Academic Advising

What Is Academic Advising?

Academic advising gives students correct and up-to-date directions on how to have a successful academic journey at GUST. Academic advising will help students to evolve into an independent critical thinker and a responsible mature adult. In each advising session, decision-making skills and rational thinking will be used to make the best match between the courses the student chooses and his/her interests and career objectives.

Is academic advising helpful?

Academic Advising will help you to:

• Better understand yourself and your abilities, interests, and limitations.
• Consider life goals by relating to your interests, skills, abilities and values to your future career.
• Develop an educational plan consistent with your life goals and objectives.
• Develop decision-making skills.
• Evaluate or re-evaluate progress toward established goals and educational plans.
• Understand the nature and purpose of higher education.
• Integrate the many resources of the institution to meet your individual educational needs and aspirations.

What can academic advising provide me with?

Academic Advising Will Provide You With:

1. Integrated perspective of General Education.
2. Knowledge about policies and procedures.
3. Accurate and timely information.
4. Realistic options for decision making.

What Is An OSC Advisor?

An OSC advisor is a specialized trained professional assigned to guide you through your academic life at GUST.

Why do you need to see your Advisor?

Your advisor will help you to choose classes that match your skill level and interests and at the same time put you on the right track for graduation. Your advisor will also help you plan your schedule, become aware of your major, refer you to helpful services, explain policies and procedures, and establish long term academic plan and goals.

When Do I Go For Advising Sessions?

 

You can meet with your advisor any time you feel you have questions about your academic situation. In addition, you should see your academic advisor especially during advising periods and during the registration periods before classes start. The dates and times for these advising periods will be announced to you by e-mail, text message, social media, and the OSC page on the GUST website.

 

 What happens during the OSC advising session?

1. You will have a private chat with your advisor about your interests and concerns and your last semester experience.
2. You and your advisor will go through your major sheet to point out the subjects that you must complete in order to progress normally in your general courses according to your major.
3. The elective courses will be chosen according to your interests and career objectives.
4. You will be asked to sign the Advisement Sheet; your signature indicates your involvement in the academic advising process.
5. You will be given the advisement sheet to keep and use as a reference when enrolling in the classes.

How to prepare for the advising session?

1. Print your updated major sheet.
2. Print your updated transcript.
3. Check the classes offered in the PeopleSoft System.

Can I change my class schedule after I have done the advising session?

Yes - if you are not going to make big changes. You are highly recommended to consult with your advisor again and see if the new selection is approved or not. Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility as a student to ensure that you have registered for courses that can be counted towards your degree requirements.

What do I do if all the class I want is full in the time of my registration?

Visit your OSC advisor again to find new alternatives that will be counted towards your degree requirements. Or keep checking the system for more sections open.

Can I choose my classes by myself using my major sheet without consulting my advisor?

You are highly recommended not to do so and to seek help from your advisors who have the correct and most useful advice for you. Once you’ve had enough advising sessions with your advisor and fully understood how the system works, you may do this individually, and the advisors will be always available to support you in case you have any doubts or questions.

What are the best courses to take in the first semester?

You are highly recommended to take your English and Math courses depending on the outcome of your Placement Tests and other General Education courses.

Why General Education courses are very important?

General Education requirements at GUST develop your basic English language and Math skills and allow you go into your major courses more prepared.

What does pre-requite mean?

A course that has to be taken in order to be able to register in the upper level course.

What does co-requisite mean?

A course that can be taken at the same time with an upper level course.

What courses count as free electives?

Any course that is offered by GUST can be counted as a free elective.

Where can I find course description?

You can find course descriptions on the GUST website under “Academics”.

What are credits hours?

The total number of hours you have earned when successfully completing a course.

What does SIS stand for?

Student Information System.

What does my SIS account offers me?

Using SIS, you can add and drop classes, view your grades, holds, attendance, financial & academic standing as well as personal information.

What is a hold?

A hold is placed on your SIS account and will prevent you from enrolling in the classes due of:

• Unpaid fees.
• Admission issues.
• Course evaluation surveys not completed.
• Probation hold.

Where can I print my class schedule?

Log in into your SIS account and click on “Course Schedule”, then print.

What does “GPA” stand for?

Grade Point Average is an average of your grades when converted to numerical value, in which:

Letter Grade	Mark %	Grade Value	Remarks
A	95 - 100	4.0	12
A-	90 -	3.7	11.1
B+	87 -	3.3	9.9
B	83 -	3.0	9
B-	80 -	2.7	8.1
C+	77 -	2.3	6.9
C	73 -	2.0	6
C-	70 -	1.7	5.1
D+	65 -	1 .33	3.99
D	60 -	1.00	3
F	0 -	0	0
EX     =  Excused DL     =  Delayed W(A) =  Withdrawal Because of  Absence S/U    =  Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory P/NP =  Pass/ Non Pass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will FPU courses be counted in my GPA?

ENGL097, ENGL098, MATH094, MATH095, MATH096, MATH098 are not undergraduate courses, and therefore do not for part of your GPA.

What are the subjects that I am allowed to repeat?

