University Studies Programs

University Studies programs are designed to be student-centered and offer a variety of academic and student support services, including academic advising and tailored academic support services, all of which provide opportunities and encouragement for students to succeed in all aspects of the college experience and beyond.

Academic Advising
University Studies Academic Advising Program offers personalized, professional academic advising services for students admitted to the program. Students are required to meet with their academic advisors each term in order to plan their schedules for the upcoming term. However, the advising appointment is more than a scheduling activity. University Studies academic advisors interact individually with the students and monitor their academic progress. Advisors help students plan a program of study and develop meaningful educational goals.

Academic Support Programs
Because University Studies students are in their first or second year of college, advisors work to provide a good balance of challenge and support, which will prepare students to move with confidence into their academic majors. Recognizing the significance of the first two years as a foundation for academic success, University Studies offers other academic support programs to assist students as they pursue their educational goals, adjust to the collegiate environment, and engage positively in their academic pursuits throughout their freshman and sophomore years.

UNIV 1118, University Studies Strategies for Academic Success: This course is a key element of the department's academic support program. In collaboration with the Division of Academic Enhancement, University Studies teaches sections of UNIV 1118 for its freshman population.

All beginning University Studies students are expected to enroll in UNIV 1118 during their first or second term in residence. The course is designed to develop within students the self-awareness and skills that they will need in order to succeed at the University of Georgia. In addition to developing time-management and critical thinking skills, students create individual portfolios in which they place their personality tests, career inventories, resumes, goals, and Holland Code results.

The value of this course lies both in its content and in the way it links students to University Studies' faculty and staff. Working together, the UNIV 1118 instructor and the department's academic advisors are able to monitor a student's success or lack of success and to intervene when necessary.

Departmental Literature: University Studies distributes issues of "Student Update" once each semester to keep students aware of deadlines and opportunities and strives to sustain the sense of community that began with the orientation.

Student Services: Basic to the University Studies student services program is the goal of fully integrating students into the mainstream life of the campus, while providing exceptional systems of support that create an environment for success. This is accomplished by providing linkages with and access to the numerous and varied educational, social, cultural, and recreational resources of the University of Georgia and by providing supportive and encouraging opportunities to participate and excel within University Studies.

Each term, University Studies recognizes students who have been named to the University's Dean's List or as Presidential Scholars.

University Studies also sponsors an annual Honors and Appreciation Reception for all University Studies students, with special recognition for those students who have been named to the University's Dean's List or as Presidential Scholars during the academic year. The department sponsors other periodic socials during the year.

To encourage interaction among students and to provide leadership opportunities, University Studies sponsors the following student groups and committees:

• The University Studies Student Advisory Committee brings the student perspective to relevant issues and helps to plan various student activities, e.g., the annual Honors and Appreciation Reception.
  
  
• The Freshman Advisory Group gives students an opportunity to share ideas and issues related to the first-year experience in the University. University Studies uses the issues and concerns that surface in these discussions when planning future orientations and support activities.
  
  
• The Adult/Returning Student Advisory Group brings together students returning to school while balancing work and/or family obligations with their academic programs. Issues and concerns relative to adult students are incorporated into the department's programming.