Engineering Transfer Orientation

Academic Transition

• Expect: you approach this phase of education with both excitement and concern
• Concerns
  • Will I succeed?
  • Is engineering for me?
• Good news: You have what it takes to succeed in the College of Engineering
  • You have proven your commitment to academic success
  • You have met admissions standards set for success by our faculty

Caution: Transition is Difficult

• New school
• New campus
• Possibly a new living environment
• Higher expectations of instructors
• Quarter system
• Many transfer students struggle in their first quarter, but then rebound to better performance
• Recommend not working during the first quarter
• Don't procrastinate on your studies!

Persistence to Degree

• Students admitted as engineering transfers:
  • 89% receive Bachelor's degrees from UC Davis
  • 84% in engineering majors
  • 5% in majors in other colleges
  • 11% are dismissed for poor academic performance or decide not to continue
• 92% of engineering graduates find work in their field of choice

Academic Advising Resources

• Peer Advisors
• Departmental Undergraduate Staff Advisors
• Faculty Advisors
• Engineering Undergraduate Office Advisors
• Associate Dean

Peer Advisors

• Upper Division engineering majors
• Available:
  • Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 Kemper Hall
  • Ice Cream Social
    Thursday, October 7, 2:30-4:00pm
    Kemper Hall Courtyard

Departmental UG Staff Advisors

• Provide advice on details of degree requirements
• Contact information on contact list handout
• Meet with them today: appointment on yellow schedule sheet
• Annual advising requirement
  • Unique to the College of Engineering
  • Enforced by hold on enrollment: A-G Fall, H-N Winter, O-Z Spring
  • Review of one-year academic plan
  • Address not only academic issues but also personal issues impacting academic success

Faculty Advisors

• Choice of major and area of specialization
• Career plans
• Internship sponsorship
• Research opportunities
• Graduate study

Undergraduate Office Advisors

• Supplemental advising services
• Listed under ``Advising Services" on Contact List
• Services provided:
  • Transfer credit evaluation
  • Petitions: late drop, simultaneous enrollment
  • Certification of degree requirements
  • Dismissal appeals
  • Change of major to another college
• Advice for students in poor academic standing
• Note: College of Engineering policies sometimes differ from those in other colleges

Dismissal Policy

• Academic probation: quarter GPA 1.5-2.0
• Probation continued: second quarter of GPA 1.5-2.0
• Subject to disqualification (STD)
  • Quarter GPA below 1.5
  • 3rd quarter of GPA 1.5-2.0
• You may be dismissed any time you are subject to disqualification
• You will be promptly dismissed any time you are on probation or subject to disqualification for three consecutive quarters

Official Communications

• Through your UC Davis e-mail address
• For some departments: also through your departmental e-mail address
• Check your e-mail daily
• Respond as directed to maintain your academic status

Information Privacy

• Federal Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) allows only “directory information” to be released, including:
  • Student name, address, phone number, e-mail address
  • Photograph, date and place of birth
  • Major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status
  • Degrees, honors and awards received
  • Students may declare this information to be confidential

Succeeding in Engineering Study

• Build a support network
• Form a study group
• Consult with more advanced students
• Meet with teaching assistants
• Meet with instructor
• Stay in frequent contact with advisors

Academic Issues

• Academic planning
• General education
• Academic major and minor
• Educational enrichment

Academic Planning

• Course priorities
  • Courses to allow staying on track in your major
  • Lower division deficiencies
  • EE & CompE: take ENG 17 in SS II
• Recommend normal load of about 15 units each quarter, with at least 45 units in three quarters
• Curriculum rights: meet requirements at time of graduation or requirements of previous academic year
• General catalog: issued every two years
• Engineering Bulletin: annual, more current

General Education

• Topical Breadth
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Social Science
• Writing and social-cultural diversity
• Six courses, 24 units (33 for Computer Science and Engineering majors)
• Two courses must be upper division
• Some courses deleted from list

Academic Major and Minor

• Change of major:
  • Must have completed at least one quarter
  • Fewer than 125 units
  • Requirements vary by engineering major
• Combined majors: with Materials Science
• Double majors
  • Add a second Engineering major
  • Add a second major from another college
• Minors:
  • Engineering: Computational Applied Science
  • Other colleges: Technology Management, Leadership
• Joint BS/MS program offered by some departments

Educational Enrichment

• Engineering professional society student chapters
• Design competitions: Future Truck, Micromouse, Concrete Canoe
• Internships: Internship and Career Center
• Davis Honors Challenge
• Education Abroad Program
• Research opportunities

Computer Resources

• Student computing guide - On the web: scg.ucdavis.edu
• Student computer ownership - On the web: computerownership.ucdavis.edu
• Instructional labs in engineering departments
• Software
  • Assigned with course textbooks
  • No need to acquire additional software at this time