New Workshop Offers Academic Advice When Deciding a Major

Managing Editor

Photo by Linna Jones

Presentation- Pam Gouner, chair of the Division of Nursing, tells students about the nursing classes, the differences between an LPN and an RN, master's programs and other information at the "So You Want to Be A .. " workshop held Oct. 20. Gouner later answered students' questions.

   The Office of Academic Advising, a part of the Office of Academic Affairs, developed a “So You Want to Be A …” workshop to help incoming and undecided students learn about different majors, programs and the different schools.

   Crystal Ratliff, director of Student Advising and Ranelle Eubanks, assistant vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, developed the program “So You Want to Be a” workshop to tell students about the different program the University of Arkansas at Monticello offers. The program also gives students the opportunity to ask questions about the programs.

   Ratliff joined the Office of Academic Affairs staff in the summer of 2007. Her job duties included researching programs offer for first-year experience courses at other institutions. Ratliff and Eubanks did much research in this area. They discover a class called “So You Want to Be A” at a New Mexico school and adapted the class to create a workshop.

   “We developed a workshop to get more information out to our students,” Ratliff said. “ We have a lot of students who come in as general studies, and that first semester is vital for them in deciding what program to enter.”

  The workshop gives the different schools the opportunity to reach students who have not selected a major and improve their numbers.

    Ratliff sent out emails to all the unit heads asking if they were interested in early August and  said all the interested schools needed to do was respond to the email with the date the wished to present. Ratliff sets up the rest. The interested schools needs to prepare the information they wish to present.

   Ratliff started the workshops early to mid-September and will be continuing them to mid-November. They will probable start them all over in the spring semester. Ratliff hopes the school who presented in the fall will return in the spring to present along with some of the other schools who did not get a chance to participate.

     In addition to helping students, the workshop gives a school of study the opportunity to reach students who are undecided or not majoring in their area.

   “So if they present to student that are general studies and actually have a student choose to major in their area it does help them as far as numbers, if that student actually finishes with their school,” Ratliff said.

   Ratliff described how it also helps the school to get the word out even if a student attends and then decides not to major in the area they may tell another student and spread the word.

   Five schools have presented so far including; the School of Math and Sciences, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Division of Computer Information Systems, Heavy Equipment Operation program offered through the UAM-College of Technology- McGehee and the School of Nursing.

The workshop featuring the School of Nursing presented information on the different programs offered in the UAM nursing systems and differences in each degree Sept. 20. Gouner told the students in attendance about the difference between an Licensed Practical Nurse and an Registered Nurse; learned about lower division requirements for a student’s freshman and sophomore years and the different salaries a nurse can make depending on their education and position. They talked about career opportunities at each level of nursing.

“I think it is very important that they know (about career opportunities on each level), and what it takes to get there,” said Pam Gouner, chair of the Division of Nursing, said. “We are all about the education required to achieve your nursing goals. We help you get there.”

Photo by Linna Jones

Higher Education- Students learn about Master's programs for Nursing. Six students attend the presentation.

   Gouner also gives workshops COT-CTM, UAM College of Technology- Crossett and at hospitals.

   The Division of Computer Information Systems gave a presentation Sept. 29. Brian Hairston, chair of the Division of CIS, gave information about major as well as the jobs available for the degree. Hairston described in an email interview what he thought about the program and how it helped students.

   “I think it's a great program, and that Ms. Ratliff is doing an excellent job helping the programs promote themselves,” Hairston said. “I think it can give them basic information about the program, careers in the CIS field, and the current trends in the field.”

   He described how CIS as a major does a great job of equipping students to find a promising career, and how the division is glad to discuss it with any students who are interested.

“I think it piqued some interest and hopefully we can spread information about CIS as a major. The CIS faculty and I are always willing to discuss the major with any students who might be interested,” Hairston said.  

   Other works planned this year include; a presentation on the Modern Language Major, a presentation on LPN program offered at the UAM-CTM and the School of Education. Ratliff brought up how they are trying to inform students about UAM’s two technical schools at McGehee and Crossett.

The number of students who attended varied from workshop to workshop. The numbers range from one in attendance up to 11 or more. Some workshops did not have good attendance, partially due to bad weather. The workshops are normally held Tuesdays and Thursdays around lunchtime.

   “We are beginning to wonder if Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at lunch is the best time. We may see more attendance if we move it to Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.” Ratliff said. “And it’s a new program, so it may take some time to get the numbers where we want them.”

   In the long run, the Office of Academic Advising hopes to have fewer and fewer students being General Studies students. UAM did begin a Bachelor’s of General Study’s program. Ratliff said, if a student wants to come in as General Studies and remain General Studies that is an option, but hopefully this program will help students to choose a major earlier in their academic careers.

  The Office of Academic Advising sponsors Weevils at Work, a student-mentoring program.  Weevils at Work is a program geared toward students who need someone to talk to. This includes new students and students who are overwhelmed and need another student to talk to.

   Weevils at Work offered and will be offering different sessions throughout the semester. The first session featured a walking tour of the different resources the UAM campus offers.  The tour included the different resource offices, the John F. Gibson University Center, the tutoring center, the mentoring office, the writing center and around the library. The second session focused on  how to deal with test anxiety and the third will focus on pre-registration; what to do and who to talk to. The forth will focus on final exam survival.

   For more information in Academic Advising, check out their Web site.   For more information about “So You Want to Be A …,” Weevils at Work or Academic Advising, contact Crystal Ratliff at 870-460-1833 or email her at Ratliff@uamont.edu.

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