March/April 2006

Advisor Suggestions to Help Reduce Problems and Complaints

	Accessibility: Provide advisees with the information for them to be able to contact you. Office hours should be posted for advisees to see.
	Advising File: Take good notes and identify recommendations, commitments, exceptions and referrals made.
	Buckley Amendment: Make sure you know and understand how this applies at FHSU. If you are unsure, contact the Vice President of Student Affairs for information.
	Information: Advisees rely on you to provide accurate information. Act in good faith on behalf of the institution and exercise your best professional judgment.
	Institutional Publications: You should review publications and program information on a regular basis. Make every effort to provide the advisee what the institution promised.
	Opinions: Refrain from voicing negative opinions regarding faculty, departments and degree programs.
	Policy: Institutional policies and procedures change. Stay current on what is happening that may affect the advisee or advisor. Attend professional development opportunities.
	Probe: Ask questions to make sure the advisee understandings what you have told them. Encourage them to write down important information.
	Questions: Never guess at an answer to an advisees' questions. Tell them that you do not know but will find out and let them know.
	Release of Information: Never release information to a third party without written consent from the advisee.
	Waivers or Exceptions: If the university is waiving policy or a degree requirement, make sure they have it in writing and a copy is maintained in the student’s file. Never provide an oral waiver.

CICS Update

Do you have the SECURE Version of CICS?
To determine if you have the latest and most secure version of CICS, look at your icon. If your icon is a magenta Q, then you have the most recent version. If your icon is a gold Q, then you need to update.

• Select Start Button (lower left hand corner)
• Select Run
• Open and type in: \\00\0
• Select
• Select Run
• A Black Screen will appear until your CICS is updated
• Delete your old CICS (gold Q) by right clicking and selecting delete
• Your new icon will be and there will be two of them one labeled CICS and one labeled CMS

For questions, please contact the Micro Department (4021) and ask for assistance in updating your CICS.

An instruction slide with graphics is also available. Please click on the link below:

Is it time to change your CICS password?
Having a protected password is essential to the security of the information that you have on your account and the protection and privacy of the information that you may have access to on CICS. We encourage you to periodically change your Lotus Notes and CICS passwords. If at any time you feel that your CICS password may have been jeopardized or would like to have it changed, please e-mail Jane Rajewski. Include in the note your CICS ID, current CICS password, and what you would like to have for your new CICS password (up to 8 characters). You will be notified via LN when to begin using the new password.

Early Registration Dates

Make sure your calendar has the Early Registration Dates marked!

Seniors A - M Tuesday, March 28
Seniors N - Z Wednesday, March 29
Juniors A - M Thursday, March 30
Juniors N - Z Monday, April 3
Sophomores A - M Wednesday, April 5
Sophomores N - Z Thursday, April 6
Freshmen A - Z Tuesday, April 11
New Freshmen Dates Saturday, April 22 Saturday, April 29 Monday, May 1 Friday, June 9
New Transfer Dates Monday, April 24 Tuesday, April 25 Tuesday, June 13	Classification: Seniors: 90 + hours Juniors: 60 - 89 hours Sophomores: 30 - 59 hours Freshmen: 0 - 29 hours

Early Registration Reminders

ENGLISH

• Students must have received a passing grade in English Composition 101 in order to enroll in English Composition 102;
• Students should take ENG 101 and 102 during the Fall and Spring Semesters of their freshman year.

MATH

Effective Fall 2005, the prerequisites for MATH 110 College Algebra and MATH 101 Liberal Arts Mathematics are the following:

1. ACT Math and Science total of at least 40 with neither score below 18. These are available on Screen 18 of the 02 (Student Information).
2. Credit with a final grade of at least a ‘C’ in MATH 010 Intermediate Algebra or equivalent.
3. A score of at least 15 on the FHSU mathematics placement exam.

If a student has neither #1, nor #2, then the student MUST complete the Placement Exam BEFORE you register the student for College Algebra. Students may take the placement exam from the MACS Dept on Monday-Friday (appointments encouraged), and on Saturday at the Admissions Office (appointments encouraged).

MODERN LANGUAGE
from the desk of Evelyn Toft, Chair, Department of Modern Languages.

BIG CHANGES IN BASIC FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES STARTING FALL, 2006.

CURRENTLY the basic 10 hour language sequence is covered in 3 classes: French I, German I, Spanish I (4 hours), French II, German II, Spanish II (3 hours), and French III, German III, Spanish III (3 hours).

STARTING IN FALL, 2006 the basic 10 hour foreign language sequence will be covered in two five-hour classes: French I, German I, Spanish I (5 hours) and French II, German II, Spanish II (5 hours).

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR STUDENTS?

• FOR B.A. STUDENTS: B.A. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT IN TWO SEMESTERS INSTEAD OF THREE.
• ALL OTHER STUDENTS: GENERAL EDUCATION CREDIT IN HUMANITIES IS AVAILABLE FOR FRENCH I, GERMAN I, SPANISH I FOR 5 HOURS.

HOW DOES A STUDENT COMPLETE THE 9 HOUR DISTRIBUTION IN HUMANITIES FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT IF HE/SHE DECIDES TO TAKE A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?

