University College
Administrative Officers of the College
Doug Gaffin, Ph.D., Dean
Myrna Carney, Ph.D., Assistant Dean and Director of Instructional Research
Alice Lanning, Ph.D., Director of Freshman Programs
Lisa Portwood, Ph.D., Director, Center for Student Advancement
Diane Mayes, M.A., Director of Academic Advising
Jane Sarber, M.A., Director, Assessment and Learning Center
Jay Corwin, M.Ed., Associate Director, Center for Student Advancement
Debbra Turner, Manager of Academic Advising Services
Mission of the College
Founded in 1942, University College was one of the first academic units
in the United States to focus on meeting the special needs of new students
University College is the entry point for all new undergraduate students
who come to the University of Oklahoma directly from high school, as well
as many transfer students. It is also the academic home of all pre-health
professions majors and many students who have not yet decided on an academic
major. The Assessment and Learning Center, located on the second floor
of Carnegie Building, is a part of University College and contributes to
its mission.
The primary mission of University College is to assist new students in
making a successful transition to the University and building a solid foundation
for further academic success. The staff of the College provide academic
advising, assessment, career counseling, orientation, and other services
designed to familiarize students with the university and its programs and
to foster academic success. The services of the college are available to
all students of the university, and the staff of the college provides information
and assistance to all who seek it.
Academic Advising
Diane Mayes, Director
Teri Bertrand-Frazier, Academic Counselor
Sandra Brown, Senior Academic Counselor
Laura Cullen, Senior Academic Counselor
Connie Divine, Senior Academic Counselor
Tim Jones, Academic Counselor
April Maddry, Academic Counselor
Scott Mahaney, Academic Counselor
Brian Nossaman, Senior Academic Counselor
Janel Russell-Pendergraft, Senior Academic Counselor
Academic advising is the primary function of University College. Professional
academic counselors are available throughout the year to help students
decide on majors, select appropriate courses, and become acquainted with
university policies and resources. Our goal is to provide students with
the support they need to succeed at the University of Oklahoma.
While enrolled in University College, students will typically take courses
common to all degree programs at the university. These include two courses
in English composition, three hours in American history, and three hours
in United States government (political science). Students will also enroll
in courses required for general education, courses required for the major,
or courses designed to explore various fields of interest. Students may
also take courses to supplement their high school background or to help
them be successful in college.
Students whose American College Test (ACT) scores indicate high aptitude
for college work have many opportunities to tailor their programs to their
particular abilities. If they have taken high school courses that are equivalent
to college work, they may be encouraged to omit certain freshman courses
and move into more advanced courses. If they need college credit for the
courses omitted, they may take advanced standing examinations to earn that
credit. Students should take such action only after discussion of their
individual needs and objectives with an academic counselor. Qualified students
are also encouraged to apply to the Honors College.
Entry Into a Degree-Recommending College
A student may be admitted into one of the degree-recommending colleges
on the Norman campus if he or she has declared a major, and completed 24
or more credit hours of college-level work with a combined retention grade
point average required for graduation from that college. Admission to the
degree-recommending colleges at the OU Health Sciences Center requires
a separate application process and is governed by requirements unique to
each college or program.
Career Development Services and Advising for Undecided Students
Many students in University College have not yet chosen an academic major,
and at least half of the students who have declared a major will change
their minds during their first year. University College offers students
the unique opportunity to take a semester or more to explore different
career options and academic majors. Rather than being forced to make a
premature decision, students are encouraged to evaluate options by enrolling
in exploratory classes, participating in inventories designed to assess
abilities and interests, and interacting with academic counselors who are
experienced in working with undecided students.
e-DISCOVER and e-SIGI PLUS are computer-based systems designed to aid
students with the process of making a decision about a career and are available
to all OU students through University College and the Assessment and Learning
Center. These programs allow students to explore careers and the relationship
between choosing a career and choosing an academic major. Both web-based
programs are accessible 24 hours a day, every day, online. The college’s
academic counselors can meet with students and, using results from either
program and other career information, help students narrow their decisions
about careers and majors.
Additional help with career development is available to students from the
career information library housed in the Assessment and Learning Center.
Pre-Health Professions Advising
University College advises students seeking to enter professional health
fields such as communication sciences and disorders, dental hygiene, nursing,
nutritional sciences, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy,
physician’s associate, and radiologic technology. The assistance of an
academic counselor is especially important to the pre-health profession
student who wants to complete his/her admission requirements while maintaining
a competitive grade point average for admission to the University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center.
CARE Program
The Counseling and Assistance for Retention Effectiveness (CARE) program
is an intensive advising program for students with potential academic problems.
The program is designed to help students learn about and take advantage
of the academic support systems available at OU. Students are identified
on the basis of various factors that predict success in college, including
high school grades, ACT scores, poor class attendance and mid-term grade
reports. Each CARE student works out a contract with his/her assigned academic
counselor.
Making the Transition to College: Two Courses for Freshmen
Making the transition from high school to college is always challenging
and sometimes difficult. Freshman students must adjust to new intellectual
standards, find new social relationships, and make appropriate decisions
about significant events, often for the first time in their lives. Perhaps
the biggest challenge of all is finding the necessary support to help understand
and respond to these changes.
To provide this kind of support the University of Oklahoma created two
separate multi-section courses with enrollment limited to 28 freshmen per
section.
