101

General

College

Table of

Contents

General College

Application/Admission ....................................................................................... 103

New Student Orientation .................................................................................. 104

Base Curriculum ..................................................................................................... 104

Policies ........................................................................................................................ 104

Advising ...................................................................................................................... 106

Special Learning Opportunities ..................................................................... 106

International Programs ..................................................................................... 107

Career Information ............................................................................................... 107

Student Organizations ........................................................................................ 107

Directory ..................................................................................................................... 107

This is the General College section of the1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog of theUniversity of Minnesota.

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103

General

College

GCGeneral College (GC) enrolls, and prepares for admissionto University degree programs, students who requirespecial preparation because of personal circumstances orprevious education.To serve its students and fulfill its mission, GC facultymembers create curricula that support students’acquisition of abilities and knowledge needed for successat the University. The GC curriculum emphasizescommunication and computational skills integrated withliberal education, focuses on preparation for transfer andfor baccalaureate study in a variety of programs, andseeks to develop students’ abilities to bring togethereducational and career goals in a multidisciplinary andmulticultural setting.The General College Student Workbook provides “BaseCurriculum” registration requirements, registrationprocedures and deadlines, academic progress informationand requirements, and suggestions for beginning theprocess of academic planning. The workbook isdistributed to new students during orientation or may beobtained from the Student Information Center,25 Appleby Hall.GC is housed primarily in Appleby Hall on the east bankof the Minneapolis campus. GC was founded in 1932. Formore than 60 years, GC has evolved to meet the changingneeds of a range of students seeking access to highereducation through the University. GC offers a number ofcourses through University College (UC). Such coursesare offered both on campus and off campus (in severalhigh schools and community settings). Completeinformation about these courses is available in the currentUniversity College Catalog.

Application/AdmissionEach year, GC receives more than 3,000 applications andenrolls 825 new students, most of them in fall. For moreinformation, students should contact the Office ofAdmissions. (See also “Admissions and ProspectiveStudent Services” in the General Information section ofthis catalog.)Requirements for Admission—For regular admission,students must have a high school diploma and an AARscore of 70 or above. An AAR score is computed bydoubling the ACT composite score and adding to thatnumber the high school rank percentile (HSR %). Forexample, if the ACT composite score is 20 and the HSR% is 45, the AAR score is computed as follows: 40 (ACTscore of 20 x 2) + 45 (HSR %) = 85 (AAR).Admission by Individual Applicant Review—If the AARscore is 69 or below, or the student has no ACT score or isapplying with a GED, they must participate in theIndividual Applicant Review (IAR) process and may needto submit additional information. Admission by the IARprocess is available for Minnesota residents only.The ACT Assessment Program Test, though not requiredfor admission, is required before a student can attendorientation and register for courses. Students should takethe ACT as early as possible, no later than May 1.Students who have applied to GC but have not taken theACT may arrange to do so by contacting UniversityCounseling & Consulting Services in Eddy Hall (612/624-3510).

In addition to a high school diploma and AAR score, theMichigan English Language Assessment Battery(MELAB) is required of all non-native speakers of English(not on an international student visa) who have been inthe United States less than eight years. A minimum scoreof 65 on the MELAB is a precondition for being admittedto GC for fall semester. ACT English and readingsubscores of 18 or higher will exempt a student from theMELAB test and minimum score requirement. Studentswith MELAB scores of 65 to 79 will be required to takeGC’s Commanding English (CE) program. CE admitsstudents during fall semester only; consequently, non-native speakers of English who seek spring semesteradmission must score at least 80 on the MELAB to beadmitted. Priority for filling the Commanding Englishprogram spaces will be given to Minnesota residents.International Applicants—GC currently does not admitinternational applicants on a student visa.Transfer Students—Transfer students from anothercollege must have no more than 26 semester collegecredits, with a GPA of at least 2.00, to be considered foradmission.Application Deadlines—Early application is stronglyadvised. All parts of the application, together withrequired documentation and application fee, must becompleted and on file in the University’s Office ofAdmissions in 240 Williamson Hall according to thefollowing schedule:

Applications will be reviewed beginning on theopening review date until GC’s admission goal isreached for that semester. Admissions will then beclosed.

