
		STAR Upcoming Events SOARing Ahead: What we've accomplished & what is still to come Thursday, 4/24 ISC 220, 2:00 p.m. Presented by Kim Morton www.vhcc.edu/star Archives April 14, 2008 April 7, 2008 March 31, 2008 March 24, 2008 March 17, 2008 March 3, 2008 February 25, 2008 February 18, 2008 NACADA Webinars Thursday, 4/17 NEB 918, 2pm Ensuring Advisor Success: Mastering the Art of Advising through the First Year of Advising and Beyond
	Transferring Students transferring to four-year colleges and universities are finding that some colleges re-compute their cumulative GPA to include grades earned in all course attempts rather than "forgive" a previously earned grade after a student retakes a class. In some cases where the four-year institution allows grade forgiveness, the number of course repeats that a student can attempt may be limited. Below are some institutions' course repeat policies. Make sure if a student you advise has repeated a course to have them check with their transfer institution for that colleges policy. University of Virginia - may repeat courses but no grade forgiveness William & Mary - may repeat courses but not grade forgiveness Virginia Tech - may repeat courses but not grade forgiveness James Madison - may repeat courses but grade forgiveness limited to two Radford - may repeat courses but grade forgiveness limited to three Longwood - may repeat courses but grade forgiveness limited to five George Mason - unlimited repeats with grade forgiveness Virginia Commonwealth - unlimited repeats with grade forgiveness (a course can be repeated only once) Mary Washington - unlimited repeats with grade forgiveness

	It's the time of year when students are asking their advisors for letters of recommendation for four-year colleges or employment. Here are some tips for writing those letters: a) use official letterhead and letter format (not memo) b) your letter should reflect first-hand knowledge of student -how long have you known applicant? -in what capacity? -how does he/she rank in your experience? -other categories for your comments could include -Ability to work independently -Ability to express ideas orally /in writing -Intellectual independence -Range of reading -Knowledge of major academic field -Applicant’s overall ability and scholarly potential -do not state actual GPA – if important a transcript will be requested c) what can you say specifically that is unique about applicant? d) proof-read carefully for typos +/or missing words e) closing – often we want to offer our availability and willingness to share even more information about applicant – how is this most effectively communicated? Do you have a Tip to share? Email it to the Student Success Center!

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