• Do professors take attendance?
• How much time should I spend studying?
• Where can I study on campus if I don’t want to study in my room?
• Which library can I use?
• What if I need help in a class?
• What do I do to change my schedule?
• What if I want to change my major?
• Will my parents get my grades?
• Will I get the same grades I did in high school?

 

Do professors take attendance?

Individual professors have different policies. It is to your benefit to attend class even if the professor does not take roll call. Class absences due to serious illness, accident, or other unique situations beyond your control should be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students, which sends out a list of student absences to professors. Although documentation of the situation must be provided to the Office of the Dean of Students, the list does not explain the nature of the absence, so it is recommended that you also contact your professor(s). For information on the Office of the Dean of Students, see pg. 27.

 

How much time should I spend studying?

A general guideline is about two hours of study time for every hour you spend in class. You’ll spend more time for some classes and less for others. Good study habits and reading skills will be necessary if you plan to continue earning As and Bs.

 

Where can I study on campus if I don’t want to study in my room?

All Purdue libraries have space for studying. A 24-hour study lounge is located at the Hicks Undergraduate Library. Students also study in lounge areas of the Purdue Memorial Union and Stewart Center as well as in empty classrooms. Some academic departments also have study lounges. For more information on Purdue University Libraries see pg. 22 and for information on the Purdue Memorial Union see pg. 30.

 

Which library can I use?

All libraries in the Purdue University Libraries (PUL) system are open to students. The Libraries Web site (www.lib.purdue.edu) provides information about library locations, resources, and services, including the local catalog, indexes, full-text resources, tutorials, and more. You will probably use the Hicks Undergraduate Library for much of your work during your first two years, and will likely also use one or more of the 11 subject-oriented libraries during your college career. Resources for the Black Cultural Center Library are also found through the PUL Web site. (See pg. 22 for a complete listing of Purdue’s libraries.)

 

What if I need help in a class?

First, talk with your instructor. Professors and teaching assistants (TAs) have posted office hours during which students can come and talk with them. Lists of tutors are available through the Office of the Dean of Students and from Resident Assistants in University Residences. Some instructors hold periodic help sessions. You can also take advantage of facilities such as the Writing Lab (Heavilon Hall 226) and the Chemistry Resource Center (Wetherill 117C). Additionally you can get general academic assistance from the Academic Success Center (see pg. 24).

 

What do I do to change my schedule?

See your academic advisor immediately. If your advisor is not available, talk with another advisor in your academic area. There are deadlines for making schedule changes, and many are in the first or second week of classes.

 

What if I want to change my major?

If you are unsure about your major, career counseling is available in the Center for Career Opportunities (CCO, see pg. 26). If you know what major you would like, you will want to obtain an official copy of your transcript and talk with a counselor in the college or school you would like to transfer to. Some areas set grade and course requirements for students who transfer. Staff in the school into which you want to transfer will review your record and decide whether you meet the requirements. Your academic advisor will help you with the Change of Degree Objective (CODO) procedure. CODO forms are available in the Office of the Registrar (see pg. 17) or on Student Services INFormation Online (SSINFO) at www.ssinfo.purdue.edu.

 

Will my parents get my grades?

At the end of each academic semester all West Lafayette campus students will receive an e-mail to their Webmail accounts from the Office of the Registrar. This e-mail will direct students to SSINFO to view their grades online. It will be up to you to share your grades with your parents.

 

Will I get the same grades I did in high school?

Some classes may be easier than those you had in high school, but most will be more

difficult; they will be faster paced and will require more studying, reading, and problem-

solving. Many students experience a slight drop in grades while adjusting to a new, more independent learning style.