The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Academic Programs unit is dedicated to your success at UC Davis. We are here to support you through your college experience from orientation to graduation.
All incoming students are expected to attend UC Davis Orientation. Registration for the Fall quarter, for new students, takes place during the orientation program. Orientation leaders provide students with help in planning their first quarter schedule. In the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the departmental advisors and College Counselors (Undeclared/Exploratory) assist students planning their quarterly schedule of classes as well as in planning a long-term program of study.
If you do not attend orientation, you may not be able to receive academic advising prior to enrolling in classes and will register on your own during your registration appointment time. This Registration appointment is a pre-assigned time to enroll in courses and can be found on SISWeb at http://sisweb.ucdavis.edu If you do not attend orientation and need help with registration, contact the Office of the University Registrar in 12 Mrak Hall or (530) 752-3639.
The University maintains a wealth of information on registration and enrollment procedures. The current course schedule and registration guide (CSRG), enrollment procedures, class registration instructions, fee payment policies and procedures, add/drop policies, and information about course availability is readily accessible to students online. Course descriptions, major and minor requirements are available in the online version of the UC Davis general catalog. Also, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has prepared an Academic Advising Resource Directory which includes major descriptions and contact information for all degrees offered by the college.
We encourage you to speak with an advisor if you have questions about your current classes, if you need help planning classes for an upcoming quarter, or if you have any concerns about meeting graduation requirements.
The following websites can be helpful:
Registrar’s Office
UC Davis General Catalog
Orientation
Academic Advising Resources
- Attend Deans' Assembly during Orientation Days at the start of the quarter
- Date and time is published in the Class Schedule and Registration Guide. See Orientation and Deans’ Assembly
- Peer Advisers – Dean’s Office and Major Offices
- Dean’s Office Peers: (530) 752-0610 agpeer@caes.ucdavis.edu
- Academic Advising Resource Directory
- Faculty Advisers – see Major offices (above)
- College Dean’s Office Academic Counselors – 150 Mrak Hall
Academic Transition
- Expect: you approach this phase of education with both excitement and concern
- Concerns
- Will I succeed?
- Is my major the right one for me?
- Good news:
- You have met admissions standards set for success by our faculty
- You have proven your commitment to academic success
- You have what it takes to succeed at UC Davis
- It is easy to change your major. Once you have completed one quarter at UC Davis, you can usually change your major.
Caution: Transition is Difficult
- New school and campus
- New living environment
- Higher expectations of instructors
- Quarter system - 10 weeks
- Performance uncorrelated with high school performance
Departmental Staff Advisers
- Provide advice on details on completion of the major degree requirements
- Help you plan a quarter by quarter study list
- Academic Advising Resource Directory
Faculty Advisers
- Choice of major and area of specialization
- Career plans
- Internship sponsorship
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Graduate study
Dean’s Office Counselors
- Supplemental advising services
- Services provided:
- Petitions: late schedule adjustments (dropping of courses, change of grading method), simultaneous enrollment, Excess Units, etc.
- Certification of degree requirements
- Change of major to another college
- Advice for students in poor academic standing
- Referrals to campus services
- Dismissal appeals
- Location: 150 Mrak Hall
- Current students can schedule an appointment using our online Messaging & Appointment System - https://secure.caes.ucdavis.edu/MAAPS2
Succeeding at UC Davis
- Teamwork approach
- Study partner or group
- Upper-class students
- Teaching assistants and instructor
- Weekly study time
- 2 hours for each hour of lecture
- 2 hours for each hour of discussion
- 1-2 hours for each 2-3 hours of lab time
- 40-50 hours of class and study time
- Manage your time carefully (Do not procrastinate)
- Utilize Student Academic Success Center
- Consult with more advanced students
- Meet with teaching assistants
- Meet with instructor
- Stay in frequent contact with advisors
Academic Planning
- Initial course priorities
- Math (if required for your major)
- English or General Education Course
- Chemistry or Major Preparatory Course
- Check the General Catalog if you have Advanced Placement Credit
- Recommend expected load of about 15 units each quarter
- Minimum of 13 units per quarter or 39 after three full time quarters
- General Education
- Preliminary degree check — GE2 (for students entering as upperclassmen through 2014)
- Preliminary degree check — GE3 (for students entering as freshmen starting fall 2011)
- Useful Handouts
- Recommend normal load of about 15 units each quarter, with at least 45 units in three quarters (Minimum Progress is an average of 13 units/ full time quarter, with at least 39 units in three full time quarters)
- General catalog: issued every two years
Educational Enrichment
- Aggie Ambassadors
- Davis Honors Challenge
- Education Abroad Center
- Internships: Internship and Career Center
- Undergraduate research opportunities – contact faculty or your major adviser
Computer Resources & Official Communications
- UC Davis email is the official method of campus communications
- Check your email daily
- Respond as directed to maintain your academic status
- Student computing guide
- Student computer ownership
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
- For campus offices to communicate to a third party you must sign a release form
- Each office may have their own release form
Finish in Four Years?
- Requires normal progress of 15 units/quarter
- Courses must be taken in recommended order
- Difficult to accomplish if you must work to provide financial support
Academic Difficulty and Dismissal – in general
- Dean's Office monitors qualitative and quantitative progress - see below
- Qualitative standard (grade point average / GPA) expects a minimum of 2.0 in quarter and overall UC GPA
- Only based on UC grades!
- Qualitative Academic probation: quarter or cumulative UC GPA 1.5-2.0
- Qualitative Probation continued: second quarter or cumulative UC GPA 1.5-2.0
- Qualitative Subject to disqualification (SD)
- Quarter or cumulative UC GPA below 1.5
- 3rd quarter of UC GPA or cumulative UC GPA 1.5-2.0
- 16 units or more of outstanding “I” (incomplete) grades
- You will be promptly dismissed any time you are subject to disqualification for three consecutive quarters for Qualitative (GPA) reasons
- Quantitative standard (a.k.a. Minimum Progress) based on number of units passed in each full time quarter
- Minimum Progress: 13 units/full time quarter or average 39 units after three full time quarters
- You must petition and be approved by the Office of the Registrar for Part Time Status before the 10th day of the quarter otherwise you are “full time”
- Students are encouraged to complete 15 units per quarter to achieve normal progress toward their degree.
- You will be promptly dismissed after being subject to disqualification for two consecutive quarters for Quantitative (minimum progress) reasons.
- You may be dismissed any time you are subject to disqualification.
