Q: Does the King's College staff make sure that my son or daughter takes the required courses?

A: It is the primary responsibility of the student to be familiar with the academic requirements in their major area of study as listed in the College catalogue. Each student is given a course planner outlining the necessary requirements for graduation. In addition, a faculty advisor assists in monitoring a student's selection of courses each semester.

Q: Are students assigned to a specific academic advisor?

A: Yes. First-year students are assigned to first-year faculty advisors. At the end of that year, students are then assigned to a faculty advisor in their major department.

Q: What if my son or daughter does not have a specific major or occupation in mind at this time?

A: Many students come to college without a definite career direction, and many others will change majors while in college. Students who have not decided on a major area of study at the completion of their first year will continue to be advised by a member of the academic advisement team and will be directed in their choice of a major. A career-planning course is offered to facilitate this process.

Q: How frequently do advisors of first-year students meet with their advisees?

A: First-year students are notified by the Academic Advisement Office to make an appointment to meet with their advisors a minimum of three times a semester: Early Alert, Mid-Semester and Pre-Registration. Students are also encouraged to visit their advisors whenever they are experiencing difficulties, have questions, or need guidance. In some instances, advisors will request a student to schedule additional meetings to monitor their progress.

Q: What is "Early Alert?"

A: Early Alert is the early assessment of first-year students. Professors are requested to notify the Academic Advisement Office regarding students experiencing difficulty as soon as possible after the third week of the semester. This early intervention assists a student in identifying potential problems. An early response to academic difficulties often makes a critical difference in a student's successful completion of a course.

Q: How many courses does a student take each semester?

A: Usually five courses, representing fifteen credits. Labs required for some courses (i.e., sciences) may increase the number of credits in any semester. Full-time study requires at least twelve credit hours. The College catalogue details overloads and provides additional information.

Q: When does my son or daughter register for classes?

A: A new student registers for classes during the summer advisement visit. Information regarding the scheduling of this visit is mailed by the Academic Advisement Center in the spring.

Q: Can students be exempted for some requirements of the King's Core Curriculum?

A: Yes, if a student has successfully qualified on an advanced placement exam. Core requirements for math and science are also replaced by electives if a student's program requires advanced study in these areas.

Q: How many first-year students are dropped automatically during the first year?

A: None. Students are expected to earn a minimum cumulative 2.00 grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first semester. The performance of students who do not meet this minimum requirement will be reviewed by the Academic Standing Committee. If warranted, a student may be placed on probation or suspended for a period of time.

Q: How many hours a week should a student plan to study?

A: Students will learn most effectively if they establish a daily study schedule. It is recommended that students study two hours for every hour of classroom instruction. For efficient memory and understanding, lecture notes must be reviewed within twenty-four hours of the class. All reading material and notes must be reviewed regularly to master a topic and to prevent cramming. Learning in college challenges students to learn new studying strategies and to adapt learning techniques. The Academic Skills Center provides a program of free learning strategies workshops to assist students in developing good study skills.

Q: How long does a student have to withdraw from a course?

A: It is presumed a student will complete the courses for which he or she is registered. If necessary, a student may withdraw from a course, but only within the first half of the semester. The specific date for withdrawal is published in the College catalogue.

Q: Are students guaranteed placement in their first-choice courses each semester?

A: Ordinarily, students will have little difficulty enrolling in courses in their major field of study, although they may not always get their first choice of instructor or time slot.

Many heavily-subscribed major programs conduct a pre-registration, a system whereby students are placed in major sequence courses before open pre-registration to be guaranteed placement in these courses. Additionally, King's College makes every effort to offer as many sections of Core and major courses to serve the needs of the students.

Q: What type of grading system is used by King's College?

A: King's uses a 4-point, A-F grading system. (A = 4 grade points; B+ = 3.5; B = 3; C+ = 2.5; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0). To calculate the grade point average, or GPA, the grade points for the assigned grade in each course are multiplied by the number of attempted credit hours for the course. This product results in the honor points for each course. The total honor points for the grades assigned in a given semester are then divided by the total attempted credits for the same semester, resulting in the semester GPA. A student must have a 2.0 minimum GPA to graduate from King's.

Q: What are the requirements to make the Dean's List at King's?

A: The Dean's List is achieved by students who have earned a GPA of 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale) or better while taking a full academic course load (at least 12 credits).

Q: How often are grades issued and will parents receive a copy of the reports?

A: Final grades are mailed directly to the student at their official home address at the end of each semester. Mid-semester grades are also mailed to the student's home address of record at the time of mailing. It is expected a student will communicate their grades to their parents.

Q: What access does my son or daughter have to their records?

A: Once a student is officially enrolled at King's, the student may at any time during normal office hours review their academic file which is maintained in the Registrar's Office.

Q: What happens if my son or daughter is having trouble with a course?

A: A student experiencing trouble in a course should see the instructor, make an appointment with their academic advisor, or enlist assistance from the academic support services of the Academic Skills Center. Staffed by professionals and trained peer tutors, the Academic Skills Center offers a walk-in Writing Center, group and individual tutoring. Additionally, programs are offered to develop strategies in time management, study skills, reading skills, and test taking.

Q: How does a student initiate the use of the Academic Skills Center?

A: Students may request a peer tutor or make an appointment with the director of the Academic Skills Center or the tutorial coordinator, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Academic Skills Center. Services are free and are available to all King's students.

Q: Are faculty members available for students outside of the classroom?

A: Yes, all faculty have office hours. The location of faculty offices and scheduled office hours are included in the syllabus for each course. Faculty also work with students in other capacities such as faculty moderators to student organizations and as academic advisors.