Any subject that resulted in you earning a C- or below may be repeated.

Why should I repeat courses?

Courses may be repeated in order to allow you to raise your GPA, which in turn allows you to complete the requirements for graduation.

Tutoring Center

What is Tutoring?
Peer tutors provide individual and small group tutoring sessions in subjects the tutor has attained a grade of B or better. The Peer Tutor facilitates learning as a guide and coach to assist the student to become a successful, independent learner. The purpose of tutoring is to increase and enhance mastery of concepts or applications of a specific course of study. Peer tutors integrate effective study and learning strategies to maximize the tutee’s potential for academic progress. Peer Tutors are also expected to refer students to other appropriate university resources as needed.

What is a Tutor?

Tutors are students who have taken the class before and earned a high grade and are recommended by the faculty. Trained by the Tutoring Center, they provide an effective source of energy, ideas, knowledge, motivation and assistance.

 

How does Tutoring work?

 

Tutoring is a walk-in service which starts at the beginning of the semester and is conducted by Tutors who have previously taken the course and have been trained in group facilitation techniques. Your Tutors will not re-lecture you or give you their class notes. Your Tutor will not do your homework or your thinking for you. Your Tutor will not encourage ‘last minute’ cramming for a test or exam. Instead, your Tutor will help you make good use of your study time. You might as well do it with friends so that you can share your knowledge and figure things out together. Your Tutor will share with you the strategies he/she used to be successful in the course. Tutoring is a place where you can comfortably voice your questions and concerns and get answers.

What's in Tutoring for me?

If you attend  Tutoring Sessions regularly, chances are you'll earn a better grade. Research shows that students who attend the sessions regularly earn an average of one-half to one full better grade higher than their classmates who choose not to attend. Attending the sessions could mean the difference between failing and passing; when you attend the sessions, you'll develop a better understanding of course content by reviewing the material as well as transferring these skills to other classes that may not have supported sessions. Hopefully, you'll also make a few new friends who will probably be in some of your future classes!

When do sessions start?

Tutoring sessions start during the first week of classes. The Lead Learning Specialist will send an e-mail to all GUST students informing them of the Tutoring Center schedule.

Remember, the secret of success is to study proactively! Don't wait until the night before the test!! Since you have to study anyway, why not come to the sessions and make the most efficient use of your study time?

How much do these services cost?

Sessions costs you nothing except your time. Assistance is free! Come as often as you like. Keep in mind, though, the statistics show that the more you come, the better your grade will be.

What subjects can I receive Tutoring in?

Tutoring is available in many subjects. For more information, please check the Tutoring Center schedule.

What if I need help with time management, note taking and other skills?

The Learning Support Services area offer assistance in several ways. We offer workshops throughout the fall and spring semesters on several topics related to academic success including time management and note taking as well as other essential skills.
 
[1] Adapted from the University of Missouri - Kansas City website

Counseling

Why do I need Counseling?

Because it is affecting your academic and personal life.

How can counseling better me?

Counselling helps you to understand your problems in more rational way and gives you various techniques to deal with it effectively.

What are the benefits of counseling?

1. Deal with problems more effectively
2. Can concentrate in studies better
3. Minimize the distractions and maximize focus

Who is eligible for the services and is there any cost for the counseling services?

All students registered at Gulf University for Science & Technology are eligible for the services. There are no charges for these services offered at counseling center.

What can I expect when I come to the counseling center?

You will be asked to complete one or two forms that will provide your counselor with information about your reasons for approaching the counseling center. You will meet the counselor for 45 minutes in which besides the intake of your information, orientation on the counseling structure (time, duration of the session, agenda of the counseling sessions, ethics and confidentiality, type of therapeutic intervention) is given.

Is there anything seriously wrong with me?

Nothing that cannot be solved.

Is there anyone else facing the same problem?

Many students face various kinds of stress in their life.

Will the information given during session is kept confidential?

The counseling center has strict ethical standards, according to which the information given during the session is kept confidential except in two situations, if you are threat to the university or to yourself. The counselor seeks permission of the student concerned to disclose information suggested by the students.

What if my parents come to know?

Parents are not informed without students' consent.

What do the test results explain?

Every test has standardized results which are interpreted and explained to the students.

What if management comes to know?

The information given during counseling session is confidential. Even if the management comes to know it doesn't affect at all. The action is taken by management only when the student poses threat to the university.

How often can I come in?

Student can approach the counseling center (N3-103) personally or send an email ([email protected]) to the counselor asking for an appointment.

Does the counseling center prescribe medication?

The counseling center doesn't prescribe the medication. If it is essential then the counselor will refer you outside university.

What kind of issues do students come to the counseling center to get help with?

Students come to the counseling center for a wide variety of reasons: academic difficulties including time management, procrastination, concentration problems, lack of motivation, insomnia, or some specific issues related to family problems, depression, anxiety, or impulsive behaviors

How likely is it that my symptoms will return in the future? What can I do to help prevent that from happening?

Chances of relapse are always there but you learn some self- help techniques to prevent or deal with the relapse.