If a student appears to be having difficulty coping while at HMC, what should I do?
If you feel comfortable with the student, the first thing to do is ask her how she is doing. Alternatively, if you do not feel comfortable approaching the student directly you should contact the Dean of Students or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
How should I react if a student fails to attend my class, but continues to appear on the roster?
While students often choose not to attend class, this can be a signal of a problem. Frequently the problem is that a student thought he dropped a class and has not. An e-mail to the student will generally clear this up. If, however, you do not receive a response in a reasonable time, this may be a signal of more significant problems, and you should contact the Dean of Students or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
What is the Program of Transfer Studies (“PTS”) and how does a student obtain access to it?
By electing the Program of Transfer Studies a student is allowed to select a set of courses that is significantly different from that which would be “normal” for any of the existing majors at HMC. However, by election of the PTS a student agrees that the semester in which the PTS is undertaken is her/his last at HMC, and she/he may not reenroll at the college in the future. PTS is normally elected in response to an ITR decision (by appeal to the Scholarly Standing Committee) or when a student determines that HMC will not meet her/his long-term academic goals.
When should a student consider taking five years to complete the HMC degree? With whom should a student discuss that option? To whom should a final decision be communicated? What are the implications for a student’s financial aid?
Some small number of our students clearly benefit from the opportunity to progress through the curriculum at a 12 or 13 units per semester pace – and often that benefit becomes apparent within the first two or three semesters of work, while a student is immersed in the Core. Discussion of the benefits and costs of a five-year program will ideally occur early in a student’s academic career and should involve a student’s academic advisors, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the student’s parents and the Financial Aid Office.
The decision to take an additional year for the completion of the degree clearly brings additional financial costs to all students. Financial aid students will find that certain elements of their financial aid packages can only extend over eight semesters, though some federal aid and loan options can be exercised through the fifth year. A student may also feel some social or collegial costs as he or she moves through the curriculum at a different pace than any existing class. Campus housing is not guaranteed for any student during the fifth year.
Once a student makes the decision to pursue a five-year program, the Registrar’s Office, Dean of Students, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs should be notified and all student advisors should be notified.
How would an HMC student pursue an Off Campus Major? What are the implications for a student’s technical work should he or she choose that option?
Any HMC student may elect to undertake a major through a department at another of the Five College Consortium, provided that the discipline is not represented at HMC (for example, an HMC student could major in History at Pomona, but not in Physics). Applications for participation in the Off Campus Major (OCM) should be made in consultation with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and with the guidance of the chair of the intended major department. The OCM must consist of no fewer than 10 course equivalents, regardless of the typical requirements of the major granting department, and must include a senior thesis or approved capstone experience. All participants in the OCM program must also complete the HMC technical core, the Humanities and Social Sciences requirements and a minor with one of the HMC major departments. Specific details regarding technical minors can be obtained from HMC department chairs or the Registrar.
Is it possible for HMC students to pursue a minor in any discipline?
With the exception of technical minors granted in conjunction with the Off Campus Majors program, no minors are recognized at HMC. This exclusion includes coursework that would lead to recognized minors at one of our consortial partners.
What is the Independent Program of Study option and how might a student choose to pursue it?
The Independent Program of Studies is an option students can elect that allows design of a major (frequently at the intersection of two or more disciplines) that is not already offered at the college. Generally students elect an Independent Program of Study (IPS) when it becomes clear that that their academic interests cannot be addressed in meaningful ways by any of the existing majors offered on campus. The major is designed in connection with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and possibly one or more advisors in the academic departments.
While the IPS can be an exciting and novel educational experience it has the disadvantage of having no formal “home” within a department, which can contribute to a sense of diminished connection to life at the college. This is not to suggest that an IPS should not be pursued, but it is to indicate that there are drawbacks that accompany the flexibility of this course of study.
As an advisor, how do I obtain access to my advisees’ transcripts?
At present, the best way is to contact the Registrar, who will have a copy sent to you. In the near future we hope that electronic access will be available.
What considerations should govern a first year student’s choice of an elective in the spring semester?
The typical HMC student will have 14 units of work in the Core scheduled for the spring term, leaving the option of one three-unit elective course (without overloading). Since all departments are required to provide majors that can be completed in two years, there are no absolutely right or wrong choices regarding this elective. Nevertheless, certain considerations may make particular choices more advisable. A student who is actively conflicted about a choice of major (rather than simply still exploring) might use the elective to probe further. For example, a student who imagines him or herself undecided about majoring in biology or engineering might take Bio 52 or Eng 4. A student who is feeling very pressured in the core curriculum might take a course in an area of strength (an extra math course, a history course). A student who seems completely undecided might be advised to take a course that will further work in the core (Bio 52 or E59) or the Humanities and Social Sciences curriculum. At this point in his or her career, a student may not have enough background to make the most of an Integrative Experience – most will be better advised to wait to fulfill that requirement.
What is the Integrative Experience requirement and how should a student be advised regarding its completion?
The Integrative Experience (IE) is one way in which the curriculum seeks to address the Mission Statement’s goal of actively relating technical work and society. There are a variety of types of Integrative Experiences including conventional courses, experiences accompanying clinic or research, project-based courses that serve a societal need, and student-initiated experiences. All types will involve extensive reflection, writing and oral communication. There is no explicit restriction of the courses to juniors and seniors, but some of their benefits are likely to be greater for upper division students. Freshmen and sophomores are not actively discouraged from enrolling in IE courses, but should not do so primarily as a means to “get the requirement out of the way early.”
How and when may students exercise the option to take a course Pass/Fail? What issues should an advisor raise with a student considering that option?
After the first semester of the first year, a student may elect to take one course each semester on a Pass/Fail basis. No more than one course may be taken from each department each academic year on a pass/fail basis and departments may have additional regulations which exclude certain courses from the Pass/Fail option. No core courses after the first semester may be taken Pass/Fail without departmental approval.
A student who wants a Pass/Fail option for a course must declare that intent on a form available from the Registrar’s Office, obtain the signatures of his or her advisors and the relevant instructor, and submit the form to the Registrar no later than the last date to withdraw from the class. Students should be reminded that a grade of “P” requires a minimum letter grade of C- in a course – a higher standard for ‘passing’ than in a letter grade scheme. Students should also be advised that while “P” grades do not register in the GPA, “F” grades always do.