You may feel lost?

Finding your way is not that difficult!

OVERVIEW: WHAT is the switch to semesters? WHY is Columbus State doing it? HOW does it affect me? HOW can I prepare for the transition? HOW can I keep on track to graduate? WHERE do I go if I need help?

WHAT IS THE SWITCH TO SEMESTERS? THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR WILL CHANGE FORM QUARTERS TO SEMESTERS, EFFECTIVE AUTUMN THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR CONVERTS FROM 10 WEEKS OF STUDY & A FINALS WEEK TO A 15 WEEKS OF STUDY & A FINALS WEEK. THE THREE QUARTERS SYSTEM (AUTUMN, WINTER, TEN WEEKS EACH EQUALED 30 WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION. THE TWO SEMESTERS SYSTEM (AUTUMN & FIFTEEN WEEKS EACH EQUALS 30 WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION. BOTH ACADEMIC CALENDAR HAVE A SUMMER QUARTER/SEMESTERS.

WHY ARE WE SWITCHING TO SEMESTERS? Columbus State is switching from quarters to semesters for Autumn 2012 for a number of reasons, mainly : 1.MORE THAN 90 % OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S. ALREADY OPERATE ON SEMESTERS. 2.SEMESTERS WILL BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. 3.STUDENTS HAVE MORE OPTIONS FOR COMPLETING DEGREES. 4.TRANSFERRING CREDITS BETWEEN SCHOOLS BECOME EASIER. 5.STUDENTS CAN TAILOR THEIR SCHEDULES TO FIT THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES & RESPONSIBILITIES. 6.PROVIDES MORE TIME FOR THE STUDENT TO LEARN AND EXPERIMENT WITH COURSE MATERIAL. 7.ALLOWS GRADUATING SENIORS TO ENTER THE JOB MARKET EARLIER. 8.OFFERS MORE TIME FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND OR SUMMER JOBS. 9.REDUCES REGISTRATION, FINANCIAL AID ACTIVITY, BOOK PURCHASES, ETC. FROM 3 TIMES TO 2 TIMES PER ACADEMIC YEAR.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT ME? 1.IF YOU STARTED CSCC PRIOR TO THE SWITCH AND CAN NOT GRADUATE OR COMPLETE YOUR STUDIES BEFORE AUTUMN 2012, YOU WILL BE AFFECTED. 2.IF YOU FINISH YOUR PROGRAM OR DEGREE PRIOR TO AUTUMN 2012 YOU WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. 3.IF YOU ARE AFFECTED BY THE SWITCH YOU BECOME A TRANSITION STUDENT. 4.AS A TRANSITION STUDENT Y0U SHOULD CREATE A TRANSITIONAL PLAN OF STUDY. 5.A TRANSITIONAL PLAN OF STUDY STARTS WITH A DEGREE AUDIT. 6.YOU SHOULD SEEK HELP IF NEEDED, START WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR. 7.YOU SHOULD STAY INFORMED BY READING ALL CSCC S & CHECK THE SWITCH 2 SEMESTER WEB SITE OFTEN. 8.Non Transitional Students must use the Semester study plan.

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION? 1.GET INFORMED, GET ADVISE, GET A PLAN. 2.ATTEND AN ADVISING SESSION IF AVAILABLE, CHECK YOUR DEPARTMENT HOME PAGE. 3.VERIFY YOUR MAJOR OR DECLARE ONE. CALL OR SUBMIT A CHANGE OF INFORMATION FORM, AVAILABLE ONLINE, TO RECORDS & REGISTRATION. 4.CREATE A TRANSITIONAL PLAN BY RUNNING AN ONLINE DEGREE AUDIT REPORT TO KNOW WHERE YOU STAND. 5. (For video help go to: 6.PRINT YOUR DEGREE AUDIT REPORT AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR ADVISOR. 7.CREATE A TRANSITI0NIAL PLAN OF STUDY, TAKE THE COURSES SPECIFIED IN YOUR PLAN EACH SEMESTER, STAY ON TRACK, DON’T REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CLASSES OR CHANGE YOUR MAJOR. 8.GRADUATE ON SCHEDULE AND ACCORDING TO YOUR PLAN.

Your Degree Audit is your personal roadmap to graduation. – RUN your personal degree audit … then – SCHEDULE an appointment with your advisor for one-on- one advising

HOW CAN I KEEP ON TRACK TO GRADUATE? 1.STAY ON SCHEDULE, RUNNING THE DEGREE AUDIT, GETTING ADVISE, & FOLLOWING THE APPROVED PLAN OF STUDY. 2.IF POSSIBLE GRADUATE BEFORE AUTUMN SEMESTER IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU TRY TO FINISH ALL SEQUENCES COURSE BEFORE THE SWITCH TO SEMESTERS. 4.SUBMIT OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FROM PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED INSTITUTIONS. 5.ATTEND CLASSES! WITH LONGER NUMBER OF WEEKS IN A SEMESTER THERE MAY BE TEMPTATION TO SKIP CLASS! DON’T! 6.REGISTER EARLY! AUTUMN SEMESTER 2012 REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH TO STAY ON THE QUARTER PLAN YOU MUST GRADUATE BY SUMMER VISUALIZE YOURSELF GRADUATING AS YOUR WORK THROUGH EACH SEMESTER. 9.YOU MAY CHOOSE TO SWITCH TO A SEMESTER STUDY PLAN.

WHERE DO I GO IF I NEED HELP? 1.VISIT cscc.edu/semesters FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION, ANSWERS & TIPS. 2.MEET WITH YOUR ADVISOR. 3.RUN YOUR DEGREE AUDIT OFTEN – it is FREE and available to you online 24/7/366 4.FIND YOUR ADVISOR BY VISITING: cscc.edu/advising OR www2.cscc.edu/academics/departments. 5.ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR FOR HELP.

If you do what is expected of you … What you can expect from Columbus State is: No loss of academic progress Credits you’ve earned before the semester conversion which apply to your degree or certificate will continue to apply after the conversion, assuming you continue in the same program of study. All applicable credit hours will be counted toward fulfilling degree or program requirements. No delay to degree or certificate completion If you are on track to complete your degree or certificate when the college switches to semesters, and you follow your approved Degree Audit / Transitional Plan of Study consistently thereafter, you will be able to graduate on time. This assurance can only be met if you follow your approved plan.

It is not that difficult to find your way … and we are here to help!