NMSU-A Online Student Orientation Part: 1

1. Welcome to
New Mexico State University-
Alamogordo
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration
This orientation covers information for Online and
On-Campus students
All new college (NMSU) students must complete this online
SOAR session in order to fully complete registration.

2. Student Orientation
Required for all Online Courses.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

3. College Terms
• Course Load - number of semester hours for which a
student is registered
• Full-time student - one who is enrolled for 12+
semester hours in a 16-week semester.
(Overload = more than 18 hours)
• Part-time student - less than 12 semester hours in a
16-week semester.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

4. Scheduling Options
• Course Types:
– On-campus -Day, evening, Saturdays
– On-line - Computer-delivered instruction
– ITV - Instructional television
• Course Length:
– 16 week full semesters-Fall/Spring, 10 week for
Summer
– 8 week mini-semesters-Fall/Spring, 5 week for Summer
Distance Learning (Instructional Television and
On-line Classes) is not recommended for first-time college
students.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

5. Which Degree/Certificate
Are You Pursuing?
• Associate of Arts- a two-year degree in the arts
– prepares students to enter a four-year college or university.
• Associate of Science- a two-year degree in the science
– enable students to enter as juniors at a four-year college/university with a
major in a science discipline.
• Associate of Applied Science- a two-year Technical
degree
– may not be transferable
– Some AAS degrees require specialized admission
• Certificate of Completion –
• Certification in a Smaller part of an AAS degree
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

6. NM State Core Classes
These classes provide the student with a broad foundation and common framework
upon which to develop knowledge and skills, social consciousness and respect for self
and others
Note: Some courses require passing a placement rest to enroll
Communications: ENGL
111G
English-­‐Level
I
ENGL
203G,
211G,
or
218G
English-­‐Level
II
(10 Credits) COMM
253G
or
265G
Public
Speaking
Math: MATH
121G
or
Higher,
StaIsIcs
251G
(3 Credits)
Lab Sciences: Astronomy,
Biology,
Chemistry,
Environmental
Science,
Geography
111G,
Geology,
Physics
(8 Credits)
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

7. NM State Core Classes
(Continued)
Social/Behavioral Anthropology,
Counseling
&
EducaIon
Psychology,
Criminal
JusIce,
Economics,
Geography
112G,
Government,
Health
Sciences: Science,
Psychology,
Social
Work,
Sociology,
Women’s
(6-9 Credits)
Studies
Humanities and
Fine Arts Art,
English
220G,
History,
Music,
Philosophy,
Theater
Arts
(6-9 Credits)
Campus
Requirements
College
101,
Computer
Science
110
Electives
Number
of
elecIves
is
based
on
specific
degree
plan
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

8. Balancing Work and School
13 hours of course load (hours in class each week)
26 hours of prep time (2X hours in class each week)
39 total hours per week spent on school
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

9. Placement Testing
(Compass)
• Math, English, and Reading placement tests
are designed to measure the student’s academic ability in each
subject area for course-level placement.
• Have taken the ACT or SAT? Talk to your advisor about
having placement testing waived
• Testing requires a referral form from Advising or an instructor
• Retesting is at your advisors discretion
A session with an Academic Advisor is required to assess,
advise, provide student with a degree plan, and register
student for classes.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

10. A Little Worried About
Compass Testing?
 Retesting can be done on a case by case basis. Students
must see an Academic Advisor for scheduling and all fees.
 If you have taken the test 2 times, you must wait 30 days.
 Brush up for the test at:
www.thea.nesinc.com
www.testprepreview.com
www.purplemath.com
www.sosmath.com
www.mathmax.com
www.google.com
www.math.com/prealgebra
www.algebrahelp.com
 Search for other free Compass practice tests on Google.
There are many options available on-line.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

11. Understanding Your Compass
Scores
Writing
76-100 You can enroll in ENGL 111G
35-75 You can enroll in CCDE 110N
0- 34 You can enroll in CCDE 105N
Reading
81-100 You can enroll in any college class
61-81 You can enroll in CCDR 110N
0-60 You can enroll in CCDR 105N
Math
51-100 You can enroll in CCDM 112N or CCDM 114N
28-50 You can enroll in CCDM 103N
0-27 You can enroll in CCDM 100N
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

12. What are Developmental
Courses (CCD_)
• Are offered in reading, writing, and math.
• They are designed to increase skill levels so students are ready for
college level courses
• Are Required of Students who have not successfully passed
Compass testing before registering for most college credited
courses
• Do not count in GPA
• Are not transferable and do not count towards your degree
• DO count as part of your course load for financial aid, medical
insurance, etc.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

13. Our Developmental
Classes Are:
 English
CCDE 105 N Developmental English
CCDE 110 N Developmental Writing
 Reading
CCDR 105 N Reading Tech I
CCDR 110 N Reading Tech II
 Math
CCDM 100 Arithmetic (Pre-Algebra)
CCDM 103 Beginning Algebra
CCMD 114 Intermediate Algebra or CCDM 112& 113
The class you begin with is based on your Compass scores, each class
must be passed with a grade of C or better to progress to the next
class
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

