Advising
2007-2008

Every student is assigned a faculty advisor within the department. This individual will be a good source of information for questions about progress toward your degree, and about chemical engineering in general.

All students are required to meet with their advisor at least once every semester. You must schedule this meeting before registering for the coming semester. After the meeting, you will turn in a completed signature form to the ChE office and your registration flag on REGGIE will be lifted. See Advising Hours for Fall 2008 Registration.

Quality Points

This is one of the methods used to monitor the progress toward your degree. Quality points are assigned to each course you complete on the basis of the grade received and the number of hours of credit for the course. ("A" = 4, "B" = 3, "C" = 2, "D" = 1, and "F" = 0). For example, a grade of "B" in a 3-credit course earns 9 quality points.

If your quality point total falls below the equivalent of a "C" average, you will be notified that you have a quality point deficiency. This quantity is calculated by comparing the quality points you receive in each course against the number of quality points corresponding to a "C" in that course. For example, a grade of "D" in a 3-credit course represents a deficiency of -3 quality points. Note that you can offset deficiency points in your weaker courses by earning a corresponding number of grades above a "C" average in your better courses.

If your overall record shows a quality point deficiency, you will be subject to academic warning and/or scholastic probation by the University. If your record for ChE courses develops a quality point deficiency, you will be subject to academic action by the Department:

ChE Quality Point Deficiency		Action
	-1 >= QPD >= -6		Academic Warning
	-7 >= QPD >= -9		Academic Probation
	-10 >= QPD		Academic Drop

If you find yourself developing a quality point deficiency within the Department, it is a good idea to discuss the situation with your advisor or another faculty member. Experience indicates that while many students are able to recover from Warning or Probation status, the odds for completing a degree in ChE become much worse if you have reached the Academic Drop level.

Senior Check-out

The University has established a "check-out" procedure designed to ensure that seniors will meet their graduation requirements. You must go through the check out procedure before the registration period in the semester prior to the semester in which you anticipate graduation. Go to the department office and request a copy of your degree audit sheet take it to the faculty member in charge of checkout. The degree audit must be approved by the department the Dean's office, and the Office of Record and Registration. After you get department approval, take it to a counselor in the Dean's Office. At that time you will make written application for your degree. Once you have signed your degree audit form do not change your plans. Any deviation in courses scheduled requires a petition through the department, and approval in the Dean's Office.

Helpful Hints

Get to know your classmates and the ChE students a year ahead of you. They know the ropes and can help answer your questions. Join the student chapter of our professional, AIChE. It will help you get to know fellow students and your profession. Register at career services and keep your resume updated so you are ready to interview for co-op and intern positions when the time comes.

Last modified on April 3, 2008