Western Carolina University

A transition course will help you make a seamless and holistic transition to your new community at WCU. You will:

• Learn about campus resources, procedures, and policies.
• Learn to negotiate college life successfully.
• Discover opportunities for extra-curricular activities.
• Learn to be intentional in your educational and personal goals.
• Explore the scope of the world around you and your place in and impact on that world.

The purpose and objectives for all transition courses include:

1. Connect you with other students - i.e., to help you form peer-support networks and peer-learning communities;
2. Connect you with the college - i.e., to promote (a) your appreciation of the meaning and relevance of the college curriculum (liberal arts & sciences), (b) your involvement in the co-curriculum (out-of-class experiential learning), and (c) your use of campus support services (academic-support and student-development services);
3. Connect your present college experience with your future goals and plans - i.e., to help you relate your current college experience with your upcoming decisions about your college major, your future career path, and your life beyond college.
4. Connect you with the principles of leadership - i.e., to help you understand the importance of leadership to your college experience and your life.

Click here for more details on finding the Transition Pathway that works for you!

• COUN 140 - Skills for College Life
• LEAD (140-159) - Leadership Themes
• USI 130 - University Experience
• USI 101 - Honors Forum

What are the core elements of a Transition Course?

Academic Components
Attendance policies - grading scales - withdrawal and incomplete grades - four-year degree plans - grade point average calculation - majors, minors, electives, and concentrations

Academic Success
Offer support to empower your academic success: Writing and Learning Commons - Mathematics Tutoring Center - Class TIPS (Technology Instruction for Peer Success)

Advising
Your professional advisor and faculty advisor will help you:

• Select appropriate courses, careers, and majors
• Understand university academic policies and procedures
• Cope with the transition to college

Campus Activities/Passports
Get involved: attend athletic events - join student organizations - participate in cultural events - become a part of the local community through service learning and civic engagement.

Career Counseling
Consider three questions as you go about the process of choosing a career: What are you interested in? What do you do well? What do you value in life?

Education Briefcase (eB)
The briefcase is an electronic portfolio through which you, your advisor, and faculty members can monitor your academic and social progress at WCU.

Engagement
Incorporating in-class and out of class experiences is a core element of first year transition courses. You will be encouraged to be actively involved in your education through curricular and co-curricular opportunities.

Leadership
The Social Change Model for Leadership Development is specifically focused on leadership through the lens of consciousness of self, commitment, congruency, collaboration, common purpose, conflict with civility, and citizenship.

Liberal Studies
Transition courses underscore the importance of a liberal education and intellectual skills such as critical thinking, oral and written communication, and analytical abilities.

Registration
You must meet with your primary advisor before registering for classes each semester. Only after the advisor reviews and approves the plan is a PIN number issued that allows you access to online registration.

Responsible Living and Wellness
This element incorporates four major areas:

• Holism
• Personal Development
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Interdependence

Service Learning
Service Learning ties course concepts and themes with reflection to make your learning experience meaningful and relevant.

Synthesis
Transition courses provide an opportunity to integrate co-curricular experiences with academic activities in meaningful reflective ways that promote synthesis.

Status Check
The "status check" invites a brief discussion of university issues that are of immediate importance to you.

Study Skills
The transition course will inform you of proper academic preparation such as successful reading, organization, test taking, note taking, and memorization skills.

Celebration
We will encourage you to celebrate becoming a member of a new community that values:

• Diversity
• Community Building
• Campus
• The Region
• World View