Joint GC/UC Classes—GC students whose initialregistration is through UC must attend GC’s two-dayorientation and comply with the Base Curriculumrequirements to maintain admission in GC and be eligiblefor financial aid and some GC student services.Confirmation Fee—Students who are admitted to a TwinCities college as freshmen for fall semester must submit anonrefundable $85 confirmation fee by May 1. Studentsmust pay the fee by the deadline or within two weeksafter the date on the admission notification letter(whichever is later). If a student does not submit the feeby the deadline, their admission may be rescinded.Students will not receive an orientation date until theirconfirmation fee is received.Updating an Application—Students who apply and arenot admitted but wish to be considered for a latersemester must contact the University’s Office ofAdmissions (612/625-2008) before admissions are closedand request that their application be updated.Updating an Offer of Admission—Admission is validonly for the semester for which a student is admitted. Ifthe student does not attend classes that semester andwishes to be considered for a later semester, they mustrequest (before admissions are closed for the latersemester) that their admission status be updated. Ifadmission standards have changed in the meantime, therequest will be reviewed according to the newrequirements.

General College

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General College

GeneralInformation

The Student

Information Center

provides General

College students

with information on

admission, course

registration, policies

and procedures, and

referrals to other

services.

Appeals—An applicant may appeal an admissiondecision. Appeals must be in writing and sent to Directorof Admissions, Office of Admissions, 240 WilliamsonHall, 231 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0213.Admission Assistance—The GC Student InformationCenter can provide further assistance with• checking the status of an admission application.• answering parents’ questions.• answering high school counselors’ questions.• meeting with parents and counselors for preadmission

conferences.• arranging for on-site visits to the college and tours of

the campus.• arranging for sitting in on classes and meeting with

faculty.Call (612) 625-3339 (voice) or (612) 626-1014 (TTY).

New Student OrientationAll new students who enroll in GC’s day program or planjoint day/UC enrollment must attend a two-dayorientation/registration program before their first semesterof registration.During the first day of orientation, students are introducedto resources, services, and programs at the University.Students also receive a copy of the Class Schedule,General College Student Workbook, and other registrationmaterials.On the second day of orientation, GC faculty, advisers,and other academic professionals help students,individually and in groups, review these materials,interpret placement assessments, and plan their firstsemester’s schedule. GC staff members also teachstudents how to register for classes using computerizedself-registration.Optional early information sessions in June introducestudents to University resources and help them accuratelyassess their skills and motivation. First-generation,underprepared, and other nontraditional students areespecially encouraged to take advantage of this program.For more information, students should contact the StudentInformation Center (612/625-3339 orgcinfo@umn.tc.edu).Math Placement Assessment—All students admitted toGC must take a math placement assessment before theycan attend orientation and register for classes. GC offersmath courses for those who do not have the skills andconcepts necessary for college-level math. For moreinformation on GC’s math placement assessment, GCmath courses, or college-level math courses, contact theStudent Information Center (612/625-3339 orgcinfo@umn.tc.edu).

Base CurriculumResearch has shown that students who get off to a strongstart in their first two terms of college are more likely tobe successful in completing a college degree.Accordingly, GC allocates a significant proportion of itsresources to provide a supportive learning environmentfor students in a program called the Base Curriculum. TheBase Curriculum is for entering students whose academicpreparation may not meet expected standards forUniversity degree-granting programs. During their firstyear, students are expected to complete the program,which includes courses in writing, mathematics, natural

sciences, social sciences, and humanities. In addition toinnovative instructional methods, the Base Curriculumincludes early and continued monitoring of students’academic performance with timely advice to studentsabout their progress and means for improvement.

Transition CurriculumStudents who have completed the Base Curriculum mayregister for courses in the Transition Curriculum, which ischaracterized by more traditional coursework and by theexpectation that students possess and can applyincreasingly complex academic skills and that they needdecreased levels of institutional support.

PoliciesRegistration Procedures—Students must file apreregistration agreement with their adviser eachsemester. After filing a registration agreement with anadviser, a student must fulfill that agreement and makesure that their registration is accurate, class hours do notconflict, course prerequisites have been met, and currentcourses are not equivalent to those already completed.GC Registration Policies—Students are expected to• complete the following Base Curriculum (BC) courses

before applying for transfer to another University ofMinnesota college:

—mathematics (complete any unfulfilledUniversity preparation requirements).

—one BC course in science.—one BC course in social sciences.—one BC course in humanities.—freshman composition (completion of GC 1421

and GC 1422 or equivalent).• complete a BC course in an area (science, social

sciences, or humanities) before taking a coursedesignated as Transition Curriculum or a non-GCcourse in that area.

