As West Virginia University prepares to welcome new students in the fall, the advisers in the Undergraduate Academic Services Center (UASC) are already assisting those students in developing their academic career path.

June marks a period of new student orientation sessions at WVU and as thousands of freshman and transfer students participate in those sessions, the advisers from UASC will be on hand to help them select a major, develop class schedules for the fall and plan their time table for graduation.

Our staff will meet with each of the new students and help them create their schedule based on their interests and the requirements of their declared major,said Anita Mayer, director of UASC .Then we will hold mandatory Freshman Advising Workshops early in the fall and spring semesters to teach them how to take control of their academic career decisions.

Topics covered during the two-hour workshop include choosing a major, utilizing WVU s online system to look up and register for classes and identifying courses the students need for their major. The workshop will provide much of the information students need to know to develop schedules on their own, however, Mayer recommends that new students continue regular meetings with their adviser.

Academic advising is the hub of a wheel and we equate our services to those of teaching,said Mayer.We guide our students through each process and provide a life line of information about academic decisions, University services and student life resources for dealing with issues they may encounter.

The adjustment period for new students means its especially important for them to speak with their adviser on a regular basis. Being away from home, handling their new-found independence and transitioning from high school can compound academic challenges for new college students.

The number one mistake we see with new students is their belief that they only need to study a few hours each weeklike they did in high school,said Mayer.In fact, we encourage students to look at college as a full time job, and to expect 30-45 hours per week for out-of-class study time.

Mayer recommends developing disciplined study habits during the first semester. For many students, that can start with thinking about when and where they study.

Many new students will travel to the downtown campus for a morning class, but return to Evansdale as soon as it is over. The distractions in the dorms can prevent them from putting in the study time needed to perform well in class,she said.We recommend they stay downtown for the entire day and spend the time between classes in the library studying. If students treat each day as an 8 to 5 work day, theyll develop better study habits and see the payoff in their grades.

As each semester progresses, the focus for the staff at USAC changes from developing course schedules to helping students in other areas, such as changing their major or dealing with mid-term reports.

The University sends mid-term reports to students earning a grade ofDorFin any class at the mid-way point of each semester. The UASC then alerts freshmen who receive two or more mid-term reports to address the situation immediately.

Students need to realize that mid-term reports are a red flag to meet with their adviser,said Buffy Vehse, assistant director at USAC .At mid-term, it is not too late to take corrective action in study behaviors, obtain a tutor or talk with their professor about the situation in order to turn it around.

Vehse indicated that mid-term reports typically result from two major issuesstudents that need to make adjustments in their study behavior or students that may be dealing with a personal issue. In both instances, an academic adviser can provide information and resources to help the student make changes and improve their grades.

The key to academic success is to see your adviser on a regular basis,said Mayer.The services we provide go far beyond just scheduling classes and for new college students the extra support can be invaluable in helping them make a huge transition.

For more information on the USAC and related services call 304-293-5805 or visit online:http://www.wvu.edu/~advising/index.htm