University of Alabama Early College UAEC 200 Exhaustive Student Guide

UAEC 200 Course Introduction and Preliminary Assignments

• The UAEC 200 course begins with specific introductory tasks designed to familiarize students with the Blackboard platform and technical requirements.
• Introduction Discussion: Students must post an introduction into the discussion board to greet their peers and the instructor. This is the only assignment in the course that is not for a grade.
• Microsoft Office Access: An assignment requiring students to download or access Microsoft Office, which is a required tool for the remainder of the course.
• Pre-Class Writing Assignment: Students write a few paragraphs about themselves and submit them to receive initial feedback from the instructor.
• Pre-Class Test: A straightforward assessment regarding class expectations and Blackboard navigation. No specific study material is required, as the goal is to ensure students are prepared for the first live class meeting.

UA Early College Program Overview and Participation Requirements

• The University of Alabama Early College (UAEC) program offers high school students the opportunity to earn college credit before graduation.
• Early College Student Resources (ECSR): A guidebook/folder containing all official policies and procedures related to the UA Early College program.
• Cost: The UAEC 200 course is offered at no cost to students and their families.
• Program Progression: Completion of UAEC 200 is mandatory before a student is allowed to register for any additional academic courses.
• Reapplication and Fees: If a student does not complete the course or needs to change their start date, they must reapply to the program and pay an additional application fee of $40$.
• Minimum Completion Hurdle: Students must earn a minimum of $700$ total course points within UAEC 200 to advance in the program. Failure to reach this threshold requires a retake of the course, necessitating a new application and fee.

Administrative Accounts and Official Student Identification

• MyBama: The official administrative portal for the University of Alabama. It is used to access student transcripts, register for courses, and manage student accounts. Students are expected to memorize their MyBama username immediately.
• Crimson Email: The official communication channel for the University of Alabama. Students must check this email daily for messages from the UAEC office and instructors.
• Campus-Wide ID (CWID): The official student identification number used across the university.
• Data Persistence: The MyBama username, Crimson email address, and CWID follow the student throughout their academic career at UA, including undergraduate or graduate studies.

Academic Calendar and Term Durations

• The UAEC office strictly follows the University of Alabama academic calendar regarding closures for holidays and breaks.
• Fall Term: Begins in mid-August and ends in mid-December ($15$ weeks duration).
• Fall 2 Term: A condensed version of the fall semester starting later in the season ($10$ weeks duration).
• Spring Term: Runs from January through early May ($15$ weeks duration).
• Spring 2 Term: A condensed spring semester ($10$ weeks duration).
• Summer Full Term: Runs from early June to early August ($10$ weeks duration).
• Split Summer Terms:
  • Summer 1: Offered in June ($4$ weeks duration).
  • Summer 2: Offered in July ($4$ weeks duration).
• Course Rigor: Summer courses contain the same amount of academic content as 15-week courses, resulting in a much more rapid pace.

Communication, Advising, and Student Support

• Virtual Interaction: Microsoft Teams and Zoom are used for live overview sessions, instructor office hours, and student chats.
• Time Zone Consideration: Students living outside the Central Time zone are responsible for adjusting their schedules to attend appointments correctly.
• Academic Advisors: Guide students in choosing appropriate courses. Students meet with advisors during UAEC 200. Any member of the advising team can assist if a specific advisor is unavailable.
• Student Success Coaches: These staff members monitor student grades weekly. If a student's performance drops, the coach will reach out with tips and resources.
• Peer Coaches: Former UA Early College students who contact current students $2\text{-}3$ times per semester via phone or text to provide guidance and reminders.

In-Person and On-Campus Options

• Local Commuting: Students living near campus may take in-person courses during the school day. This requires written permission from a high school administrator or counselor.
• Summer on Campus: A program where students live in campus dormitories, attend face-to-face classes with professors, and receive support from UAEC staff while experiencing college life.

Credit Transfer and Graduation Planning

• Institutional Choice: Participants are not required to matriculate to UA upon high school graduation.
• Transferability: UA Early College credits are required to be accepted by all public institutions within the state of Alabama. For out-of-state or private institutions, students must verify credit transfer policies with those specific schools.
• Credit Hour Cap: It is recommended that students cap their earned credits at $60$ hours (approximately $20$ college courses) to avoid issues with freshman eligibility later.

