Special Challenges for First-Year-Students

BearBucks | Making a Strong Start | Prioritizing Study Time | Attending Class | Handling Paperwork

Overlooking Key Resources | Managing Time | Working Part Time | Hanging on to the Past

Avoiding Debt | Checking Out Career Services | Misusing Alcohol | Other Health Concerns

UCA Laptop Initiative | Staying on Track for Graduation | Parent Orientation

Student Discount Card | If Your Child Has Been Accepted to the University College

Staying on Track for Gradation: Tips from Tony Sitz, Registrar

• Stay in touch with your advisor and know/follow all program, degree, and university requirements. Students who wait until the 3rd or 4th year to make sure they are on track for graduation will generally run into problems.  Students should start to plan for graduation in the first year.  Early intervention in learning about degree requirements is the only way to maintain focus through the 3rd and 4th years.
• Students should be incredibly familiar with the undergraduate bulletin.  It is the key to knowing all degree and university requirements.  It is available online 24/7 at http://www.uca.edu/ubulletin/.
• While students should be able to trust the information given by advisors, you should double-check the information about degree requirements with the bulletin, department head, or Registrar.
• Students who generally run into problems are those who wait to be told what to do.  Be proactive in learning about graduation, degree requirements, and university requirements. 
• When asking questions, make sure to clarify.  Students may be asking the wrong question, or advisors/faculty members may not understand what students are asking.
• A check-sheet is available on UCA’s Student Information System for students to access.  This is an invaluable tool.  It lists the degree requirements and displays what requirements have been completed and what requirements have not been completed.  Students can easily access this on SIS with their ID and PIN numbers. (http://ccnt.uca.edu/).
• During the fourth year, students should recheck graduation requirements by staying in touch with advisors or contacting the Registrar’s office.  Some policies or procedures may have changed and you don’t want to have any surprises when it comes to graduation time!
• Students can find graduation application dates on the online Academic Calendar (http://www.uca.edu/schedule07/html/academiccalendar.php). 
• Students should actually apply for graduation a year ahead of time.  This will ensure that you have a clear idea of what remains to complete your degree.  This way you can make sure everything that needs to be completed is accounted for.