Contents > University College
University College
Academic Success and Engagement Programs
Professional and Personal Development
Interdisciplinary Studies, School of
University College is a university-wide enterprise committed to innovative, rigorous scholarship. The college offers each student the opportunity for success through integrated advising services, interdisciplinary studies, extended education, academic achievement programs, community engagement, and student-centered delivery models.
The college provides an exceptional education for students who are exploring and expanding their academic and career options. Individualized assistance, educational flexibility, and access to higher education are core values, and the graduates of the college are innovative, intellectually agile, and prepared to respond to the needs of a rapidly changing world.
University College is designed to respond to the needs of students throughout ASU. Initiatives that encourage discovery, inclusion, and engagement are found on each campus and beyond the physical boundaries of ASU. Programs on the Tempe campus focus on advising for exploratory students, the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree program, and academic success and engagement programs. On the Polytechnic and West campuses, University College offers advising for exploratory students and academic success programs. The Downtown Phoenix campus is the administrative home of University College and, at this location, the college offers a wide range of courses across many disciplines, incubates new degree programs, develops and manages integrated student services, and advises students who want to explore majors and career paths. Through the School of Extended Education, all students are provided access to continuing education and high-quality degree completion opportunities.
Academic Success and Engagement Programs
The mission of the Academic Success and Engagement Programs (ASEP) is to provide all ASU students avenues for increasing their level of academic performance and to enrich their university experience. Through its two components of Academic Success Programs and Academic Community Engagement Services, ASEP provides academic support and tutoring, numerous opportunities for community building, and various venues for experiential learning.
Academic Community Engagement Services
Academic Community Engagement Services (ACES) supports community-based learning activities appropriate for and beneficial to any ASU student and provides opportunities specifically for service learning and work-study eligible students. ACES programs offer an avenue for ASU students to enrich their education as they positively impact Phoenix-area communities. For more information, call 480/727-6382.
Students who enroll in the Service Learning Program credit-bearing internships participate in academically based service activities that
1. integrate and enhance academic curriculum and community experiences;
2. meet community-identified needs;
3. foster civic responsibility;
4. support reciprocal learning; and
5. include structured reflection time.
The Service Learning Program and associated departments offer all ASU students the opportunity to develop a sense of shared mission and community with their classmates as they provide educational support and enrichment to diverse groups of Phoenix-area children and adults in structured, supervised environments. These service internships can be “linked” to many different discipline areas. Most service learning students provide after-school tutoring or lead children in hands-on science and math activities. Footnote 34 denotes service learning sections in the Online ASU Interactive Schedule of Classes.
America Reads and America Counts
Through the America Reads program, Federal Work-Study students are paid to work one-on-one with academically at-risk children in the community. The term at-risk describes children in grades 1 through 9 who live in low-income areas and are likely later to drop out of high school. The goal of the America Reads tutoring program is to increase each child’s literacy skills to grade level. In the after-school programs, tutors assist children with homework as well as create fun, hands-on activities to exercise academic skills. Tutors also assist preschool children in developing early literacy skills.
Through the America Counts program, Federal Work-Study students are paid to work with academically at-risk children (grades 1 through 3) in the community to increase math scores and comprehension. In these after-school programs, tutors assist children with homework and create hands-on activities to teach math concepts in fun ways.
The Academic Success Programs are designed to help students succeed and excel in their course work and to assist them in developing the skills that will lead to their graduation from ASU.
Campus Match is a first-semester fall program that gives freshmen the opportunity to attend classes in small learning communities according to their academic interests. Students choose a cluster of classes from a wide variety of offerings. Each cluster is limited to 19 students who enroll in and attend classes together. All students attend a weekly seminar that facilitates their social and academic adjustment to the university.
Academic Success at the University Courses
The purpose of the UNI courses is to assist first-year, transfer, and reentry students in making a successful transition to the university. In these courses, students learn about university resources, policies and procedures, study skills, values and goal setting, human diversity, academic and career planning, and other skills.
UNI 100 is a comprehensive student success course designed to assist in the development of effective academic strategies and to promote an understanding of human diversity, values, and perspectives as they relate to overall student success at ASU. The course creates opportunities for students to understand themselves and others and become a successful part of the campus community. (For UNIVERSITY (UNI) course list, see Courses below.
The Student Success Center is located on the first floor of UCENT at the Downtown Phoenix campus. The center offers complementary and supplementary academic success programs and services to help students achieve academic excellence. These programs and services include the Academic Mentoring Program, Structured Learning Assistance, academic workshops, academic advising, and career development. These programs and services are provided at no additional cost to ASU students. Computers are located throughout the Student Success Center, where students can use a broad range of course-related, learning-style-based, and conventional software, which includes adaptive technology for students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to meet in one of our four small group meeting rooms. The center also has a large seminar room for workshops and other presentations.
Summer Bridge is a program designed to assist first-semester freshmen in making the transition from high school to university life. Summer Bridge is a five-week program that provides a full academic curriculum in conjunction with a rich student development experience. The program assists participants in acclimating to campus, accessing student support programs and services, and enhancing classroom and personal skills.
Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is designed to enhance the quality of writing and critical thinking skills of university students. WAC specialists consult with faculty on methods of developing and integrating writing assignments into course content. The specialists also provide customized, in-class writing workshops designed to assist students in researching and responding to writing assignments.
The Writing Center at the Tempe campus provides students with one-on-one and group tutoring in writing skills. Rather than proofreading or editing students’ writing, the Writing Center teaches students the skills they need to improve their writing processes and products.
University College Academic Advising
The mission of University College Academic Advising is to promote student development and success by helping students identify, clarify, and achieve their academic goals. Through individualized professional advising and teaching practices, University College academic advisors challenge and support students in their process of becoming self-directed, life-long learners.
University College center provides advising for a diverse group of students, with a primary focus on all exploratory/undeclared students, and students who may be changing majors or transferring to ASU.
Academic advising is a partnership between the student and the advisor. Each has a mutual investment in the advising process and its outcome. Good academic advising is the foundation for successfully completing a bachelor degree.
Academic advisors assist students in selecting a major by suggesting complementary choices among the offerings in the ASU General Studies curriculum. Advisors also encourage students to explore and identify majors consistent with the students’ interests, values, and goals. Advisors help students understand university academic requirements, and policies and procedures.
See the University College Academic Advising table below.
Exploratory Major Students Critical Requirements
Beginning fall 2007 all incoming ASU freshmen participate in the critical requirements program. Critical requirements are designed to help students graduate in four years by clearly outlining course requirements and course progression and by placing critical courses in the early semesters to help students determine degree fit and suitability.
To that end, University College (UC) has developed major maps that support students exploring potential majors during their first few semesters at the university. Upon admission to University College, all first-year exploratory majors are required to declare a protomajor in one of four areas: exploratory social and behavioral sciences track, exploratory health and life sciences track, exploratory humanities and fine arts track, and exploratory math, physical science, and engineering track.
Each of these protomajors is designed to provide students with introductory courses in a field of choice (e.g., Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Environmental Design), general studies education, and elective courses that reinforce current interests. By strategically selecting courses, students can make progress toward choosing a major with the appropriate fit. Each exploratory track is composed of a three-semester major map, with the end goal of having students declare their major by no later than completion of 45 semester hours. Students are required to maintain a GPA that keeps them in good academic standing with the university and allows them to declare the major of their choosing.
Major maps for each of these exploratory tracks are available at www.asu.edu/programs/majormaps.
University College Academic Advising
There are offices located on each ASU campus that provide general academic advising and resources to assist students in the process of declaring a traditional ASU major. Academic advising information is available at uc.asu.edu/advising.
University College Major and Career Exploration
Counselors are available for individual appointments to discuss career goals and objectives at all UC Academic Advising locations. Students are encouraged to access www.asu.edu/majorexploration to begin the major and career exploration process.
1. Use www.asu.edu/programs/majormaps to review three to five majors you are interested in and compare critical-requirement major maps for the first few semesters.
2. Choose courses wisely as some courses satisfy critical-requirement criteria for several majors concurrently.
3. Meet with academic advisors in colleges and/or departments of your interest.
4. Visit with a University College Career Counselor to review possible assessments and strategies for exploring major options.
5. Get involved in volunteer work, and join a student organization as these activities may spark new interests.
For purposes of retention, academic good standing for exploratory/undeclared majors is defined in the Academic Good Standing table below.
A student who does not maintain the minimum GPA standard after each fall or spring semester is placed on academic probation. A student placed on academic probation or continuing probation must meet with an academic advisor before registration for the subsequent semester. A student placed on academic probation has one semester to raise his or her cumulative or semester GPA to meet the academic good standing criteria; otherwise, the student is disqualified. A student who has been disqualified is not permitted to enroll for the fall or spring semester.
Students who wish to choose exploratory major status must be in good academic standing as defined above. Students may remain designated as exploratory major status until they complete 45 semester hours. Students who have not declared a major by the time they have completed 45 semester hours are placed on hold, which prevents registration for future ASU semesters, until the student has declared a major.
Alliance Program with the Maricopa Community Colleges
The Alliance Program is a unique partnership between the Maricopa Community Colleges and ASU designed to increase the number of students who graduate with associate and bachelor’s degrees. The Alliance Program strives toward collaboration in degree planning, seamless transitions for students throughout their academic careers, joint programs and services that are student-centered, and increased access to affordable and flexible education. The Alliance Program director has a dual reporting line to ASU and the Maricopa Community Colleges.
Academic Transfer Articulation Office
ATAO facilitates curriculum information related to the transfer of course work to ASU, articulation task forces in the state of Arizona, course equivalency guides, and Associate in Transfer Partnership degree articulations with the Maricopa Community Colleges. ATAO strives to provide timely, relevant information to students, advisors, and faculty on matters related to the transfer and articulation of course work.
DARS is an online tool that provides students with current information regarding their degree requirements. Through this system, a degree audit is produced that matches a student’s completed courses against degree program requirements. The audit allows students to assess their progress toward their degree or determine how their earned credits would apply to another degree program.
Courses
Information about all courses is available on the Web at ASU Interactive. For more information, see Classification of Courses.
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