• have an adviser approve registration plans eachsemester. Once all BC requirements are complete andan approved yearlong plan and transfer plan are onfile, adviser approval is not required.

• register for at least one GC course every semester ofresidence in GC. Exceptions to this policy requireadviser or college approval.

For additional information concerning registrationprocedures, see the General College Student Workbook.Registering through UC—UC registration automaticallyappears on the day school transcript, and UC courses arereviewed for academic progress along with day schoolcourses.Holds—Registration holds restrict a student’s registrationuntil the unit or office that placed the hold either removesit or gives the student a temporary release. GC placesholds on students’ records when students• do not have a completed transfer plan on file.• must have adviser approval for registration.• have accumulated excessive credits in the college.• are suspended for lack of academic progress.• are placed on probation.Registration Changes—After the start of a semester,first-year students and students with GC registration holdsmust have their holds cleared by their advisers to makeregistration changes.

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General

CollegeCredit Value—GC noncredit (0xxx) courses do not counttoward graduation, but do count within the semester andthe academic year, at their credit-equivalence value,toward the minimum credit load requirements forfinancial aid eligibility and athletic eligibility. Noncreditcourses are fee charged. See the Class Schedule.Grades—Noncredit course grades are posted for thesemester of their registration on the transcript and areincluded internally in the GC review of academicprogress, both for probation and Dean’s List eligibility,even though they do not appear on the transcriptcumulative GPA.Monitoring Academic Performance—GC instructorsuse Academic Alert forms to report any problems theirstudents are encountering. These reports are made toadvisers for their follow-up with students to help resolvethe problems. In addition, Base Curriculum courseinstructors evaluate and report on students’ academicprogress around the middle of each semester. Copies ofthe Midsemester Academic Progress Review go to thestudent and the student’s adviser. Faculty also providefeedback to advisers about students who are not makingsatisfactory progress in mathematics or writing courses orwho need to repeat courses.Academic Standing—Students’ academic achievementand progress toward transfer to another college arereviewed by GC at the end of each semester. GC studentsmust earn a 2.00 GPA each term. In addition, they mustmaintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00. Grades in both dayand UC courses are reviewed.Satisfactory Progress—Students who maintain GC’sminimum academic requirements will continue in goodstanding. However, to successfully transfer to anothercollege, students must meet that college’s admissionstandards, often a 2.50 GPA or higher.Dean’s List—Each academic semester, each student whohas achieved an outstanding academic level is recognizedby being named to the Dean’s List. A letter ofcongratulation from the GC dean is sent to the student,and a notation is placed on the student’s transcript. TheDean’s List is posted each semester in the dean’s displaycase on the first floor of Appleby Hall.Academic Suspension—Students who continue to makeunsatisfactory academic progress while on probation aresuspended from GC. Such action is taken only afterstudents have been provided theopportunity to get needed help withtheir academic difficulties and time toshow improvement. Suspended studentsseeking readmission are reviewed bythe GC Scholastic Standing Committee.Progress Toward Transfer—At theend of their first year, students workwith advisers to assess their progresstoward transfer to a bachelor’s degreeprogram by completing a yearlongcourse plan and transfer plan. At thatpoint, students whose records show alack of progress toward transfer willreceive counseling and may beencouraged to seek other educationaloptions. Students will be assessed againduring their second year. Students whodo not make satisfactory progresstoward transfer, as determined byadviser review at the transfer planningcheckpoint (usually 30 credits), mayreceive a registration hold requiringadditional planning under theiradviser’s direction.

Excessive Credits—Because GC’s mission is to preparestudents for transfer, students are allowed to complete nomore than 90 college-level credits in GC. Students whocomplete90 credits but have not transferred will receive aregistration hold prohibiting further registration in GC.Exceptions to this restriction are made on the basis ofindividual review by the GC Scholastic StandingCommittee, usually requiring an agreement in writingbetween the student and the proposed transfer college.Transfer Requirements—Each college and major at theUniversity may have different GPA and creditrequirements for transfer. Consult the appropriate collegesection of this catalog, an adviser, or the Transfer andCareer Center, 127 Appleby Hall (612/624-4346), for themost current transfer information for specific colleges ormajors.Transfer to Other Colleges Within the University—Itis strongly recommended that students complete at leastthree courses outside of GC, preferably in the area inwhich they intend to major, with at least a C average(2.00) for these courses. Transfer guides for someUniversity colleges and more detailed information abouttransfer are available in the Transfer and Career Center,127 Appleby Hall. Students should also make earlycontact with the college to which they wish to transfer. Tobegin the official transfer process, students should makean appointment for an interview with a GC studentservices adviser, 25 Appleby Hall, early in the semesterpreceding the one in which they wish to transfer. AnApplication for Change of Status or College andapplication deadlines are available from the Transfer andCareer Center or the University’s Office of the Registrar,200 Fraser Hall.Transfer Outside the University—Procedures fortransfer to colleges outside the University may bediscussed with a GC adviser. Requirements vary, butcommunity and four-year colleges usually accept mostGC credits.

