University College: Gateway to IUPUI in the First Semester
When undergraduates enroll at IUPUI, they enter the University College, a student-centered community focused on helping undergraduate students adjust to college life and achieve their goals. The UC is a team committed to addressing student concerns. Its faculty members are IUPUI’s academic leaders, its advisors are professionals who assist students in developing a plan of study based on student abilities and desires, and its student mentors are peers who help students understand how to study effectively and efficiently.
Partnership for Academic Excellence
All University College students sign the Partnership for Academic Excellence to ensure that students understand and commit to those elements that the staff and faculty of IUPUI and universities around the country see as vital to success. The faculty, advisors, and staff of University College identify the services and other forms of assistance that IUPUI provides to help students.
The Partnership for Academic Excellence stresses the importance of always attending class, completing assignments on time, giving adequate time to out-of-class learning experiences, including reading, review time, and researching and rewriting written assignments. In addition, students are urged to maintain contact with their University College advisor and other staff on a regular basis to review, discuss, modify, and plan their academic program, and to work to achieve at least a grade of C (2.00 GPA) in all courses. The full text of this agreement is in the University College section of this bulletin.
Regardless of whether an explicit absence policy appears on the syllabus, students are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for completing all course work required. Unless the instructor has a different procedure for absences, when students are unable to attend class, they should contact the instructor prior to or immediately following the absence. Students should identify someone in class who is willing to share notes or discuss what was missed. Some instructors may provide videotapes of missed classes, but it is not the instructor’s job to repeat a class for a student who is unable to attend class. Exams or other work missed during absences can only be made up with the approval of the instructor. Instructors may choose to count a student absent who comes late or leaves early. As always, discontinuing class attendance without officially dropping the class will result in the students receiving a grade of F.
The Early Warning System
National research shows how important it is for students to get early feedback on their work. IUPUI faculty, therefore, send informal assessments to students’ advisors through the Early Warning System. Advisors then contact the students who are having trouble and encourage them to rethink their study habits and seek academic assistance. As a matter of course, all first-year students (0 to 25 credit hours passed) will get official mid-term grades.
The Learning Center/Academic Assistance
The Learning Center, devoted to students helping students, includes the Resource Center and the Student Mentoring Program. It is on the second floor of the University College (LY), which is located in the old library building.
Supplemental Instruction Program
The Supplemental Instruction Program provides a collaborative environment, one that builds community and strengthens academic skills. Mentors—students who have successfully completed a course and are now helping others—work with groups free of charge to improve students’ understanding of difficult material in courses such as psychology, math, economics, chemistry, and biology. In addition, mentors share study skills and test-taking techniques. For more information, contact the Learning Center at 317-274-4818.
Tutoring
The Department of Mathematical Sciences and the University Writing Center provide students with free, one-on-one tutoring. Math tutoring is available for MATH 163, 164, 221, and 222 through the Math department. Other departments will help students identify tutors who charge for their services. The Resource Center can provide additional information on the availability of tutors.
Resource Center
The Resource Center is a student-staffed referral service where IUPUI students can find tutors and campus resource information for courses not covered by the Student Mentor Program. Help is also available with studying and time management, techniques for taking exams, and information about the Supplemental Instruction Program.
