Mar 19, 2024  
2013-14 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2013-14 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

8. Academic Resources


8.1 Center for Academic Excellence

The goal of the Center for Academic Excellence is to facilitate the academic progress of all students. Students who need academic assistance are aided through a variety of services designed to increase their chances for success. Advanced students have the opportunity to develop mentoring and teaching skills and to enhance their study techniques prior to entering either graduate/professional school or the job market.

The Center for Academic Excellence offers peer tutoring, academic advising for undeclared students, guided study sessions, and individual academic counseling. Group workshops are scheduled on a variety of topics, such as test taking, note taking, and time management. Students may also receive support in their preparation for graduate school entry exams, such as the MCAT and GRE.

The Center for Academic Excellence maintains a library of study guides, study skills books, computer tutorials, video tutorials, and handouts that offer instruction in effective learning and study strategies. Students receive individualized instruction in the utilization of computer tutorials and the implementation of newly-acquired study techniques.

8.2 First-Year Program

The First-Year Program is designed to acquaint new students with college life and to assist them in clarifying and planning academic and career goals. The one credit course, UN 101 Introduction to College Life, is required of all students with fewer than 12 hours earned, excluding AP and CLEP credit, college credit earned while in high school, and college credit earned during the summer between high school graduation and fall enrollment. Special emphasis is placed on monitoring the academic progress of students during their first semester of enrollment.

8.3 Summer Developmental Program

The summer developmental program is an option for students who do not meet admission criteria of the University for fall term enrollment but wish to demonstrate basic academic competencies requisite to entry in the fall term. The program consists of developmental courses in reading, English, and mathematics, as well as a learning skills lab, totaling twelve (12) credit hours for the nine week term. Students must enroll for the entire 12-hour program. The credits earned in the summer developmental program do not count toward graduation. Students successfully completing the program and entering in the fall term will be required to complete a year-long academic support program. Consult the Office of Admissions, the Center for Academic Excellence, or the Office of Academic Affairs about program dates and other requirements.

8.4 Intermediate Courses

ED 100 Reading for College, EN 100 Basic Writing, and MA 100 Intermediate Algebra are considered intermediate-level courses. All entering students enrolled with an ACT Mathematics subtest score of 18 or below will be required to take MA 100 during their first semester of enrollment; all entering freshmen enrolled with an ACT English subtest score of 16 or below will be required to take EN 100 during their first semester of enrollment; all entering freshmen enrolled with an ACT Reading subtest score of 18 or below will be required to take ED 100 during their first semester of enrollment.  If multiple ACT scores are submitted by the student to the University, the submission with the highest composite score will be used to determine intermediate course requirements. If multiple scores with the same composite are submitted, the most recent scores will be used to determine intermediate course requirements. Students enrolled in intermediate courses (ED 100, EN 100, or MA 100) are required to continue enrolling in the intermediate course until a grade of C or higher is earned.

In addition, students who are required to enroll in two or more intermediate courses, including those enrolled in the Summer Developmental Program, are also required to enroll in LS 101 and LS 102, the year-long Academic Support Program. Students will remain as undeclared majors until the end of the year-long program. Students will be advised during their freshman year by the Coordinator of Academic Advising and may not be enrolled in more than 15 semester hours. Students must continue to enroll in the required intermediate courses(s) until a passing grade is earned.

While each intermediate course carries 3 hours of enrollment credit for that term, no academic credit is earned toward graduation. These courses cannot be used to satisfy any graduation requirements, including total hours required for the degree.

8.5 Students With Diagnosed Disabilities

The Center for Academic Excellence ensures that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to learn and to express their knowledge. MUW students with disabilities who are requesting accommodations should contact the Center for Academic Excellence at (662) 329-7138.

8.6 Fant Memorial Library

Students have access to a wide range of print and electronic information resources in the John Clayton Fant Memorial Library. The Fant Library Web Page provides links to the online catalog, electronic databases, and many relevant Internet resources. The library collection includes books, periodicals, newspapers, reference sources, microforms, government documents, manuscripts, and curriculum materials. Additionally, over thirty-three online databases are available many containing full-text articles. For books and articles difficult to locate, Fant Library offers Interlibrary Loan Services. To check out materials, students will need to have their current semester sticker on their MUW I.D. and no outstanding fines. This I.D. card provides check-out at all of the library systems in our consortium. Students are responsible for returning the books to the library from which they checked them out. All items checked out on the I.D. card are the responsibility of the person to whom the card is issued and makes the person liable for fines and replacement cost of any lost materials. The checkout period for books is 14 days for undergraduate students and 28 days for graduate students with overdue fines of $.25 per book per day. The Library sends overdue notices and flags student records when materials are not returned by the due date. Failure to be notified does not remove the user’s obligation to pay fines or replacement cost of lost books. Photocopy machines, microfilm reader/printers, and computer stations are available for student use with current MUW I.D.

For more information about library hours, etc.  see the Fant Library website http://www.muw.edu or call (662) 329-7332.