WHAT IF A STUDENT HAS NOT DECIDED ON A MAJOR?
Deciding what to major in and, in effect, what to be when you leave the university is often one of the most difficult decisions a college student faces. What makes this decision even more difficult are the barriers that students encounter along the way. Every roadblock opens up an alternate route, and Academic Advising and Career Exploration (AACE) advisors are experienced map makers. Utilizing the AACE resources helps students take the first step toward reaching their academic goals.

Most students will make satisfactory progress toward a degree and choose a major by the end of their sophomore year (60 credit hours). Student who decide on a major by this time will usually graduate within 4 years. However, some majors at the University which are lengthy and very structured should be diced on as early as possible. These are sometimes called "professional" majors because they train a student for specific occupational fields. If students wait to decide on one of these majors, they may extend the time it takes them to complete their bachelors degree.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE?
The time necessary to complete a degree depends on the degree chosen, the number of courses and credit hours taken by the student each semester, the student's academic performance, and the extent of additional obligations assumed, such as employment or extensive extra-curricular activities. Some students complete their degrees in four years, but many take an additional semester or year to finish. While it is possible to complete any degree within a four-year period, it is not always possible for all students to complete a degree in that period of time. Circumstances and academic talents vary.

WHAT ABOUT CLASS SIZE?
The format of the class will depend on the nature of the subject matter and the method of presentation selected by the professor. As a freshman, your student will probably have a mixture of classes in terms of size and format. Many courses in the general education program enroll fewer than 50 students per section and writing and speech courses are limited to fewer than 25 students. Large lecture courses usually provide the opportunity for discussion in small groups as well. Similarly, most beginning science courses are taught in a combination of lecture and laboratory with the lecture begin around 50 and the laboratory around 15-20.

IS CLASS ATTENDANCE MANDATORY?
Class attendance depends on the policy of the instructor for each class. Class attendance is strongly recommended, and students cannot expect to do well without going to class. The freshman year brings many new responsibilities to students, and disciplining themselves to go to class is one of their biggest challenges since they often have large blocks of "free" time for the first time in their lives. Attendance at class is one of the ways in which a student demonstrates his/her maturity and willingness to assume responsibility.

HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD BE DEVOTED TO STUDY?
Most students learn quickly that college courses require considerably more study time than was required in high school. We usually suggest that the average student needs to study approximately two hours outside of class for every hour in class. If a student is carrying 15 credit hours, for example, he/she should spend 30 hours a week studying, for a total of 45 hours a week (15 credit hours + 30 hours study = 45 hours a week). As you can see, college is a full-time job. Spending an insufficient amount of time in studying outside of class is probably the major reason for lack of academic success in college.


HOW MANY CREDIT HOURS DOES THE AVERAGE STUDENT TAKE IN A SEMESTER?
The average number of hours typical freshmen take during their first semester is 12 to 15. Unless the new freshman is a very strong student, we usually suggest that 15 to 16 credit hours are about right. Students have a great deal to adjust to in their first semester at the University, and while taking too few credits can leave them with large blocks of free time and the sense that studying can always be done "later", trying to do too much can be overwhelming. The trick is to find the right balance for each student.

The number of hours a student should take depends on individual circumstances. Important considerations are the strength of the student's high school preparation, general academic ability, plans for working (and whether employment will be on campus or off), extra-curricular involvement, and any other obligations. Students are not required to take a minimum number of credits or courses, but to be classified as full-time; they must be enrolled in at least 12 hours. Full-time enrollment is required for a variety of reasons - to live-in a residence halls, to qualify for financial aid, scholarships, and health insurance.

CAN STUDENTS CHANGE CLASSES?
At some point students may find it necessary to add or drop a course. Plans change, work schedules or extra-curricular activities suddenly alter. Sometimes students learn late of a particularly interesting course or decide that one for which they are registered is not what they thought.

Students should pay close attention to the dates and conditions for adding or dropping as specified in the Class Schedule Book. If they have any questions related to dropping a class they should stop by the Registrars Office. Throughout the semester, advisors are available on a walk-in basis to answer "quick questions" or students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their advisor. While we generally encourage students to see their faculty advisor in their intended major, for questions relating to procedures and deadlines, please visit the Registrars office in Sheridan Hall room 106.

WHAT IF A STUDENT HAS TROUBLE WITH A CLASS?
College courses are meant to be challenging, presenting new ideas or theories, which are perhaps difficult or contradict what students previously thought. When students have trouble with a class, we recommend that they first see the course instructor. All faculty members have office hours, which students can make use of, or sometimes a brief meeting before or after class meets the student's need.

In a large class students may not know the instructor or feel that the instructor doesn't know who they are. They may be afraid the instructor will think they are seeking favors, or be embarrassed because they fear appearing stupid for not understanding the course material. While such fears are natural, they often stand in the way of students receiving help from the one who is most concerned about their success and eager to help. Most faculty members at FHSU want to talk with students and welcome the opportunity to help someone do well in their classes. All professors maintain regular office hours, but students need to take the initiative to use them.

WHAT SHOULD A STUDENT DO IF IT IS NECESSARY TO MISS CLASS DUE TO AN ILLNESS/EMERGENCY?
If students miss more than a day or two of class because of illness or a family emergency, they should call the Student Affairs Office. When Student Affairs is notified by the student or receive some official documentation from the student, the office notifies the faculty of the reasons for the student's absence. Keep in mind that this is a notification only; it does not excuse the student from class. When students return, they need to contact instructors as soon as possible to discuss the work they missed and make arrangements for making it up. Any other reasons besides illness/emergency, the student needs to contact each instructor directly. The Office of Student Affairs will not notify instructors of a student's absence due to sleeping in, car problems, weather related, or any other similar reasons.