock-interviews for fellowship finalists
Ms. Kefryn Reese, Director

11. Foote Fellows Program Orientation Events for Foote Fellows
Tuesday, August 19, 5:00-6:30p.m.
Foote Fellow Welcome Reception (Students & Parents)
Fieldhouse Multipurpose Room, Bank United Center
All new Foote Fellows are invited to learn more about the Foote Fellows Program at UM. Light refreshments will be served.
Sunday, August 24, 7:00-8:00p.m.
Foote Fellows Meet Your Mentors!
Student Activities Center Ballroom
All new Foote Fellows are invited to meet your Foote Fellow Mentors (upperclassmen) at this casual peer networking event. Light refreshments will be served.
Foote Fellows Program Contact Information:
Melissa Hechtman, Manager
Phone: (305)
Location: Hughes House 21Y
“Official Foote Fellows Facebook Group”