The first course, “Gateway to College Learning,” takes a direct approach
in the study of three areas: success in academic life, success in personal
life, and success in accessing resources at the University. The course
covers such topics as time management, study skills, building community
with people of diverse backgrounds, and maintaining physical and mental
well-being.
The second course is a series of “Freshman Seminars.” Students study a
specific topic with a professor who has a particular interest and special
research skills in that area. The intent is that the professor will share
enthusiasm about the research subject with the students, exciting them
about the learning process through a unique topical approach.
President's Distinguished Faculty Mentoring Program
In the President's Distinguished Faculty Mentoring Program students and
experienced faculty mentors are matched to help create nurturing and personal
relationships, thus easing the transition from high school to college.
This program provides the opportunity for a student to build a connection
with faculty and gain valuable life experience. It is a chance to become
acquainted with someone who is personally interested in the student's success
and who can guide a student through the complexities of university life.
The minimum expectation of the mentoring program is that the student will
meet with the mentor twice during the fall semester, once in a group setting,
then individually. To participate, a student will enroll in UNIV 1210.
This is a zero-credit course, which costs nothing. A student who participates
throughout the semester will receive a "S".
PACE Awards
Each spring University College recognizes freshman students in the top
1% of their entering class based on Participation in campus activities
and events, Academic achievement (3.25 minimum fall OUGPA), Community Service
completed during the fall term, and Excellence in Leadership. Eligible
freshmen may be nominated by a faculty or staff member, or students my
self-nominate. PACE awards are presented at a special University College
ceremony during Mom's Weekend in April. PACE winners are also recognized
at the all-campus awards event that same weekend.
Alpha Lambda Delta, National Freshman Honor Society
The national freshman honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta, is sponsored by
University College. Students must have completed a minimum of 12 letter-graded
semester hours during the fall term with no less than a 3.5 OU GPA and
no grades of I, N, D, F, or U. A one-time payment of national and local
dues provides lifetime membership and opportunities for both national and
local scholarships. Letters of invitation to qualified freshmen are mailed
in February and Alpha Lambda Delta initiation is held during Mom's Weekend
in April. Parents are invited to attend the ceremony.
Center for Student Advancement
The Center for Student Advancement (CSA) is committed to enhancing the
educational experience of students at the University of Oklahoma by providing
programs and services that promote retention and academic success. CSA
strives to help OU students navigate the process of changing majors/colleges
after experiencing academic challenges, help OU students develop an action
plan to stay on track to accomplish their educational goals and help OU
students complete their degrees.
Summer Advance Enrollment/ Orientation Program
Beginning in mid-May and continuing for most of the summer, University
College provides an enrollment and orientation program for new OU students.
Students and their parents spend a day on campus in small groups, accompanied
by university guides who are current OU students. Activities include learning
about OU, taking assessment tests to ensure proper placement in classes,
meeting with an academic counselor to discuss majors and select courses,
sessions specifically for parents, visiting other campus services and resources,
and enrolling in fall classes. Students leave the campus feeling comfortable
about OU, with an appropriate schedule, and a sense of what they can look
forward to in the fall.
Entry-Level Assessment
The Assessment and Learning Center provides assessment and testing services
for new and transfer students to give them the best possible chance of
success in attaining their academic goals.
All new students at the University of Oklahoma will be assessed in three
areas: reading, English and mathematics. The American College Test (ACT)
or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) will be used as the preliminary screening
instrument. Students scoring at certain levels may be placed in developmental
coursework or further evaluated with a computerized placement examination
and/or a writing sample. These tests are used to provide academic counselors
with information on students’ current skill levels. If the test results
indicate a need for improvement in any of these areas, an academic counselor
can help students select courses designed to develop or enhance skills.
Student Success Series
Free, non-credit seminars are offered by the Assessment and Learning Center
to help students learn college survival skills. Topic areas ranging from
time management to career decision-making are covered each semester to
help students successfully make the transition from high school to university
life.
University College Enrollment Policies
ALL-UNIVERSITY ENGLISH REQUIREMENT
All University of Oklahoma students must complete a university writing
requirement, consisting of six hours of English Composition (English 1113
and 1213). Any student who has not fulfilled the requirement is encouraged
to enroll in English.
PASS/NO PASS OPTION
Freshman students in University College may not enroll in courses on a
P/NP basis. Students in University College who are above freshman standing
may enroll in courses on a P/NP basis only if they have a declared major
and the approval of that major department.
FORTY-FIVE HOUR RULE
Students who have attempted 45 or more semester hours, based on grades
of A, B, C, D, F, I, P, NP, S and U, may enroll or continue to enroll in
University College only with a 2.00 or higher grade point average in their
last OU enrollment period or with a 2.00 or higher OU retention grade point
average.
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
Students suspended from University College are not eligible to take correspondence
courses at the University of Oklahoma.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
University College students on academic probation must be advised by an
academic counselor in University College before they may enroll for the
next semester.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
All colleges and universities establish certain requirements that must
be met in order to earn a degree. These include coursework in both general
education and specific major areas, as well as compliance with academic
standards and policies. Although academic counselors and departmental advisers
are available to help students plan their programs of study, the individual
student has a three-fold responsibility in this regard: (1) to know his/her
academic standing relative to published standards; (2) understand the published
degree requirements; and (3) to know and observe academic calendar deadlines,
as printed in the official Class Schedule.
