Stepping Into The Second Semester
You will register for first semester classes during summer orientation, which is one reason it is so important that you are there. However, midway through your first semester you must already be thinking about courses for second semester. The University uses a program called ISIS which allows you to register online or over the phone for your upcoming semester courses. Before you can do this, however, you will meet with your advisor and discuss how your first semester has gone. He or she will then give you an advising card, which lets you know when you can access ISIS and has a code that will allow you log onto to ISIS, thus ensuring you have met with you advisor. Without that number, you cannot register for the upcoming semester.
Your schedule for the second semester will not yet be determined fully by your major...in fact, major declaration doesn't occur until April toward the end of your first year! If you have extra space, however, it is wise to think about what classes might help you down the road in your respective major. In addition, there is another Rodman course specifically for your first-year class, called Synthesis and Design II, that you will take. Keep reading for details about this amazing first-year engineering experience...it's something you're sure never to forget!
If you have any questions about what to take, ask! It is a good idea to ask several different people, including your faculty advisor, your student advisor, and your classmates.
If you wish to get into a class for which you are not registered and you find that it is full, you can use a "course action form". These forms are available in Thornton A122, the front office of the engineering school. This form needs to be signed by your advisor and taken to the first meeting of the class. There the professor of the class must sign the form. It may be a good idea to contact the professor beforehand and let them know that you are interested in joining their class. Your status as a Rodman Scholar may give you an advantage, but be careful not to abuse this status because professors have varying opinions about the Rodman and Echols student privileges.
If there is an error in your schedule or you decide after classes have started that you do not wish to be enrolled in a particular class, you may drop that course. To do so you must call or go online to ISIS, the Integrated Student Information System, and drop the course by following the instructions given there. The one major restriction is that your cannot drop a course if it will cause you to fall below fifteen credit hours. Adding a course also requires a phone call or loggin online to ISIS.
Please keep in mind that the Drop Deadline is much later than the Add Deadline, so if you wait too long you may not be able to add courses to fill your schedule in the event that your wish to drop a course. Also remember that the longer you take to add a course, the more information you are missing in the class and the harder it will be to catch up later.
You have seen mention of the term "major" several times already in this guide. There are eleven majors you may choose from in the Engineering School:
1. Aerospace
2. Applied Mathematics
3. Biomedical
4. Chemical
5. Civil
6. Computer Engineering
7. Computer Science
8. Electrical
9. Engineering Science
10. Mechanical
11. Systems & Information
Don't worry about choosing one of these at the present time. The time to make a decision is late in the spring semester. The engineering school organizes a "Majors Night" and is an opportunity for you to see what each major offers and to ask questions of professors in that major. There is also a Majors Night organized by the Rodman Scholars Council which will be a few days prior. This meeting will give you the opportunity to ask questions of upper-class Rodman students who have already made their decisions and have seen how their decisions have turned out.
The Rodman Courses you will take affect your schedule slightly, and there are always questions that only other students can answer. During your first semester be thinking which major you want to try. Don't worry, this day is a long way away, and even if you are unhappy, you can change your decision later. Ultimately, find what you're passionate about, as that will make all the difference in the world..those who choose practically rather than honestly usually end up there the roundabout way.
In sum, welcome to the Rodman Scholars Program...we are excited for you to join us and want to do whatever we can to help you succeed in whatever it is you set out to do! We hope this guide helps ease the transition into college life through the eyes of a Rodman Scholar!
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