Financial Policies and Tuition Management

• Tuition Rates: Current rates are maintained on the UAEC website. Since rates are subsidized by the program, bills may reflect a "department grant."
• Department Grant: A credit applied to the student bill, usually appearing $1\text{-}2$ days after registration.
• Account Terminology:
  • Confirm Schedule: Indicates the student has paid or handled the financial balance.
  • Unconfirmed Schedule: Indicates a remaining financial balance on the account.
• Authorized User/Guest Account: Parents and guardians should be set up as financial authorized users in MyBama to receive courtesy notices and pay tuition bills.
• Financial Aid Limitation: Early College students are not eligible for federal financial aid; this is reserved for "true freshmen" matriculated at a postsecondary institution.
• Access Granted Fees: Fees for digital materials (ebooks, homework codes) automatically added to the student bill. Students have the option to opt out of these digital resources via the UA Supply Store.
• Alumni Book Scholarship: A $25$ scholarship for textbooks available to students whose parents/guardians join the UA Alumni Association. Membership is open to all, regardless of whether they attended UA.

Academic Policies and Privacy (FERPA)

• FERPA: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law protecting student educational records. Staff cannot discuss academic details with parents/guardians unless a waiver is on file.
• FERPA Waiver: Located in MyBama under the "Student" tab -> "Student Self Services" -> "Student Records" -> "Record to Release to Parent and Guardian."
• Notification: Students and parents receive instructions on how to waive FERPA rights approximately $2$ days after the start of UAEC 200.
• Course Drop Procedure:
  1. Consult high school counselor/administrator to ensure graduation requirements are still met if the course was for dual credit.
  2. Complete the "Drop a Course" form in the ECSR folder.
  3. Submit the form at least $2$ days prior to the official University of Alabama withdrawal deadline (e.g., if the UA deadline is April $20$, the UAEC deadline is April $18$).

Grading Scale and Academic Standing

• The University uses a plus-minus ($\pm$) grading scale which directly impacts the student's Grade Point Average (GPA).
• GPA Bump (A+): A score of $98\text{-}100$ results in a $4.33$ GPA.
• GPA Deduction (A-): A score of $90\text{-}92$ results in a $3.67$ GPA.
• Good Standing Requirement: Students must maintain a cumulative UA GPA of $2.5$ or higher (roughly the B- range).
• Academic Probation: If the GPA falls below $2.5$, students are granted one additional semester (on probation) to raise the cumulative GPA back to the required level. During this time, they receive specialized support from advisors and success coaches.
• Program Suspension: If the GPA remains below $2.5$ after the probationary semester, students may be required to take a break from the program to protect their long-term college transcript.

Academic Conduct and Integrity Standards

• Cheating: Prohibited behaviors include looking up answers during tests or sharing test answers. Professors may use Lockdown Browsers and randomized question pools.
• Plagiarism: Defined as failing to give an author credit, including cutting and pasting from websites or using AI tools like ChatGPT for essays. All written work is processed through Turnitin.com.
• Fabrication: Falsifying citation information or inventing academic sources.
• Misrepresentation: Allowing anyone else (parent, sibling, coach) to complete assignments, tests, or quizzes on the student's behalf.

UA Early College Benefits and Incentives

• Priority Admission: Students living in Alabama who earn at least $11$ credit hours with a minimum $2.75$ GPA are eligible for admission to the University of Alabama without submitting standardized test scores.
• Honor Society: Requires earning at least $14$ credit hours with a minimum $3.0$ GPA. Members receive a certificate and a lapel pin.
• Senior Honor Cords: Students must earn $14$ credit hours by December of their senior year and maintain a $3.0$ GPA. Cords are presented at a spring ceremony and can be worn at high school graduation (with school permission).
• Priority Housing: Students who earn at least $17$ credit hours by December of their senior year with a minimum $2.5$ GPA are eligible to select their freshman dormitory before other students. A housing application must still be on file.

Office Contacts and Social Media

• Students and parents can connect with the UAEC office via Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.
• Social media is used to track staff school visits, academic events, and success coaching opportunities.