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Benchmarks for Progress
As we help students measure their progress toward
a degree, there are a number of benchmarks we will use in
working with them. They include:
1. Performance We
do not expect our students to complete their degrees at the
minimum performance level. Rather, we expect them to use their
talents to the fullest. Therefore, we will help students assess
their performance not only as a general indicator of the quality
of the experience they are receiving but we also will use
performance in certain courses as an indicator of success
in various fields of study. All our students are capable of
completing undergraduate degrees, but ability must be combined
with commitment and enthusiasm if students are to succeed
in the ways we hope for them.
2. Number of Hours
While the average number of hours students must complete
each quarter to graduate in four years is 16.0, that is not
a meaningful average. In general, students will complete a
good number of quarters that include 3 five hour courses,
but they also will include several quarters in which they
complete 20 or more hours. In addition, since some areas include
a high number of 3 hours courses, there will need to be careful
planning to be certain these courses are part of the planned
average per quarter. With those caveats about number of hours
involved, our experience is that students should have completed
at least 46 hours by the end of their first year, 95 hours
at the end of the second year, and 150 hours by the end of
the third year. This will permit a small amount of flexibility
for the final year.
3. Specific Courses
There are two types of benchmarks
that we identify with regard to courses. First, the 46 first
year hours, the 95 second year hourly total, and the 150 third
year total must include courses that count toward the degree.
If students are not fortunate enough to have a high preparedness
level and complete additional work before reaching the starting
point for particular requirements, they will need to increase
the hours in the first and second years.
Second, most programs have courses that must be completed
at particular points in the undergraduate program. We expect
that Math and English requirements for the major should be
completed by the end of the first year. At least three sciences
should be completed by the end of the second year. Your minor
should be declared by the end of the second year. Internship
should be completed by the end of the summer after the third
year.
4. Extent of
Decidedness Many
students are decided on a major when they enter OSU. The extent
of decideness may impact the ability to graduate in four years.
Since we believe that students will suceed best as undergraduates
and in their subsequent careers if they are immersed in a
field of study they truely enjoy, we are very supportive of
exploring or redeciding students.
The quality of learning students experience is so closely
tied to their sense of involvement in their education that
we encourage students to be open to changes. We do not promote
change for the sake of change, but when there are indicators
that a student would prosper better in another major, we want
students to be open to such change, and we want to be supportive
of such change.
However, depending on the timing and extent of such changes,
there can be implications for the time required to complete
a degree. In general, if a student reaches 95 hours, is decided
on a major, and has completed all the prerequisite and beginning
courses in the major, there will be no consequences for completing
a degree in four years. If, on the other hand, a change of
major comes very late, or if the change is to a major such
as the sciences that essentially has two years of prerequisite
courses, there will be implications for completing the degree
in a particular time period. Also declaring a minor late in
the process or changing the minor might have implications
toward completion of degree in four years.
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