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General College

GeneralInformation

AdvisingEach GC student is permanently assigned to an individualprofessional adviser. Students may meet one-to-one withtheir adviser or attend group advising meetings. When anassigned adviser is not available to answer quickquestions, the Student Information Center, 25 ApplebyHall, will refer students to an “on call” adviser.First-year students must have adviser approval forregistration. They may prepare for registration byattending a preregistration group meeting or meeting withtheir individual adviser. Advisers will contact theirstudents about scheduled group planning opportunitiesoffered throughout the semester. Students in their thirdterm of registration must complete a yearlong plan andindicate preliminary transfer and degree goals. (Transferusually takes place at the beginning of or during thesecond year of enrollment.)

Special LearningOpportunitiesDirected Study—Directed Study is self-defined learning.Students assume full responsibility for determining whatthey want to learn, setting goals, designing a course ofstudy, and finding an appropriate faculty member to guideand monitor the project. To arrange for Directed Study,students must file a contract form that has been workedout in consultation with a faculty mentor. Contract formsare available in 140 Appleby Hall. Credits earned indirected study do not usually transfer to other units in theUniversity without special review or petition.Commanding English—Commanding English is ayearlong, intensive combination of courses for GCstudents for whom English is a second language. All suchstudents are required to report recent scores on theMichigan English Language Assessment Battery(MELAB) as part of the application process.Commanding English serves those students whose scoreson this test range from 65 to 77. Students should allowenough time in the application process to complete anytesting requirements. For application information, contactthe GC Student Information Center, 25 Appleby Hall(612/625-3339); to sign up for the MELAB test, call theAsian Pacific American Learning Resource Center (612/624-2317).Academic Resource Center (ARC)—ARC is aclearinghouse for GC tutorial services in math, writing,and other subject areas. The ARC has both Macintosh andIBM compatible computers and provides training for e-mail, word processing, and other computer applications.The ARC also provides math placement assessment forGC math courses.• The Math Center (9 Appleby Hall) provides walk-in

assistance to students for math and for science-relatedcourses which also use math.

• The Writing Center (17 Appleby Hall) helps studentswith writing at any stage of completion through one-to-one consultation and electronic consultation atwriters@.tc.umn.edu.

No appointment is necessary to use ARC. Simply stop by11 Appleby Hall or call (612) 626-1328.Student Support Services (SSS)/TRIO Program—TheSSS/TRIO Program is a multidimensional program thateach fall targets between 100 and 120 new students toengage in intensive advising and counseling, group andindividual tutoring, academic planning, and careerexploration. To be eligible for SSS/TRIO, a student must

