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Responsibilities of a Junior

Congratulations! You are a Junior…now what?

As you approach your junior year, you will want to keep in mind that you are getting closer to graduation, so you should make sure your degree plans are in order.

You are encouraged to meet and discuss your remaining program requirements with your academic advisor. The Undergraduate Advising Center can also assist you, as it serves as an additional advising resource, particularly in relation to the graduation review process.

Once you have earned 48 credits, you become part of the graduation review process. The Academic Advising Center’s role is to assist you and your academic advisor in:

• reviewing remaining degree requirements;
• calculating major, discipline, and minor GPA averages;
• processing pertinent paperwork;
• course planning for their remaining semesters; and
• serving as a referral for available resources to help you achieve their goals.

Steps to follow:

1. You should set up a meeting with your academic advisor to review your outstanding course requirements, grade point average requirements, and to set up a plan for completing your degree.
2. If you and/or your advisor feel you would like to confirm with the Undergraduate Advising Center your remaining coursework, grade point averages and plan, you should stop by Mary Lyon 034 or call 535-3065 to set up an appointment with either Beth Wichland or Deb Tobine.
3. File any outstanding paperwork, such as Change or Declaration of Major, Option or Minor forms; and any necessary Student Requests requesting substitutions in coursework.
4. Once a plan has been established, you should file your Undergraduate Degree Request. This form asks for your name, telephone number, date of completion, your major, option and minor information, as well as how you would like your name to appear on your diploma and to where it should be sent. You must file your Undergraduate Degree Request by October 1 if you will be completing your degree in May or Summer; or March 1 if you will be completing your degree in December. However you may file it any time prior to this date, so the sooner the better.
5. Monitor your course grades. If you are experiencing difficulty in achieving the required major, discipline and/or cumulative grade point averages, it is critical that these be evaluated at the end of each semester. Doing so will help keep you on track toward achieving the requirements for graduation. Remember…earning grades below C lessen the chance that you will achieve the minimum 2.0 GPA requirements. Some majors have higher GPA requirements, so monitoring your grades is essential.
6. Stick to your plan. Admittedly, there are times when you may need to enroll in one course for another in a given semester, but it is best to stay within the completion plan of coursework and credit loads you have established, whenever possible.
7. Enjoy your remaining semesters. College is a wonderful experience, but it does go by quickly. Make a commitment to your educational experience, and value the time you spend here.