SOAR for Transfer Parents & Families

Few experiences in your academic career have as much potential for influencing your collegiate experience as academic advising.  Much more than getting your advising code and selecting courses, developing a professional relationship with your academic advisor will help you make informed choices and decisions about your education and career.  Academic advising for undergraduates at UNCG is coordinated within each of the University’s academic units.  You will be advised according to your selected academic major.  Advising centers are located in each of the 4 professional schools, the 3 Colleges, and within the Students First Office.

Incoming Transfer & Adult students will participate in Advising & Registration (ARA) by appointment, where they will meet with an academic advisor to get registered for the student’s first semester classes.

At UNCG, academic programs are organized under seven areas:

College of Arts and Sciences, Lloyd International Honors College, Bryan School of Business and Economics, School of Education, School of Health and Human Sciences, College of Visual & Performing Arts, and School of Nursing and, for Exploratory Students, the Students First Office will serve as your advising location.

Each academic department provides academic advising to meet the needs of its students.  Advising during the first year is much different from the SOAR advising experience.  Students are assigned to advisors or advising centers based on their majors during the first semester as advising models vary by department:

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center (CASA) advises all first-year majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. When CASA advisees have earned at least 30 credit hours, they are assigned to faculty advisors in their majors.

Lloyd International Honors College

Lloyd International Honors College (LIHC) advises incoming first-year students at SOAR and during a dedicated Honors College orientation prior to the start of classes in August for the Global Honors Program. After SOAR, LIHC has two full-time Academic Advisors available to help students complete the Global and Disciplinary Honors Program. Additionally, LIHC provides advising for major national and international scholarships and fellowships, such as the Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, and Goldwater.

Bryan School of Business and Economics

The Undergraduate Student Services Office coordinates advising for all business majors in the Bryan School. All programs in the Bryan School are advised by advisors in the Bryan Undergraduate Student Services Office.

First Year transitions courses: BUS 115 from BUS 105

School of Education

The School of Education’s Office of Student Success advises all students majoring in IDEAS (formerly professions in deafness), elementary, middle grades, special education, special education: dual majors, and information science majors during SOAR. Students who are education majors in specific content areas (such as English, biology, music, etc.) receive advising from that content area during SOAR.

After SOAR, each student will be assigned an SOE advisor or SOE faculty advisor based on their major. Students work with their advisor each semester to meet degree and licensure requirements, understand academic options and resources available to them, and make educational plans to meet their goals and interests.

School of Health and Human Sciences

A team of faculty members and professional advisors in the School of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) advise undergraduate students during SOAR. Once registered, students are then assigned to the faculty member, professional advisor, or advising center based on their major.

Secondary admission application procedures are required for the Departments of (1) Communication Sciences and Disorders, (2) Human Development and Family Studies, (3) Kinesiology, (4) Public Health Education, and (5) Social Work. In these respective departments, students are prevented from progressing in their advanced curricula until formal acceptance into the department occurs.

College of Visual & Performing Arts

All first year students in the College of Visual & Performing Arts are advised by the CVPA Student Success Team. Once students have finished their first semester and have earned at least 30 hours, they will be advised by faculty members in their area.

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing’s Office of Undergraduate Advising provides academic advising to all freshmen pre-nursing majors during the first year. In the second year, students are assigned a dedicated faculty advisor.

Admission to the upper division Bachelor of Science in Nursing major is by application only (near the end of the sophomore year). Students must maintain minimum academic requirements to progress in this particular major. Admission to the program is academically competitive and students are encouraged to understand the academic requirements to be competitive for admission to the program. For more information please visit http://nursing.uncg.edu/Undergraduate/advising/.

Exploratory (Undecided) Majors

The Students First Office provides academic advising for all Exploratory (Undecided) Majors until they have declared and been officially admitted to a major. In SFO, academic advising is an educational process in which you and your advisor partner together in meeting established learning outcomes, working toward your academic success, and outlining steps you will take in achieving your personal, educational, and career goals. Students meet with their SFO advisor two times each semester, once during the first 6-8 weeks of the term and then again during the traditional advising & registration period. For more information on academic advising for Exploratory Majors, visit the “Exploratory Majors” information page on the Students First website, or call (336) 334-5730.

Students First Office (SFO)

The Students First Office coordinates intervention processes across different academic and administrative units in order to determine the best possible success strategies for students facing academic, social, or financial setbacks. In collaboration with other support services across campus, the office serves as an Academic One-Stop-Shop for assisting students with academic advising, academic appeals, course overload requests, and graduation plan completion. In addition, SFO also serves as the centralized academic advising center for all Exploratory (Undecided) Majors at UNCG. For more information, visit the Students First website or call or call (336) 334-5730.

First-Year Transition Courses

These courses, designed to help ensure a successful transition to UNCG, expose new students to academic tools, campus resources, personal development, and opportunities for campus and community involvement. Research indicates that UNCG students who take these courses achieve higher GPAs and are generally more successful than students who do not take a first-year experience course. While some majors have a dedicated first-year course as part of their curriculum, some courses like FYE 101: Succeed at the G are open to all first-year students and also fulfill the MAC Foundations competency, as part of UNCG’s Minerva’s Academic Curriculum.

Academic Achievement Center

The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) offers four academic support programs for UNCG students: course-based tutoring, Academic Skills mentoring, Supplemental Instruction (SI), and Outreach Workshops on Learning Skills (OWLS).

