Welcome to the UWW Degree Completion Program New Student Orientation - UMass Amherst

Welcome to the
UWW Degree Completion Program
   New Student Orientation

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UWW students come from all over
 the U.S. and across the globe.

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Many UWW students are parents.

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Many UWW students are
   First Generation.

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Student Headquarters

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How Our Online Courses Work
• All of our program’s courses are available 100%
  online and “asynchronous.” This means that you
  do not have to log in at any particular day/time to
  participate. Instead, you just make sure you meet
  each course’s weekly deadlines.
• Some of our courses also have face-to-face
  meetings a few times per semester – we call these
  blended classes. This spring, those meetings will
  be on Zoom.

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How Our Online Courses Work
• You will virtually meet fellow students from across
  the United States and around the globe.
• You will engage with your instructors and fellow
  students via discussion boards and emails.
• You will use Blackboard to write, edit, and engage
  with course materials as a student.
• There are a number of resources to help you learn
  to use Blackboard in the Student Headquarters
  announcements.

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Time Management
• You can expect to spend about 6 to 9 hours per
  week per course.
• Online courses require organization and routine to
  stay on top of things.
• Our students say creating a schedule in which you
  dedicate a block of time just to your classes (no
  laundry, no cooking, no other life obligations) helps
  to stay focused and organized.

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Textbooks
Find out what textbooks/e-books you’ll need in:
• SPIRE > My Class Schedule > List View >
  View/Purchase Textbooks on eCampus.
• Your syllabus: logging into your course
  (Blackboard Learn)

Getting textbooks/e-books
• umass.ecampus.com
• Local bookstores in your area
• Online book sellers

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Financial Aid
• If you haven’t yet, complete the FAFSA now to apply
  for federal aid. Types of aid include loans, grants,
  and even work study.
• 6 credits per semester required to be eligible for
  financial aid, determined at end of add/drop.
• UWW Degree Completion Program spring
  scholarship deadline: Monday, January 25.

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Financial Aid
• Check SPIRE for your financial aid to-dos and award.
• Financial Aid Office: finaid@finaid.umass.edu &
  umass.edu/umfa
• When you contact Financial Aid, identify yourself as
  a UWW Degree Completion Program student.
• UPay payment plan available (umass.edu/bursar)

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Add/Drop and Other Key Dates
• Monday, January 25 begins “preview week.”
• The UWW Degree Completion Program spring
  scholarship deadline is also Monday, January 25.
• Courses start Monday, February 1.
• This spring, the add/drop deadline is Friday,
  February 12.
• Stay organized! Mark your calendars with other
  deadlines such as course deadlines for assignments,
  discussions, etc.

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UWW Requirements
• UWW 305 Concepts in Learning Integration
• UWW Experiential Reflections (pick 2)
   UWW 310 Experiential Reflection of Technology
   UWW 320 Experiential Reflection of Leadership
   UWW 330 Experiential Reflection of Public Policy
   UWW 340 Experiential Reflection of Organizations
   UWW 350 Experiential Reflections on Health
   UWW 360 Experiential Reflections of Learning and
  Education
• UWW 370 Writing about Experience

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Degree Planning Course
   UWW 305 Concepts in Learning Integration

• First semester requirement – your instructor will be
  your faculty advisor.
• Interdisciplinary Studies degree with your own Area
  of Concentration.
• Creating your degree plan: prior coursework and
  training + new coursework + portfolio credits to
  reach your goals.
• Sharpening critical thinking skills and library
  research, reflecting upon your path, getting
  inspired.
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Reflections Courses
UWW 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360 Reflections
courses
• If you choose to take a second course in your first
  semester, it should be one of these.
• Help you reflect, write, and analyze ideas.
• Broad, interdisciplinary topics that are inclusive of a
  variety of ideas, perspectives, and experiences to
  match our diverse student interests.
• You are required to take two reflections courses, and
  at least one comes before UWW 370 to help you
  prepare to write your portfolio.

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Prior Learning Portfolio Course
       UWW 370 Writing about Experience

• The “writing course.” Usually taken in your second
  semester.
• Critically reflect upon your prior learning and write a
  portfolio in which you can earn UMass Amherst
  residence credit.
• While the potential is there to earn up to 30 credits
  for your portfolio, our students most commonly earn
  15 college credits towards their degrees with their
  portfolios.

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UMass Graduation Requirements
• 120 credits to graduate (your UWW Degree
  Completion Program requirements fit within these)
• 45 residence credits (credits earned here at UMass
  Amherst, includes core courses & portfolio credits!)
• 45 credits in your degree concentration (combine
  prior or new coursework, trainings, portfolio, 15
  upper level credits)
• General education courses (Gen Eds)

Your Faculty Advisor and your Academic Advisor will
help you figure all of this out!

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Our 70s Ancestors

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The early 1980s
marked the
beginning of the
integration of
computers into
UWW.

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1971-2021: Celebrating 50 Years!

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UMass Amherst Commencement
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Student Headquarters

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Find us on Facebook, and set your Follow Settings
to “Favorites” if you don’t want to miss updates.

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Thank you!
Have a wonderful semester!

     413-545-1378
  uww@uww.umass.edu

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