RHSA Orientation | College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

While Orientation may look different this year, we look forward to virtually welcoming you to your new academic community—the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture (RHSA). Here you will learn more about the School and the major you selected, including its requirements and expectations. You will also find all of the information and resources you need to prepare for Orientation, including how to schedule an advising appointment and a checklist of what you need to do before that appointment.

What You Can Expect

During your orientation session you will be meeting via WebEx one-on-one with a professional advisor from RHSA. In your individual advising meeting, you will be registering for courses for the upcoming semester. During this session, the advisor can also answer any questions you may have about your major, pre-professional programs, college, or other academic questions you may have.

After you register for an Orientation date with the Orientation Office, you will be assigned an advising appointment time.

Advisors will be using the WebEx platform to conduct your advising session
- For those with limited access to technology, phone appointments are available
You will receive an email with a meeting room link the day before your appointment
During the advising appointment you will:
- Register for Spring courses with an advisor

*Make sure to complete the checklist for advising appointments prior to your scheduled appointment, and review the tips for a successful appointment below.*

1. Review the Orientation Office Task List

2. Review your acceptance letter to verify the major you have been accepted into. If you have any questions about your major, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

3. Read more about your major:

Plans of Study About RHSA

Orientation Presentation Sequence of Courses

4. Complete the Student Information Form

5. Read the Academic Resources information below on placement exams and transferring credit

6. Check your student administration system to be sure you do not have any holds on your account that will prevent registration

We will use the WebEx platform to conduct your advising session. All University students have access to this platform. At your assigned meeting time, please go to the meeting room link you received via email the day prior, and your advisor will greet you.

Please remember:

All students are encouraged to schedule a virtual WebEx advising appointment
- If you do not have access to technology, and need to conduct a phone appointment, please indicate that on your student information form
Remember if using your camera function that your advisor can see you and your surroundings

Math

UConn requires all undergraduate students seeking to register in Pre-Calculus, Calculus 1 and 2 to take the Mathematics Placement Exam (MPE) to determine student readiness for appropriate placement. Students must earn qualifying scores in order to register for MATH 1060Q (Pre-Calculus), MATH 1131Q (Calculus 1), MATH 1132Q (Calculus 2), MATH 1151Q (Honors Calculus 1), or 1152Q (Honors Calculus 2). The RHSA majors do not require pre-calculus or higher math, so students do not need to take the placement test. However, if you are interested in pursuing a higher degree after graduating from RHSA that requires calculus, you can consider taking the test.

The Math Placement Exam is completed online through HuskyCT
A minimum score of 17 is required for placement in MATH 1060Q (Pre-Calculus)
A minimum score of 22 is required for placement in MATH 1131Q (Calculus 1) or MATH 1132Q (Calculus 2)
Students have a maximum of three attempts per semester to achieve the required score. If you do not achieve a qualifying score after the first attempt, we STRONGLY encourage you to review the learning modules before re-taking the assessment

English

As part of the University General Education Requirements, all students are required to complete ENGL 1007. (Note: ENGL 1007 is a prerequisite to all writing (W) courses).
Students may initially be placed into ENGL 1003, 1004, or 1007 - your advisor will discuss where you have placed
Any student who has earned a score of 4 or 5 on the AP English Language or English Literature exam will receive credit for English
Students who successfully complete English courses in a UConn ECE program will receive the same credit as that given by UConn
Transfer Students - If you have taken English at your previous institution, you may be eligible to petition for a Writing Course Equivalency Review to satisfy the English requirement
- To be eligible to petition, students must have completed two semesters of composition at another institution, and received six transfer credits labeled either ENGL 91002 or ENGL 91003 OR have received at least three transfer credits labeled ENGL 91002 or 91003 AND completed an additional academic writing course with a focus on the practices and processes of composition

AP Credit

AP examination scores must be sent directly from the College Board to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. To receive AP academic credit at UConn you must earn a 4 or 5 on your AP exam, with the exception of MATH BC where a 3 is accepted.

AP credit may transfer in as a specific UConn course, or as generic credit (ex. Art/Studio 1000 level).
AP courses do not transfer with a grade, and therefore do not affect your UConn GPA.

Your advisor will help you determine how your AP scores will transfer to UConn.

Early College Experience (ECE) Credit

UConn Early College Experience (ECE) is a concurrent enrollment program that allows high school students in Connecticut to take UConn courses at their high schools for both high school and college credit.

Students will have the opportunity to decide if they would like to accept or reject their ECE credit based on the grade earned, as well as the program they are interested in pursuing.

ECE courses transfer to UConn with an actual grade, which if accepted does factor into a student's overall GPA.

Speak with your advisor regarding how ECE courses can work in your plan of study.

Transferring Credit for Transfer Students

Make sure your official transcripts from your previous institution(s) are sent to UConn as soon as possible in order to avoid any enrollment issues.
If you have questions regarding your transfer credits, please contact the Office of Transfer Admission.
A week before Orientation, review your Transfer Credit Report. If the report has notes of people to contact for a course review, please follow those directions as soon as possible. This is important if you need this course as a pre-requisite during registration.
Remember to keep any syllabi from your previous institution(s), as you will need to present them if you have any questions regarding re-evaluation of your transfer credits.