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Learning Skills Services (LSS) will again run the ELM Preparation Program during the spring semester for all SSU students

Learning Skills Services (LSS) will again run the ELM Preparation Program during the spring semester for all SSU students preparing to retake the ELM Test. Normally, LSS is allowed to assist only low-income, first generation, or disabled studentsby government regulationbut ESAS once again has offered to reimburse the project for any funds spent on non LSS-eligible students.

As you may or may not know, the ELM test is used at SSU to place incoming freshmen in an appropriate math class in their first semester of study. Depending on their score students may be placed in Math 35 or Math 45 before they can take a General Education math course.

California State University (CSU) policy stipulates that all students must take and pass all remedial courses (both math and English), if they require them, during the first year of enrollment. They can retake Make 35 or Math 45 in the spring semester if they do not pass the courses in the fall. Instead of retaking Math 35 or Math 45 at SSU or at a community college, however, students can satisfy CSU policy be retaking the ELM test and achieving a score high enough to test out of Math 35 and/or Math 45.

Last year LSS Math Specialist Jeanie Mar created the series of study guides and workshops that make up LSSs ELM Preparation Program. For students who made the most out of the program last year results were good. Many were able to test out of Math 35 and/or Math 45. Testing out of Math 35 or Math 45 may be the best way to stay enrolled at SSU in some cases, but Mar makes sure students understand it isnt always the best option. Students should try to do well in Math 35 and Math 45 not only to satisfy CSU and SSU policy, Mar says, they should try to do well because they need a solid math foundation in order to do well in the other math courses they will take at SSU.

Students who are interested in participating in the ELM Preparation Program should be sent to the LSS offices in Salazar 1040 to pick up a workshop schedule and other material.
--Contributed by Jeff Davis

Do you know a student who wants to become a Business Major?

Read what the School of Business & Economics has to offer:

For students wanting to declare/change to Pre-Business major SPRING 2005

Must attend Pre-Business Workshop* before turning in change of major form to Bus/Econ office. Unofficial SSU transcript must be attached to form.

Deadline to turn in paperwork (to be effective Spring 2005) is April 1st. (Those who miss this deadline may turn in paperwork at end of semester once S'05 grades are posted-- if they wait until Fall '05, they'll have to meet higher requirements.)

Freshmen must have 2.5 high school, SSU and CUM GPA. Sophomores & above must have 2.30 SSU and CUM GPA.

Students who are accepted will be required to use 04-06 catalog for major requirements.

For students admitted for FALL 2005 or declaring/changing to Pre-Business FALL 2005:

• Pre-Business Workshop*required for change of major.
• GPA requirement is/will be 3.0 for Freshmen, 2.5 for sophomores & above.
• Deadline for turning in paperwork: probably November 1st.
• Students will use 04-06 catalog, but with added requirement in Pre-major: A-1 GE with "C" or better.

Repeating a Course to Improve a Grade

If you are repeating a course this semester to improve a grade earned in a previous semester and you have not yet filed your Repeat Course form with the Records Office, please do so immediately. Filing your form now will ensure that your grade point average and units earned toward your degree are calculated correctly at the end of the semester. Failure to file the form may result in errors in your record that will cause unnecessary inconvenience and anxiety.

Dropping and Withdrawing from Classes

Sonoma State University's policy affecting withdrawal from courses changed effective 12/14/04. Student are told to go to http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/policies/withdrawalfromcourses.htm for complete explanation of the policy.