New Maverick Orientation (Freshman and Transfer Orientation)

B160 Lower Level, University Center · Box 19348 · 817-272-9234 · www.uta.edu/orientation

The University of Texas at Arlington is dedicated to the retention and overall success of our students, by promoting academic excellence and fostering lifelong learning. New Maverick Orientation offers a variety of programs, both on campus and online, for new freshmen, transfer students, and veterans students. These programs are designed to meet your individual needs and to assist you in making a smooth transition into life as a UT Arlington Maverick. Our goal is to assist you with the transition process, acclimate you to our way of doing things, connect you to our community and its resources that support your success, and assist you in registering for your first semester of classes.  

Attending New Maverick Orientation helps students begin to take ownership of their educational goals and create a framework for their future. Embracing UT Arlington traditions and jumping into the experience will help you learn, right from the beginning, what it means to “Be a Maverick!”

Our office is staffed by professionals who specialize in providing outstanding support and service to incoming students, undergraduate student leaders who service as guides and resources in the on campus programs, and graduate students who are gaining experience for future careers in higher education. Together, we look forward to providing you with a memorable and helpful experience. Welcome to Maverick Country!

New Student Courses

The Division of Student Success is committed to providing students with the academic and personal resources they need to be successful at UTA.  In order to support students in charting a course towards graduation, the Division offers a number of high impact educational practices aimed at building an environment where students can learn skills to participate fully in their courses, engage with faculty, and gain the tools to take advantage of the many opportunities UTA has to offer in the areas of research, leadership, service, and career development.  One such practice are the new student courses, classes designed specifically for students entering into the UTA community.

UT Arlington’s New Student Courses, housed within the Division of Student Success, are designed to orient students to life on the Maverick campus by providing them with essential resources for their student success, instruction on critical thinking skills for academic success, and access to faculty and peer networks. These courses are for undergraduate students who are entering their first semester of coursework at UTA and they are required for both first time in college students and transfer students unless otherwise indicated by the degree plan for the major.  Students are required to enroll in one of three major-specific courses (UNIV 1000, UNIV 1131 or UNIV 1101) or a departmental equivalent option.  Students should work with their academic advisor to enroll in the appropriate course for their major.  Students who have not yet declared a major should enroll in one of the Division of Student Success’s UNIV sections.  If a student would like to drop a New Student Course, they will need to get permission to do so and work with their academic advisor on that process.  Students are allowed 3 attempts to pass a UNIV course.   If a student does not pass the UNIV class after a third attempt, or is nearing graduation and has not earned credit for the UNIV course requirement, they are to file an appeal with their home college following normal course appeal processes.

Transfer students who are non-degree seeking or who already hold a bachelor’s degree are not required to take a New Student Course, but they may still be required to take an equivalent course as determined by their college/school/department.  Transfer students may also meet an equivalency standard for the course if they have taken a similar one at their previous institution.  To determine if a student has a transfer equivalency, they should work with their academic advisor and fill out this form.

Academic Coaching for First Time in College Students (FTIC)

FTIC Individual Review Admits

First-Time in College students who are admitted under individual review may be required to participate in an academic coaching session in the first three weeks of the first semester before being eligible to register for courses for the second semester. These sessions will provide students with assistance in academic planning, self-assessments, and success strategies. An Academic Coaching hold can be added to their record. This is a registration hold that prevents students from registering for the following semester until the coaching requirement is met. This requirement is in addition to any made by the student’s college, school, or academic program.

FTIC Academic Probation or Warning 

First-Time in College students who have less than a 2.00 Total Institutional GPA at the end of their first semester of enrollment will be required to participate in an academic coaching session in the first six weeks of their second semester before being eligible to register for courses in the third semester. These coaching sessions will provide students with assistance in academic planning, self-assessments, and success strategies. An Academic Coaching hold will be added to their record. This is a registration hold that prevents students from registering for the following semester until the coaching requirement is met. This requirement is in addition to any made by the student’s college, school, or academic program.

Student Feedback Surveys

As part of the UT Arlington's efforts toward continually improving the quality of teaching, the University developed the Student Feedback Survey (SFS) program, a campus-wide program that affords students with an opportunity to reflect upon their experience in each organized course (lectures, seminars, and labs) and offer relevant feedback.

Toward the end of each term, each student enrolled in a lecture, seminar, or lab course will receive an e-mailed invitation to participate in the SFS for that particular section. (Students will receive separate e-mail messages for each course in which they are enrolled.) With few exceptions, each SFS is administered online. In every case, the feedback is submitted anonymously. Students also have an opportunity to provide feedback on dropped courses. Students who withdraw from one or more courses will be sent a drop survey via their student email. Questions related to dropping a course will also be asked on the final SFS.

Once the final grades for the term have been officially certified by the University, summaries of the SFS data are provided to both the professor and his/her supervisor. These reports help members of the faculty identify which aspects of a course should remain unchanged and which aspects might benefit from revision.