How to survive your first year
Get Organized
Use a planner to keep track of deadlines. Makeup assignments and late submissions are a scarcity in college, it is imperative to turn work in on time. Consolidating all deadlines and assignments into a single planner or calendar will help cut down on confusion and clutter.
Read the Syllabus
The syllabus is your guide to the course. Usually, a syllabus will supply you with important information such as a schedule with due dates, absence policy, grading policy, required texts and office hours.
Don’t Skip Class
The beauty of college is making your own schedule, however, it’s important that you show up on time. Your parents are not responsible for your attendance anymore. Be aware of attendance policies for all of your classes.
If you are having trouble attending class, communicate with your instructor. Pay attention to drop dates for each semester. Communication with an instructor is important if you miss a class for personal reasons or emergencies.
Be Proactive
Be sure to email your professors when a problem or concern arises. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to figure out what you missed. The professor will not seek you out to walk you hand-in-hand through last week’s assignment. There is no getting around assignment due dates. Your assignment should be on time whether or not you are present in class, so make sure you have your professor’s email address.
Take advantage of the resources UHCL provides. Offices such as the Writing Center, Math Center, Student Success Center, Career Services and Counseling Services will guide you toward graduating successfully.
Stretch Your Dollar
Wait until the first day of class to buy your books unless otherwise stated by the professor. The first day of class your professor will be able to tell you which books are recommended, required or if you can save some money by purchasing an older edition. You can save money by purchasing used books from websites like chegg.com and amazon.com or by renting an eBook.
Ask for Help
Go talk to an advisor about your semester plans. Keep in mind some courses are not available every semester.
Always ensure you have fulfilled any prerequisites, if applicable, before signing up for a course. Students who have not met prerequisites will not be allowed to attend the class. Prerequisites are in place to ensure you have the necessary skills to help you get the most out of particular courses.
You should make an informed decision when choosing your classes. Get advice from other students and use websites like www.ratemyprofessor.com to see helpful reviews on all of the professors. Be sure your learning style will coordinate with the professor’s teaching style.
You’ve Got Mail
The main form of communication between you, the university and your professor will be through your UHCL email. You can link your UHCL email to your personal account. Sign in to your UHCL email, click the gear icon and select “Options” to set your email up to forward messages.
For help, call the Support Center at 281-283-2828 or email supportcenter@uhcl.edu. Be sure to check your email regularly so you don’t miss important announcements
Early Bird Gets the Worm
Take advantage of early registration. Registering early enables a greater chance of choosing the right teachers, times and courses for you. The smaller class sizes at UHCL are great for engaging students, but that also means that classes can fill up quickly. Don’t miss out on registering for a class you need, or you might delay your graduation.
OK, I failed my first test – now what? Go to the Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is a support system with resources available to all UHCL students to help make academic success possible. The services offered by the Student Success Center are designed around skill development, content knowledge and guided practice. All services are free of charge, as they are already included in tuition and fees.
Purchase a Parking Permit
Buying an annual or semester permit is better on your wallet than paying for a temporary permit or a parking citation.
In addition, be aware of the Student Government Association, faculty and staff reserved parking spaces.
“Read signs on campus to ensure you do not park in areas not designated to you,” said Harry Glass, parking operations supervisor.
Student permits are only available online for purchase and can be bought annual or per semester. At the time of purchase, students are given a temporary printable pass to display in their car window until their hanging pass is mailed to their home.
Parking rules are the same for all UHCL students, faculty and staff, so don’t count on using the excuse that you are a new student. You can read more in-depth rules and regulations by heading to the parking web page on uhcl.edu.
