Academic Services

Academic Advising

The purpose of advising at SOU is to provide students with the information, training, and guidance necessary to complete an academic program that meets their personal and career objectives. The University considers academic advising part of the teaching mission and a very important faculty responsibility.

SOU faculty make every effort to provide high-quality advising, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to become informed about graduation requirements and to engage in realistic educational planning. This personal responsibility extends to reading and understanding the degree requirements outlined in this catalog, consulting advisors, and charting progress toward graduation.

New Students : All new students should arrange to attend one of four Early Registration Fridays through the Admissions Office. Students with declared majors should also meet with an advisor from their academic departments. New students who are transferring credit from another institution and students who are undeclared majors without access to an advisor should make an appointment with an academic advisor in the ACCESS Center. New students should read and understand the General Education Requirements that begin on page 22 of this catalog, as well as the departmental requirements for their chosen major.

Freshmen : The University Colloquium (Core) instructor provides advising during the freshman year. Students with declared majors also receive advising from their academic departments. Students develop a freshman year plan during their first academic quarter and a sophomore year plan during the third academic quarter of the freshman year.

Sophomores : Students with declared majors should meet with advisors from their academic departments. Undeclared students should see their Freshman Colloquium instructor for advising or an academic advisor in the ACCESS Center. All sophomores develop a junior year plan.

Juniors : Upon reaching junior standing (90 credits), students must have a declared major and a junior year plan on file with their major department. Course registration is blocked if these two conditions are not met. Seniors : Upon reaching senior standing (135 credits), students must have developed a senior year plan with their department. Seniors without a senior year plan will be blocked from registration. Seniors should remember to file for graduation with the Office of the Registrar two terms before their expected graduation date.

Undeclared students and those contemplating a change in major may contact advisors in the ACCESS Center for guidance. Interdisciplinary students need to develop an academic plan with the chair of the department for the emphasis listed in their degree.

Academic Resource Services

The goal of the University is to provide each student with the best possible opportunity for successful completion of a degree program. Academic Resource Services helps students develop the learning skills and study habits needed to succeed throughout their academic careers. Helping students understand their scholastic strengths and weaknesses and improving their academic performance, Academic Resource Services offers Jump Start! Recharge Your Study Skills workshops, as well as individual sessions by appointment. The At-Risk Program offers academically at-risk students personal assistance in academic counseling and referral, study skill evaluation and teaching, and academic advising. Academic Resource Services also coordinates mathematics tutoring and computerized mathematics placement testing.

Information Technology

Information Technology (IT) includes campus Computing Services, Media Services, Telecommunications, technical support for Distance Learning, courseware systems, and Web support. In addition to providing enterprise-wide voice, data, and video services for students, faculty, and staff, Information Technology supports instruction, scholarly activities, administrative services, and Web development throughout the campus.

Students have access to the campus network and a wide array of services and facilities that include twenty-four labs and forty-five technology-equipped classroooms across campus. In the labs, students have access to word processing, spreadsheet, and database software; presentation graphics; and curriculum specific programs. From labs, residence halls, or their homes, students may access the Internet, email, and courseware systems via the SOU Student Dial-in System. They may also pay bills, register for courses, and access grade information. Access to all computing facilities and services is free to registered students, who automatically receive accounts to access the Internet, email, and other online services. Students also have access to personal network storage for data files and Web space.

The largest computer lab on campus and one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, the main Computing Services lab houses more than 200 Windows and Macintosh computers. Areas of the main lab are used for classes; however, a portion is available for general walk-in use seven days a week. The main computer lab is equipped with high-speed laser printers, as well as scanners and color printers that provide specialized input and output capabilities. Students pay a fee for printing and copying. Many campus information services are supported in part by the Student Technology Fee.

Media Services

Media Services provides instructional support and equipment for classroom use. In addition, Media Services performs equipment installation and repair, audio setups, videotaping of lectures and special events, and instructional design and media graphics support for faculty. SOU faculty may arrange equipment checkout by students.