• TO COMPLETE THE 9 HOUR DISTRIBUTION IN HUMANITIES FOR GENERAL EDUCATION WITHOUT TAKING MORE THAN 9 CREDITS, a new one hour General Education class, IDS 333, “Exploration in the Humanities” will be available in Spring, 2007. By taking this one hour class, a student can combine the French I, German I, or Spanish I class with IDS 333 and a 3 hour General Education Humanities course to fulfill the 9 hour General Education requirement in the Humanities. More than one section of this course on campus and online, offered by departments across the university, is anticipated for Spring, 2007.

IF A STUDENT HAS ALREADY BEGUN THE BASIC LANGUAGE PROGRAM, WHAT DOES HE/SHE DO?

Students of French and German:

• It is very important that students currently enrolled in a basic language course NOT sit out a semester in the process of completing the 10 hours basic foreign language course sequence.
• Students currently enrolled in French II or German II must complete French III/German III in Fall, 2006. Failure to do so will mean that the student will have to take the 5 hour French II/ German II.
• French II (3 hours) and German II (3 hours) are being offered this semester and will not be offered again. French III and German III will be offered for the last time in Fall, 2006.

If you have questions about the French program, contact Dr. Jean Salien. If you have questions about the German program, contact Dr. Amy Young. Questions can also be directed to the chair, Dr. Evelyn Toft.

Students of Spanish:

• It is very important that students currently enrolled in a basic language course NOT sit out a semester in the process of completing the 10 hours basic foreign language course sequence. Failure to do so will mean that the student will have to take one or both of the 5 hour courses.
• Students currently enrolled in Spanish I must complete Spanish II in Summer, 2006 or Fall, 2006.
• Students currently enrolled in Spanish II must complete Spanish III in Summer, 2006 or Fall 2006.
• Students who enroll in Spanish II in Fall, 2006 must complete Spanish III in Spring 2007. Failure to do so will mean that the student will have to take the five hour Spanish II.
• Spanish I (4 hours) will be offered online only for one last time in Summer, 2006.
• Spanish II (3 hours) will be offered for the last time both online and on campus in Fall, 2006.
• Spanish III (3 hours) will be offered both online and on campus for the last time in Spring, 2007.
• Spanish II (3 hours) and III (3 hours) will be offered on campus in Summer, 2006.
  Spanish I (4 hours), II (3 hours), III (3 hours) will be offered online in Summer, 2006.
• Spanish II (3 hours) and Spanish III (3 hours) will be offered in Fall, 2006.
• The online Spanish courses use a different textbook than the on campus courses. Students are strongly recommended not to switch from the online courses to the on campus courses or vice versa. Because the course content and focus also differ, students may experience difficulties if they do decide to switch.

For questions about the online Spanish program, contact Dr. Paul Siegrist. Consult with any member of the Spanish faculty with questions about the on campus Spanish program: Dr. Conchita Espino-Bravo, Dr. Paul Siegrist, Dr. Evelyn Toft, or Mr. Keith Woodall.

Prospective Student Visits
from the desk of Tricia Cline, Director of Admissions

Over 80% of prospective students rate academic visits as being one of the main reasons for choosing Fort Hays State University. The Office of Admissions would like to thank all of the faculty who take time out of their busy day to meet with prospective students—all your hard work is greatly appreciated!!!

We realize that all prospective students are different and challenging in their own way, but there are a few factors that we find helpful to remember when visiting with students. The Admissions Office believes that it is important for faculty to know what type of student they are visiting with to make sure they are on the same level. It is true that not all students want the same information--for instance, transfer students usually want the straight forward facts, while incoming freshman like a few more “bells and whistles” with their information. FHSU also has some of the best facilities around, so when time allows, it’s nice for students to be able to get a tour of the academic environment they would be working in. Like most of you know, prospective students like to see other students like themselves, so it’s great to see projects and classes in session.

If any faculty or staff have questions or comments about prospective student visits, please feel free to call the Office of Admissions with any suggestions.

Common questions prospective students want answered:

What type of jobs are available with this degree? Where are some alumni working now? What classes do I take? Do you require or offer internship opportunities? How much money will I make? What are some of the clubs or organizations that your department offers students?

Qualified Admission

We are rapidly approaching Tiger Registration for new freshmen and transfer students. Please review the admissions requirements to Fort Hays State University and mark the registration dates on your calendar.

Tiger Tracks
from the desk of Dr. Joey Linn, Registrar

This is just a reminder that FHSU will no longer print paper class schedules. The Summer 2006 and Fall 2006 semesters will be the first semesters without the paper publication. Advisors will need to search for classes via the FHSU Tiger Tracks portal. If you haven't checked it out yet, the Tiger Tracks portal is on the FHSU home page. The steps to get to the class schedule for summer and fall 2006 are as follows:

1. Click on the Tiger Tracks link on the FHSU home page

2. Once you click on the Tiger Tracks link, it will take you to the actual Tiger Tracks site. In the upper left hand corner, there are three buttons - one called "main", one called "class search" and one called "help".

3. Click on the class search button. This will take you directly to the new class schedule page with more advanced search capabilities than the previous SWS site. I hope you all find this new search functionality as a big help when searching for classes for your advisees.

If you have any particular questions or have problems with this new class schedule search, please contact me in the Registrar's Office and I will help.