meet at least one of the following requirements: (1) be afirst-generation college student (neither parent having afour-year degree), (2) meet income guidelines, or (3) havea physical or learning disability. For more information,students should contact the SSS/TRIO Program, 40Appleby Hall, 128 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN55455 (612/625-0772).Upward Bound—Upward Bound is a TRIO program thatprovides college preparation for low-income, first-generation high school students. Reading, writing, andmathematics skills are emphasized in the academicsegment of the program; theatre, art, athletic, andexperiential educational activities constitute the creativeand recreational component. In addition to completing asix-week residential term, Upward Bound studentsparticipate in a program of tutoring and academiccoursework. Upward Bound is housed in 40 Appleby Hall(612/625-0772).Ronald E. McNair Program—Ronald E. McNairProgram prepares low-income, first-generation collegestudents for graduate study. Services include academiccounseling, tutoring, Graduate Record Examination testpreparation, paid research internships, mentoring,Graduate School application assistance and advocacy, andseminars to help participants prepare for Graduate School.Applications are available in 40 Appleby Hall, or studentsmay call (612) 625-0772 to make an appointment with anadviser.Student Parent HELP Center—Student Parent HELPCenter is a program to help low-income undergraduatestudent parents find funding for their child care costs. Thecenter also answers questions regarding educational andacademic goals and makes referrals to communityprograms that can help with family needs. Enrichmentand support opportunities include weekly student parentpeer support meetings. The HELP Extension GrantProgram provides eligible student parents with grants forUniversity College course tuition and book costs. TheHELP Center also has a student parent study room, 133Appleby Hall, and meeting room, 135 Appleby Hall. Bothare equipped with computers, telephone, typewriter,refrigerator, and microwave.University Day Community—University DayCommunity is an adolescent treatment center foreducationally, emotionally, and behaviorallydysfunctional youth. University Day Community operatesfive separate programs: U-Day, City Quest, Pro-Teen,Echo Eliot, and Henry Day Treatment. Services includefamily, personal, and group counseling; art andexperiential therapy; and individualized academicprogramming. The programs also provide internships,field experiences, and work-study employmentopportunities. The University Day Community Center islocated at 101 27th Avenue S.E., Suite 101, Minneapolis,MN 55414 (612/627-4107).Student Information Center—The Student InformationCenter in 25 Appleby Hall (612/625-3339) serves as aquick source for help in matters that do not require ameeting with an adviser. Staff also schedule appointmentswith advisers and provide referrals.

Twenty-eight General

College faculty have

been honored as

recipients of the

Morse-Alumni

Association Award

for Outstanding

Contributions to

Undergraduate

Education.

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General

CollegeInternational ProgramsGC strongly encourages students to consider overseasstudy experiences. Study abroad can strengthen anapplication for transfer to another college, help prepare astudent for a multicultural workplace within a globaleconomy, and contribute greatly to the student’sknowledge of the world, their self-confidence, and theirunderstanding of their own culture. Students can earn fullcredit toward a degree while overseas and can usuallyapply their financial aid. To explore the options, studentsshould make an appointment with a study abroad optionsadviser in the Global Campus, 102 Nicholson Hall (612/626-9000).

Career InformationThe GC Transfer and Career Center, 127 Appleby Hall(612/624-4346), is staffed by professional counselors whohelp students explore educational, occupational, andcareer opportunities. Students may schedule anappointment or use the center on a walk-in basis.Career and Personal Development Focus—

• assessing, testing, and evaluating career possibilities.• decision making and career development.• choosing a major and a college for transfer.• increasing motivation.• solving personal problems and dealing with

interpersonal stress.30-80 Credit Check-in, Transfer Planning—• preparing a transfer plan.• transfer deadlines and applications.• making appointments with visiting adviser liaisons.• referrals to University of Minnesota transfer

specialists.Resources to Help Students in Their Career Search—

• career resource library.• University of Minnesota “Majors Information” files.• computerized career guidance programs.• study abroad internship and scholarship information.• workshops on goals, majors, and careers.• transfer planning programs (Majors Information

Week).

Student OrganizationsThe GC Student Board is a student governmentassociation that represents the student body. StudentBoard members are GC students who have a strongcommitment to students and the future of the GCcommunity. Membership on the Student Board is open toall GC students. Former GC students may be alumnimembers. For more information on becoming a StudentBoard member, stop by the Student Information Center,25 Appleby Hall. The Student Board office is in 120Appleby Hall (612/625-6004).

Directory(area code 612)Office of the Dean109 Appleby Hall625-6885626-7848 (fax)

Academic Affairs and Curriculum240 Appleby Hall625-2880

Academic Service Center140 Appleby Hall626-8705625-0709 (fax)

Commanding English Program233B Appleby Hall625-3514

Student ServicesAcademic Advising25 Appleby Hall625-3339

Academic Resource Center11 Appleby Hall626-1328

College Registrar33 Appleby Hall626-7141

Student Information Center25 Appleby Hall625-3339625-0704 (fax)

Transfer and Career Center127 Appleby Hall624-4346

Student Board120 Appleby Hall625-6004

Technical Support Services211 Appleby Hall625-3413

Affiliated ProgramsStudent Parent HELP Center180 Appleby Hall625-5307

TRIO Programs40 Appleby Hall625-0772(McNair Program, Student Support Services, TRIO Programs,Upward Bound)625-0704 (fax)

University Day Community101 27th Avenue S.E. #101627-4107

GC on the Web<www.gen.umn.edu>