Telecommunications Services

SOU’s Telecommunications Services provides faculty, staff, and residence hall students with telephone and voice-mail services, as well as operator and directory assistance.

The Lenn and Dixie Hannon Library

Hannon Library provides resources for students’ instructional, research, recreational, and general information needs. SOU’s well-trained and enthusiastic staff of librarians and paraprofessionals assist students with reference needs, electronic and Web information resources, interlibrary borrowing, and materials checkout. Librarians aid students in developing their research and evaluation skills, providing specialized instruction in library research in a wide range of classes. Subject specialist librarians also offer in-depth research and reference assistance in specific areas.

Hannon Library holds approximately 310,000 printed volumes in the general collection, with nearly 2,000 journal, serial, and newspaper subscriptions. The large federal and state government collections total nearly 290,000 items. Some 825,000 microforms provide additional materials, which range from popular magazines to historical materials of scholarly interest.

A growing collection of electronic information resources, including indexes, full-text databases, and a number of e-journals can be accessed from both inside and outside the library. Other electronic and multimedia resources include videotapes, library Web pages, music CDs, and DVDs. Special collections include the 7,450-volume Margery Bailey Collection of Shakespeare and Renaissance materials, a local history collection covering the six counties of southern Oregon, an extensive Native American studies collection, a children’s literature collection, and an art print collection.

The Southern Oregon Digital Archives (SODA) comprise more than 1,100 books that have been scanned and are available on the Web. This information is fully searchable and covers the southern Oregon ecoregion and regional Native American tribes.

Students may use Hannon Library’s online catalog to find information about SOU collections or to link to the Summit, a catalog of more than twenty-two million volumes held by twenty-six libraries in Oregon and Washington. The library’s Information Technology Center (ITC) provides access to desktop computing software and electronic information, with expert staff to assist patrons with using these technologies for research, writing, and presentation.

Hannon Library is currently undergoing expansion and renovation. At the completion of the project in February 2005, the library will be nearly double in size, and the building’s technological infrastructure will have been upgraded. Space for materials, classrooms, study, reading, and group and seminar rooms will be significantly expanded. When completed, Hannon Library will serve as a learning center for the twenty-first century. The library will remain open and available for use throughout the construction period.

Success at Southern

Success at Southern/ Student Support Services is a federally funded TRIO grant program that helps eligible students (low-income or first-generation students, as well as those with disabilities) succeed in college and eventually graduate. Success at Southern provides a range of services, including college success classes; tutoring; academic advising; mentoring; assistance with completing scholarship applications; access to cultural activities; and career, personal, and financial counseling.

Success at Southern Courses

LOWER DIVISION COURSES

This sequence is available to students enrolled in the Success at Southern/ Student Support Services program. College Success classes have been developed to help facilitate students’ academic and personal success in college. While SAS 101 is designed for newly enrolled freshmen, SAS 102 is designed for newly enrolled transfer students with 36 or more credits. Both classes cover the clarification of academic goals, planning, study skills, financial planning, collaborative skills, and assessment targeted at heightening students’ understanding of themselves as learners. Academic Development (SAS 103) provides a structured setting in which students may access professional and tutoring support to enhance their academic skills and performance.

UPPER DIVISION COURSES

Offered in cooperation with Career Services, this sequence is available to both Success at Southern/ Student Support Services students and other undergraduate students. Career Exploration (SAS 301) focuses on clarification of career and academic goals, such as choosing a major. Students are encouraged to begin or continue practicum, service-learning, or internship experiences aligned with their career goals. Graduate School Planning (SAS 302) is designed for juniors who are considering graduate school. This course helps students respond to questions about graduate school, such as the following: Is graduate school right for me? How do I apply? How do I finance graduate school? How do I prepare to take the entrance exams?

School-to-Work Transition (SAS 303) focuses on the transition from the academic environment to employment in oneșs chosen career field. The course covers finding and applying for jobs, creating a resumé and cover letter, interviewing, job negotiating, and coping with the anxiety that may accompany this process.