14. Planning Your Course Load
If you work:
You May Wish to Take:
35+ hours per week
1 – 2 classes
25-34 hours per week
3 classes
0-24 hours per week
4 – 5 classes
Example:
ENGL 111G
4 credit hours
HIST 101G
3 credit hours
BIOL 101G
3 credit hours
MATH 121G
3 non-credit hours
13 hours course load
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

15. A Typical Class
Schedule may look like
this:
Sample Classes Semester Hours
ENGL 110G 4
GOVT100G 3
HIST101G 3
MATH 121G 3
COLL 101 1
Total Hours: 14
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

16. Course Descriptions
You may visit the NMSU-A website to view
The Course Catalog and The Class Schedule.
Course: English 111G – Rhetoric and Composition
Description: Skills and methods used in writing university-level essays. Prerequisites:
ACT standard score in English of 16 or higher or a Compass score 76 or higher; for
those scoring 13-15 in English on the ACT or 35-75 on the Compass, successful
completion of a developmental writing course; for those scoring 12 or below on the ACT
standard score in English or 34 or below on the compass, successful completion of two
developmental writing courses.
Prerequisite: Engl 111G is a prerequisite for every English course numbered 200 or
above.
Co-requisite: NA
Sem Hrs. 3 Lecture Hrs. 4 Lab Hrs. 0
Course: Economics 201G – Introduction to Economics
Description: Economic institutions and current issues with special emphasis on the
American economy.
Prerequisite: NA
Co-requisite: NA
Sem Hrs. 3 Lecture Hrs. 3 Lab Hrs. 0
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

17. Calculating Your GPA
Grade = Point Value
A = 4
B = 3
C = 2
D = 1
F = 0
Course Grade Semester Hours x Point Value = Grade
Points
ENGL 111G (B) 4x3 = 12
HIST 110G (A) 3x4 = 12
BIOL 101G (F) 4x0 = 0
CCDM 100N (A) Developmental Class
COLL 101 (A) 1x4 = 4
______________________________________________________________
Hours Attempted = 11 Total Grade Points = 28
28 Total Grade Points divided by 11 Semester Hours Attempted = 2.54 GPA
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

18. Academic Status
Good Standing:
• Students are considered to be in
Good Standing when they maintain
a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

19. Academic Probation
• Students who drop below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
are placed on Academic Warning.
• Students who fail to raise their status from Academic Warning
will be placed on Academic Probation I the following semester.
Students on Probation I will be limited to 12 credits for that
semester.
• Students who fail to raise their status from Academic
Probation I will be placed on Academic Probation 2 the
following semester. Students on Probation 2 will be limited to
6 credits for that semester.
• The student who does not raise themselves out of Academic
Probation will be placed on Academic Suspension. You will not
be allowed to enroll in the university for a full academic
semester.
• All students on Warning and Probation must meet with an
academic advisor before registering for classes.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

20. Academic Suspension
• Students placed on Academic Suspension may not
enroll for the next long semester (for example: two
summer sessions and the fall semester if suspended
following the spring semester.)
• After serving his/her suspension, students may contact
an advisor to request continued enrollment, must write
an appeal letter and re-apply at admissions. If a
student is granted re-enrollment he/she must maintain
2.0 or higher.
• If suspended a second time, students may contact an
advisor to request continued enrollment, must write an
appeal letter and re-apply at admissions. If a student is
granted re-enrollment he/she must maintain 2.0 or
higher. Re-enrollment must be approved by the Vice
President of Academic Affairs.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

21. Should I drop a course?
Dropping a course will affect the following situations:
• Financial Aid & Scholarships. If you are receiving financial aid, you may
face a penalty, and be ineligible for future financial aid.
• Veteran’s Benefits. These funds could be reduced in the next semester.
• Medical Insurance Coverage. If you drop a course, you may no longer be
considered a full-time student, which can affect your medical insurance
coverage if you are covered by a parent’s insurance.
• Payment Plan Obligations. Even if you drop a course, you are still expected
to pay for it.
• Textbooks. You may be required to purchase a newer edition book the next
time you repeat the same course.
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

22. Activating your Account
To activate your my.nmsu account you will need your Banner ID
number from your admission letter.
STEP 1: Go to http://my.nmsu.edu
STEP 2: Click on “Create an Account” toward the
bottom left of the page
STEP 3: Enter your Banner Id and Date of Birth
to begin the process.
Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up your account.
Your email address is:
username@nmsu.edu
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

23. Accessing your Accounts
Once you have activate your my.nmsu account use these steps to
access your account:
STEP 1: Go to http://my.nmsu.edu
STEP 2: Enter your username and Password
STEP 3: Use the same Username and password to log into
any NMSU system (i.e. Canvas)
Note: This is not the same information used to log into the NMSU-A
system You will need to stop by the Computer Center (SC 104) to
activate your NMSU-A account.
Your email address is:
username@nmsu.edu
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

24. Student Email!
Check Daily!
This email account is the official means of
communication to students.
• Log into my.nmsu
– Click on the mail icon (blue envelope) on the left of
the screen.
• Why check your my.nmsu.edu email?
– To communicate with Teachers
– To check grades
– To download class Assignments and Notes
– To get important updates from financial aid office
– To view important information like your class
Syllabus
– To communicate with other students in your class
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration

25. HELP ME, PLEASE !!!!
If you have any questions, Please call is at:
575-439-3720
SOAR
Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration