Section 4: Special Instructions for Entering Students and Approaches to Majors

The Colorado College Advising Handbook, Section 4:

Special Instructions for Entering Students and Approaches to Majors

Advising Transfer and Non-traditional Students

Transfer student admission occurs in the Fall and Spring. The College admits anywhere from 10-40 transfer students per academic year. A transfer applicant must file an application and present official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. The Registrar evaluates the student's transcripts and awards transfer credit. Courses which meet Colorado College all-college requirements are also noted. 

Transfer students are usually assigned an adviser in the department of the intended major. Advisors should identify courses which meet prerequisites for advanced courses in the major. If a student does not have some of the prerequisites for advanced work in the major, the first order of business is to have the student sign up for said courses during the first semester at the College. Review the all-college requirements with the student and ask them to sign up for courses which meet the requirement. In addition, you should review the courses a student has completed for the major as well as the courses which the student still need to complete. Ask the student to try and plan their schedule over the two to three years they will be at the College. 

Questions to remember: Are there courses which have transferred which meet requirements in the major? Be prepared to discuss these courses with the Department to seek their approval. Should other courses which have transferred meet an all-college requirement? Call the Registrar to make an inquiry or assist the student with a petition to the Dean's Advisory Committee. The key is get the student involved in fulfilling requirements in and out of the major.

Advising Minority Students

Office of Minority Student Life. (Second floor of the Worner Center) The Minority Student Life office in Worner Center serves all students and campus community members by promoting multi-cultural programs. The director advises ethnic groups on campus, assists other individuals and groups who seek to offer multi-cultural programs, and provides personal support to ethnic minority students. 

The Dean of Students (X 6684) and the Assistant Dean of the College (X 6687) are also available to discuss advising issues related to minority students at the College.

Advising International Students

One of the most important consideration in advising new international students is their proper placement in courses which depend on their command of spoken and written English. A student's proficiency is measured by their score on the T.O.F.E.L Exam. Recommend the use of the Writing Center and suggest the Practice in Writing adjunct course to students who need help with their writing. 

Most international students are accustomed to a system of higher education that emphasizes specialization. An advisor must be very persuasive in convincing the student not to rush into courses in their indicated major. We want them to adjust to a new calendar and new learning environment prior to starting their courses in the major. 

Most international students have a strong background in Math and the Natural Sciences. However, many often have problems with the language used in the classroom and are often not used to asking questions or participating in seminar style classes. Advisors and Instructors need to be aware of these differences. One method which supports international students is to encourage a fellow student in class to help them overcome these classroom adjustment issues. Simply answering questions and explaining classroom expectations can be of great assistance. 

Courses with heavy reading loads in unfamiliar subjects are difficult for some students because they cannot effectively sort out details from major ideas. They may tend to concentrate too much on the details (who, when, and where) and miss the larger issues. In addition, a students' lack of familiarity with the subject or with western perspectives in a course create a disadvantage and might require some additional reading or tutoring (e.g., American Government or U.S. History). 

An advisor should check on a student's progress in and reaction to his/her courses. International students are occasionally offended by or disagree with the views and perspectives presented in their classes. They may come to their advisors to express their frustrations. Listen carefully and help them formulate questions to ask in class. Encourage participation. 

The Honor Code and Plagiarism as it is understood at Colorado College may be unfamiliar concepts for some international students. For those who were educated in systems that stress rote memorization, it is particularly important to explain the need for citing sources and distinguishing between original ideas and paraphrased or acquired ideas. Review the Honor Code with your advisees. 

Some international students are limited in their choice of majors due to government contracts or restrictions for the release of foreign currency to students. 

One year exchange students should be aware that it is their responsibility to collect the necessary syllabi and letters of support from professors needed to transfer credits to their home university. Before leaving Colorado College they should have a current catalog in their possession and request a copy of their transcript to carry home with them.

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Off-Campus Study

Before students may participate in off-campus study and activities sponsored by Colorado College, they are required to file a general release signed by the students and their parents. If students leave the country or are absent from campus on such studies or activities for a block or longer, specific permission (leave of absence) and an additional release will be requested.

A leave of absence through the Registrar's Office is required for students who participate in programs abroad which are not sponsored by Colorado College. Plans for such individually arranged study abroad must be approved in advance by the International Programs Committee. 

The College reserves the right to limit the number of students enrolled in any off-campus program and to limit the number of off-campus units which may be taken for credit. Credits earned will not be transferred automatically; they will be subject to a careful evaluation by the appropriate departments or the International Programs Committee and the Registrar.