• Tutoring is offered in many 100- and 200- level courses, on a weekly appointment and drop-in basis (depending on the course). Tutoring helps you address your questions and clarify points you’re confused about in the class.
• Academic Skills peer mentoring assists with goal setting and skill development around areas such as time management, studying, reading, note-taking, and other general study skills.
• Outreach Workshops on Learning Skills (OWLS) are offered in classes, student group meetings, and around campus to give you the chance to learn a new skill or strategy to approach your studies.

All of the academic support services through the AAC are included in the cost of your tuition! More information about the Academic Achievement Center programs can be found at go.uncg.edu/aac. The AAC can be reached at [email protected], or call (336) 334-3878.

Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS)

The Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) supports students with disabilities. Contact OARS if you have a condition that impacts a major life activity for which you may need accommodations. For more information, please visit http://oars.uncg.edu/, or visit OARS in person in Suite 215, Elliott University Center.

University Writing Center

The University Writing Center strives to enhance the confidence and competence of student writers by providing free, individual assistance at any stage of a writing project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, prepared to offer feedback and suggestions on drafts of papers, help students find answers to their questions about writing, and provide one-on-one instruction as needed. More information about the University Writing Center is available at http://writingcenter.uncg.edu/.

University Speaking Center

The University Speaking Center provides consultation support and instructional workshop services for UNCG students, faculty, employees, and members of the Greensboro community. Our support is designed to help speakers further develop their own oral communication confidence and competence. We provide peer-to-peer feedback, guidance, and other support in the areas of public speaking preparation and delivery, interpersonal communication, and group or team communication.

The Speaking Center is located along with the Writing Center in 3211 MHRA. We are on the third floor. MHRA is on the corner of Forest and Spring Garden – diagonally across the street from the Mossman Building. http://speakingcenter.uncg.edu/

Career & Professional Development

The Career & Professional Development provides individual and group support to all levels of students in their career development process. Whether it is career and self-exploration, identifying and participating in experiential learning opportunities, the graduate school decision-making and application process, developing and maintaining professional networks, or preparing for the professional employment process, the CPD can equip students with the information and tools needed to make well-informed career decisions. To learn more about the CPD and its services, go tocpd.uncg.edu

WHEN DOES A TRANSFER STUDENT NEED TO DECLARE A MAJOR?

Any transfer student entering UNCG with 60 or more earned hours must select a major prior to their first term, as University policy requires all students to declare a major by the time they have earned 60 credit hours.  Students are strongly encouraged to select a major by the time they have earned 45 credit hours to minimize delays to degree completion.  Additionally, there are several majors at UNCG that require a much earlier commitment to ensure timely degree completion, as described in the University Catalog.

New transfer students who have not yet selected a major will work with an academic advisor in the Students First Office until a major is declared.  In collaboration with their academic advisor, students will select courses that allow exploration of areas of interest while simultaneously satisfying UNCG’s general education requirements (known as MAC).  The Students First Office and Career & Professional Development can assist students with self, major, and career exploration to narrow their search and identify their best fit major.

SHOULD I REGISTER FOR A FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE COURSE?

We encourage all new students to take a first-year experience course such as FYE 101: Succeed at the G to maximize their success while transitioning to a new learning environment. These courses equip and empower new students to develop and achieve their academic and personal goals. Research indicates that UNCG students who take these courses achieve higher GPAs and are generally more successful than students who do not take a first-year experience course. You can register for one of these courses by emailing [email protected] today.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR TRANSFER SUCCESS?

We encourage students to:

• Follow YFY social media and visit the Your First Year website for tips and resources.  
• Attend all the Your First Year Success Series programs and use the YFY Success Planner.
• Create a balanced schedule with a variety of courses planned for every day of the week.
• If transferring with less than 24 hours, register for a first-year experience course such as FYE 101: Succeed at the G by emailing [email protected].
• Maintain balance between academics and employment.
• Get involved on campus through Campus Activities & Programs.
• Go to class.
• Build relationships with faculty, staff, and students.
• Take advantage of campus resources.
• If you are an Exploratory (Undecided) Major, explore different majors.
• Ask for help at any time!

TRANSFER 2 TRANSFER (T2T) MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

In partnership with Mentor Collective, UNCG pairs incoming first-year transfer students (mentees) with a transfer student mentor who is at least in their second year at UNCG. The program, Transfer2Transfer (T2T), helps build community and a sense of belonging among UNCG’s transfer population. The program provides a source of connection, support, and point of contact for students as they transition to academic life at UNCG.

• Students complete a survey about themselves and their backgrounds then Mentor Collective matches mentees and mentors based on what each says is most important to them.
• Mentees and mentors connect at least once per month. The mode is determined by the pair – phone, text, email, Zoom, in-person. 
• Main campus and online students can participate.
• The length of the mentorship program is one academic year.
• Space is limited.

To request more information, email [email protected]

TAU SIGMA – NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Transfer students are encouraged to become active in the UNCG community. One organization specific to transfer students is Tau Sigma, an academic honor society designed exclusively to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students. New first-time transfer students must complete at least 12 credit hours at UNCG in the preceding semester and earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher to be invited to join. 

For more information, email [email protected]

NC COMMUNITY COLLEGE – REVERSE TRANSFER

Students who transfer to UNCG from a NC community college with at least 16 community college course credits can opt to earn their associate degree while completing courses toward their baccalaureate degree.There is no cost to participate in the Reverse Transfer program. Eligible students are automatically notified about the program in UNCGenie, though they must opt in to participate. Students should work with their community college to ensure their UNCG transcripts are being evaluated accurately.