First Year Commuter Students
As a first-year commuter
student, one of the first steps to a successful transition to college is to
attend one of the sixteen summer orientation sessions. You will have an opportunity
to meet and speak with a Commuter Center representative at the resource fair.
You can ask this individual questions that specifically relate to the life of
a commuter student at Miami University. To learn more about summer orientation
visit the web site at http://www.muohio.edu/orientation.
First Year Seminars
Miami University is dedicated to providing opportunities that will assist first-year
students in making a smooth transition from high school to college. Thus the
creation of a new initiative at Miami called First-Year Seminars. These seminars
are small classes designed to enhance your learning, increase the likelihood
of forming a mentoring relationship with a faculty member, provide opportunities
for you to meet and interact with other first-year students at Miami University,
and fulfill Miami Plan Foundation requirements. To see a listing of First-Year Seminars being offered fall semester, visit the Office of Liberal Education website at
http://www.miami.muohio.edu/liberal-ed/pros-new-parents/first-year-seminar.html .
First Year Institute
Prior to the beginning of the first week of classes, the First Year Institute will assist you in becoming acquainted with the University
as well as other first year students.
This is a series of events that take place in August before classes start, designed specifically
for first-year students. The Commuter Center Staff will contact you in
August about various meeting times and locations for some of the major FYI events. For more information on this program, please visit the Orientation website at http://www.muohio.edu/orientation
First Year Commuter Student Orientation
The Commuter Center Staff invites first year students each year to join us in attending University Convocation as a community. Immediately following Convocation, there is an orientation designed specifically for first-year commuter students and differs greatly from the University-wide orientations. During this time, the Commuter Center
staff will take you on a tour of the Center and speak specifically about the
services offered to you during the academic year.
Academic Advising
First-Year Commuter Students will receive academic advising from the Commuter
Adviser Graduate Assistant. First year students are expected to to meet with their Academic Adviser at least once during the fall semester prior to registration. The adviser can assist students with questions regarding
schedule adjustments; university policies, procedures, and requirements; spring
semester advising and registration; and general resource information. Academic Advising begins during the third week of September, with the First Year Advising Workshops.
The First Year Advising Workshops (FYAW) are hour long sessions held in the Commuter Center. The purpose of the FYAW is to help you learn about University resources; Miami Plan, major, and divisional requirements; and your progress toward fulfillment of these requirements. These seminars are divided by academic divisions and it is important that you attend your specific session.
During this First Year Advising Workshop you will:
- Learn about the process of academic advising at Miami University
- Learn how to use the Degree Audit Report (DAR), the Guidebook for New Students, and the General Bulletin
- Prepare for your academic advising appointment
- Learn general information about the academic advising session
- Sign up for your individual advising appointment
The FYAW is the first step in your academic advising; it is an expectation that you attend. Missing this crucial step could lead to a lack of preparation for your academic advising appointment later in the semester.
FYAW dates TBA.
Class Scheduling Tips
Here is some class scheduling advise from upperclass commuter students.
- As a commuter student it is tempting to schedule your classes back to back,
so you are only on campus for a block of time. However, running your classes
together without any breaks or fitting them into one or two days a week can
be a problem.
- Fatigue can weaken your motivation and productivity in your classes
that are towards the end of your block.
- You may forget lecture material because there is no time to digest information
between classes. It is also more tempting to skip a class to prepare for
another.
- Jamming classes into two days can make it difficult to finish
assignments between those days you have class
- If you are ill the day you have the majority of your classes, you will
miss a significant amount of lecture and class material.
- Having time before and after classes can give you time to relax, study,
or meet new people in the Commuter Center. Having some extra time between
classes is less stressful in the long run!
Other First Year Student Resources
Academic
Calendar
Goal
Setting for the Commuter Student
Buying Books
Campus
Map
Career/Major
Exploration:
Financial Aid and
Scholarships
Jobs
On-Campus
Miami
Metro (campus bus service)
Meal
Plans
Parking
Registration/Course
List/Student Records (banner web)
Tutoring
|