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Advising students about study abroad

The Office of International Programs (OIP): The Office of International Programs serves two student groups: International students and students planning to study abroad. 

All Department of Immigration issues and paperwork (including I-20s) are handled out of the OIP for foreign students with F-1 stamps in their passports. (J-1 students and visiting scholars should see the office of the Dean of the College.) Upon arrival at the college, foreign students receive support through an orientation week of activities and a "host family" program, individualized attention to student needs throughout the year and liaison support on their behalf to all aspects of the college community. Cross-cultural events organized by student groups are encouraged and co-sponsored by the OIP. 

The Office of International Programs also assists students researching study abroad options. The study abroad resource library provides students with materials about "non-affiliated" programs around the world plus general information about programs sponsored by Colorado College and The Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), of which Colorado College is a member. Plans for all "non-affiliated" programs must be approved by the Committee on International Programs through the OIP, which with the Registrar's Office evaluates the transfer of credit from such programs. 

Interested study abroad students are encouraged to attend the twice-annual "Study Abroad Fair" and begin thinking about their options at least twelve months in advance. 

Colorado College Affiliated Programs:

Planning For Study Abroad: Colorado College offers a broad selection of programs through it's language departments, summer study and the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM). Please refer your advisee to the appropriate advisor listed here for guidance and the application process. Colorado College program materials are available in the Office of International Programs.

Advantages of these programs:

• Credit and grades automatically transfer upon completion of program.
• Colorado College Financial Aid applies.
• Colorado College advisors available for each program.
• Most are primarily staffed by ACM member faculty or Colorado College Professors.

Disadvantages of these programs:

• Costs can run higher than attending classes at Colorado College or other outside programs.

For more information about student opportunities for study abroad, contact the Office of International Programs.

Summer Study Abroad: See Summer Session Office for details.

Application Procedure

• Students should discuss their plans with you and the Program Advisor (see listings above.)
• A student should obtain all application paperwork from the Program Advisor. The application should be completed and returned to the Program Advisor. After acceptance, a student must send in the deposit and program fee. (ACM programs)
• A student should complete the Colorado College Off-Campus Semester Form in the Registrar's Office before November 1 (for Spring study) or March 1 (for Fall study).

Please note: If a student is planning to study abroad on a program NOT affiliated with The Colorado College, he or she should visit the Office of International Programs for information and application approval. Deadlines are March 1 and November 1 for non-affiliated application approval.

The College reserves the right to limit the number of students admitted to foreign programs and the total number of credits awarded to off-campus study.

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End Notes (for entire Handbook)

• Dean Brenda Tooley would like to thank Victor Nelson-Cisneros and Richard Storey for their strong commitment to the on-line Advisors Handbook project. She would like to thank reviewers and contributors to the third, on-line edition -- Matthew Birnbaum, Susanne Felber, Sarah Kawano among them.
• Dean Victor Nelson-Cisneros would like to acknowledge the encouragement and commitment of David Finley to this project. He thanks Tim Fuller for his support and the contribution of the Preface in the first edition, and Richard Storey for his support and for revisions to the Preface in the second edition. He would also like to thank the faculty who reviewed an early draft of the handbook and forwarded their comments and suggestions. These include Keith Kester, Judith Laux, Thomas Cronin, Marcia Dobson, Cathy Weir, and Mario Montaño. He would also like to acknowledge the support and suggestions of administrators who helped him clarify some points as well as provide accurate information; he is in their debt. They include Mike Edmonds, Margaret Van Horn, Phillip Apodaca, Rick Roberts, and Tiggy Shields.
• Calhoon, John, Doug Casson, Tina Eyre, David Carlson and Orlando Martinez. Colorado College Campus Association Faculty Advising Review Project. Colorado Springs: CCCA, November 18, 1991.2.2
• Adapted from "Strategies of Advisement," Houston Baptist University, as found in Crockett, David S., ed. Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 765-766.
• Adapted from "Referral Skills," as found in Crockett, D.S. (Ed.). Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 759-760.
• Adapted from "Thirty Reminders for Effective Advising," as found in Crockett, D.S. (Ed.). Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 737-738.
• Adapted from "Skills, Knowledge, and Attitudes Required for Developmental Advising," in O'Banion, Terry. "An Academic Advising Model," AAJC Journal, March, 1972 as found in Crockett, D.S. (Ed.).Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources. Iowa City, Iowa: The American College Testing Program, 1986. pp. 131-132.

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