““Help! Help! My Kid is Going to My Kid is Going to

College!”College!”

Dr. Charles W. MattisDr. Charles W. MattisDean of the First-Year ProgramDean of the First-Year Program

(325) 674-2212 (325) 674-2212 mattis@acu.edumattis@acu.edu

Our Purpose Today…Our Purpose Today…

• Discuss thoughts on assisting you and your student Discuss thoughts on assisting you and your student with their transition to college lifewith their transition to college life

• Highlight student support services Highlight student support services

• Discuss ACU’s philosophy of partnering with Discuss ACU’s philosophy of partnering with parents parents

First-Year ProgramFirst-Year Programhttp://www.acu.edu/fyphttp://www.acu.edu/fyp

• Passport & Welcome WeekPassport & Welcome Week

• University SeminarUniversity Seminar

• Peer LeadersPeer Leaders

• Learning CommunitiesLearning Communities

• Academic AdvisingAcademic Advising

• Academic Support ServicesAcademic Support Services

• Parent ResourceParent Resource

• Health ServicesHealth Services

• ACU PoliceACU Police

• Residence LifeResidence Life

• Career CenterCareer Center

• Spiritual Life and ChapelSpiritual Life and Chapel

• Student ProductionsStudent Productions

• Volunteer and Service Learning CenterVolunteer and Service Learning Center

• Student OrganizationsStudent Organizations

Student LifeStudent Lifehttp://www.acu.edu/studentlifehttp://www.acu.edu/studentlife

Wildcat ParentsWildcat Parentshttp://www.acu.edu/parentshttp://www.acu.edu/parents

• Parent resources Parent resources

• Monthly guide to the first-yearMonthly guide to the first-year

• Important dates to rememberImportant dates to remember

• Upcoming eventsUpcoming events

• Considerations of support and Considerations of support and encouragementencouragement

Already… but not yet!Already… but not yet!

• Are college students “adults”?Are college students “adults”?

• FERPA – Family Education Rights Practice FERPA – Family Education Rights Practice Act Act

• ACU takes a developmental approach (i.e. ACU takes a developmental approach (i.e. ACU expectations and environment for ACU expectations and environment for freshmen is different than that of seniors)freshmen is different than that of seniors)

ACU…ACU…• Takes a holistic approach to Christian higher Takes a holistic approach to Christian higher

education (heart, soul, mind, strength).education (heart, soul, mind, strength).

• Is a fairly safe place to practice independent Is a fairly safe place to practice independent behaviorbehavior

• Wants to help students become independent Wants to help students become independent problem solversproblem solvers

Team55 - Student Computing Team55 - Student Computing SupportSupport

• Location - Learning CommonsLocation - Learning Commons– Phone: (325) 674-5555 or x5555Phone: (325) 674-5555 or x5555– Email: Email: team55@acu.edu– Website: http://team55.acu.eduWebsite: http://team55.acu.edu

• Open weekends and until Open weekends and until midnight on most weekdaysmidnight on most weekdays

• Available via phone, chat, Available via phone, chat, email, and walk-upemail, and walk-up

Team55 - How do we help the Team55 - How do we help the students? students?

• Computer software troubleshootingComputer software troubleshooting

• Assistance with account problemsAssistance with account problems

• Help with network, phone, and cable issuesHelp with network, phone, and cable issues

• Virus/spy-ware removal, operating system Virus/spy-ware removal, operating system re-installs, and data recovery/backupre-installs, and data recovery/backup

• iPhone/iPod touch troubleshooting and setupiPhone/iPod touch troubleshooting and setup

• Apple warranty repair Apple warranty repair

What technology resources are What technology resources are available?available?

• Over 700 lab computers with printers/softwareOver 700 lab computers with printers/software

• Cable and unlimited local phone serviceCable and unlimited local phone service

• Wired and WiFi connectionsWired and WiFi connections

• $15 printing credit per semester$15 printing credit per semester

• myACU and ACU MobilemyACU and ACU Mobile

• Google Apps for EducationGoogle Apps for Education

• File Storage and Webspace File Storage and Webspace

The Registrar’s OfficeThe Registrar’s Office

• FERPAFERPA

• Enrollment VerificationEnrollment Verification

• Drop/Add and WithdrawalDrop/Add and Withdrawal

The Registrar’s OfficeThe Registrar’s OfficeThe primary rights afforded to the The primary rights afforded to the Student are:Student are:

– The right to inspect and review The right to inspect and review their education recordstheir education records

– The right to have some control The right to have some control over the disclosure of information over the disclosure of information from the recordsfrom the records

– The right for the student to retain The right for the student to retain control of access to education control of access to education recordsrecords

FERPAFERPA – –

Family Family Educational Educational Rights and Rights and Privacy Act Privacy Act of 1976of 1976

The Registrar’s OfficeThe Registrar’s Office

• Enrollment Verification Enrollment Verification Certificates can be obtained by Certificates can be obtained by the student from The Depot space the student from The Depot space on My.ACUon My.ACU

• Verification for each semester Verification for each semester begins two weeks before the first begins two weeks before the first day of class.day of class.

Enrollment Enrollment VerificationVerification

The Registrar’s OfficeThe Registrar’s Office

Dropping a CourseDropping a Course– Day 1-5 is free; student should Day 1-5 is free; student should

contact their advisorcontact their advisor– Day 6-15 follows refund schedule; Day 6-15 follows refund schedule;

student uses withdrawal formstudent uses withdrawal form– Day 16+ there is no refund; student Day 16+ there is no refund; student

uses withdrawal form uses withdrawal form – No drop/withdrawal after week 12No drop/withdrawal after week 12

Drop/AddDrop/Add

The Registrar’s OfficeThe Registrar’s Office

Withdrawing from the UniversityWithdrawing from the University– Dropping of all classes and Dropping of all classes and

leaving ACUleaving ACU– Student receives W gradesStudent receives W grades– Student can contact the DepotStudent can contact the Depot

Withdrawal Withdrawal or Dropping or Dropping all Classesall Classes

The Registrar’s OfficeThe Registrar’s Office

• Be aware of the academic calendarBe aware of the academic calendar• Remind your student about ACU Remind your student about ACU

emailemail• Students who are responsible for Students who are responsible for

their own business learn problem their own business learn problem solving skills that are very solving skills that are very importantimportant

• ACU is a great place for students ACU is a great place for students to make mistakesto make mistakes

Random Random ObservationsObservations

Academic Development CenterAcademic Development Center

Services Include:Services Include:– SOS ProgramSOS Program– Discovery ProgramDiscovery Program– Academic Counseling and SkillsAcademic Counseling and Skills– Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence– University Testing CenterUniversity Testing Center

The Career CenterThe Career Center

• Coordination of On-Campus EmploymentCoordination of On-Campus Employment– Find on-campus jobsFind on-campus jobs– Student must find their job for themselvesStudent must find their job for themselves– Guarantees a job not necessarily the job they Guarantees a job not necessarily the job they

wantwant

• Career ReadinessCareer Readiness• Career ConnectionsCareer Connections

Questions?Questions?