STUDENT RETENTION PROCESS

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Originated: March 25, 1998

Overview

Stephen F. Austin State University and the College of Business engage in several activities (described below) that are designed to improve the likelihood that each student will be successful in his or her chosen degree program. Except where otherwise stated, all activities apply to both graduate and undergraduate students.

Orientation

Prospective freshmen are invited to attend a three-day summer orientation (with or without parents) for a nominal fee. The orientation includes information about campus facilities and college life in addition to an opportunity to be advised and register for classes. Departments also make presentations describing the respective majors to help students select a tentative major. Prospective undergraduate transfer students are invited to attend a similar two-day orientation. First-time undergraduate students who do not attend one of the summer sessions must attend an orientation before they are allowed to register.

Distribution of Publications

Each entering student is provided with a copy of the General Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin as appropriate. New undergraduate students are provided with a college brochure, which lists course requirements briefly for all majors. All new students are also provided with a more specific brochure for their department or major.

Advising

All freshmen and all new transfer students are required to be individually advised prior to registration. Advising is conducted in the department of the student's major except for incoming MBA students, who are advised by the MBA Director. After being advised, students are permitted to register independently by phone or Internet.

Continuing students other than freshmen are encouraged to see an advisor prior to registration, but such advising is not mandatory. Faculty are available for advising during each registration and preregistration period.

Office Hours

All full-time faculty are required to be available to assist students for at least 10 hours each week that classes are in session. Faculty assistance of this type usually focuses on academic matters (study hints, extra explanations, etc.) but may also include career planning and non-academic advice.

Academic Assistance Resource Center (AARC)

The AARC is located within the university library and offers tutoring in approximately 36 undergraduate courses. Special programs are available for math and writing, and facilities are also available for students with disabilities.

Disability Services

Students with verifiable disabilities may register with the Disability Services office. The office works with the students and with faculty to ensure that appropriate accommodations are made available for each student.

SFA 101

New freshmen are encouraged to register for SFA 101 (Freshman Seminar), a one-credit-hour freshman orientation class. The class helps prepare students for college life and also helps them select a major. Studies indicate that students who enroll in SFA 101 are, on the average, more successful than those who do not.

Degree Plans

Each student receives a degree plan listing the courses that must be completed for his or her degree program. The plan can be used by the student to monitor his/her progress and identify remaining requirements. A rough degree plan is prepared for MBA students at the time of initial advising, and the official degree plan is prepared during the student's first semester of enrollment. Undergraduate students are encouraged to initiate a degree plan after completion of 45 credit hours of coursework.

Undergraduate students are encouraged to file for graduation early in the semester in which they will preregister for their final classes (e.g., early fall for May graduation). After filing, a Final Graduation Plan (sometimes called a "final" degree plan) is prepared. The plan includes a very specific list of the remaining coursework along with any deficiencies.

Advancement to Candidacy

Each graduate student's progress is checked after completion of 12 hours of coursework. If the student has a GPA of at least 3.0 and is otherwise progressing satisfactorily, he/she is advanced to candidacy status. Students having difficulties at this time may be either counseled on how to improve their performance or may be dropped from graduate study. More information is given in the Graduate Bulletin.

Probation and Suspension Advising

To remain in good standing, undergraduate students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0, while graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0. Criteria for classification of students with low GPA's as "probation" or "suspension" are specified in the General Bulletin and Graduate Bulletin. Students on probation must be advised prior to registration in the department of their major except for MBA students, who are advised by the MBA Director. All students on suspension are advised and registered in the Dean's Office.

More information on advising of undergraduate students on probation and suspension can be found in the document "Procedures for Advising Undergraduate Probation and Suspension Students," available from the College of Business Dean's Office.

Counseling and Career Services

The university Counseling and Career Services office helps students deal with personal adjustment and relationship problems, substance abuse, and educational problems such as time management, study habits, and test anxiety. Vocational counseling is also provided, including vocational interest surveys and career information. The office also serves as a liaison between students and potential employers and provides a full range of job search services.

Exit Surveys

A voluntary questionnaire is given to each student in the College of Business who changes his or her major. When practical, other students departing the College of Business are given a brief exit interview or survey. Results from these sources are analyzed to identify how retention might be enhanced and are also used to identify needed program improvements.

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