Sixth College Parent and Family Orientation

The information below is helpful for you to be aware of so you can support your student and talk with them about the policies and their responsibilities.

Students that choose to become a member of the UC San Diego community affirm their commitment to excel with integrity because there can be no academic excellence without it. Integrity means having the courage to be honest, trustworthy, fair, respectful, and responsible, even when it is difficult.

It is critical that students avoid taking part in activity that involves attempting to receive a grade by means other than honest effort. Allowable forms of study aids and policies on working in groups can vary from course to course, and instructors will not verbalize every unauthorized behavior. The class syllabus is a good resource for students, but it is encouraged that students clarify academic expectations with their professor if they are unclear. Faculty and instructional assistants are available during class and office hours. The Academic Integrity Office provides information and training resources for students.

At UC San Diego, student conduct is a fair and educational process that aims to facilitate student growth and development while maintaining the integrity of our community. We value fairness, education, accountability, restorative practices, growth, and development and collaboration. Students are expected to understand and uphold the Student Code of Conduct and staff in the Office of Student Conduct, the College’s Dean of Student Affairs Office, and Residential Life Office are available to students if they have questions about the code, their rights, or the resolution process.

The first college resource that will support your student’s academic success will be Academic Advising. Advisors are here to help your student navigate their academic journey at UC San Diego and Sixth College. Sixth College advisors help your student determine their General Education requirements, as well as their overall degree pursuit. Your student will also receive assistance from their Major Department. Other advising resources can be found through International Student Advisors, Career Counselors, and Academic Internship Advisors.

At Sixth College, the guiding philosophy and college theme, Culture, Art, and Technology, serve as the basis for our general education requirements which encourage exposure to fields outside of a student’s major discipline and to ensure depth and breadth of study. Students must complete the following in addition to the University requirements.

There is a set list of General Education requirements for incoming first-year students, which can be found here: First Year GE Requirements

General Education requirements differ based on the type of transfer agreement students arrive with. Check the Transfer GE Requirements for more information. Regardless of transfer type, students are responsible for completing a Practicum course and CAT 125.

TritonLink is the website all current UC San Diego students use to access a host of useful and important tools and resources. Everyone has access to TritonLink at students.ucsd.edu or tritonlink.ucsd.edu, and no login is required.

Students also have the right to expect confidentiality when it comes to their educational records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides that protection.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law enacted in 1974 that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to any school that receives funds under an applicable program of the US Department of Education. FERPA prohibits educational institutions from disclosing “personally identifiable information in education records” without the written consent of an eligible student. An eligible student is one who has reached age 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

So how do parents and families obtain information about their student’s education and conduct record? The obvious answer is to ask your student for updates, but that may not always be convenient or possible. If you contact Sixth College for information about your student, know that we will not be able to provide information to you without the written consent of your student. FERPA waivers can be obtained in the relevant offices. Waivers are not transferable and will need to be filled out by the student per office.

Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services (OASIS)

• As the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) of UC San Diego, OASIS facilitates the intellectual and personal development of students, with a particular focus on students who are first-generation, high financial need, and/or are underserved. Through a challenging and supportive environment, that emphasizes collaboration, validation, equity, and social justice, OASIS contributes positively to students’ learning, persistence, achievement, and empowerment.

The Teaching + Learning Commons

• Made up of six unique, but integrated hubs, The Teaching + Learning Commons provides comprehensive academic support for students. Services provided by the Academic Achievement, Experiential Learning, and Writing Hubs empower students to take control of their education, helping them to develop essential skills for learning across disciplines and enabling them to achieve their full potential. Services include peer-led content tutoring and study groups.

The Writing Hub

• The Writing Hub, a unit within the Teaching + Learning Commons, supports all writers on campus—every writer, any project—and promotes writing as a tool for learning.

IDEA Engineering Student Center

• The IDEA Engineering Student Center vision is to foster an inclusive and welcoming community, increase retention and graduation rates, and promote a sustainable culture of academic excellence among all engineering students.

Tutoring

• Many academic departments offer support customized to their course offerings.

Research Experience and Applied Learning (REAL) Portal

• An online resource that provides opportunities where students are “learning by doing” and practicing their classroom knowledge in real-world settings.

Academic Enrichment Programs (AEP)

• AEP sponsors several scholarships, programs, and opportunities for students to get involved in research on and off campus.

The Academic Internship Program (AIP)

• Students have the opportunity to receive lower-division or upper-division course credit for supervised placement in a work setting.

Learning Strategies Workshops

• Learning Strategies Tutoring provides an opportunity for students to develop skills that address learning challenges (examples: defining study goals and developing time management skills) while teaching the underlying metacognitive conditions (such as growth mindset vs. fixed mindset) that can contribute to these challenges.

Part of the transition to the UC San Diego family is becoming familiar with a few technical terms that your student may use. If you are not fully sure what they are saying, here are some answers to frequently asked questions to help you on your way.

Syllabus

• A syllabus is a guide that a professor or instructor makes to outline course expectations, policies, rules and regulations, required texts, and a schedule of assignments. Students usually receive the syllabus on the first day of classes, although it can sometimes also be found online or sent prior to the first day of instruction. It is important for students to read their syllabi! If a student is unclear about something regarding their classes, encourage them to read through their syllabi.

Office Hours

• Professors and instructors reserve time to talk with students outside of class, while not always in their office; these opportunities are announced in class and on the syllabus. Some instructors want students to make an appointment and some allow drop in conversation. Again, this will be communicated either in class or on the syllabus. Instructors often expect students to connect with them outside of the classroom. Though it may be daunting, encourage your student to go to office hours to get to know their instructors and get questions answered.

Lecture vs. Section

• A course often includes a lecture and a section component. An instructor who introduces and teaches the course content to all students enrolled in the class facilitates lectures. Sections are small group student discussions where students discuss the concepts and materials from lecture. Additional coursework may be required for sections.

Undeclared

• Academically speaking, undeclared simply means students have not made up their mind about a major area of study. Many first-year students begin college without “declaring” a major. College, major and career advisors are available for consultation and guidance as you make a decision. Students need to declare a major by the time they earn 90 units.

Capped Majors

• Capped majors are majors with limited enrollment. Acceptance into a capped major is not guaranteed if a student was not admitted to UC San Diego in the capped major.

Double Major

• In certain situations, students are allowed to declare more than one major area of study if they meet the program and university requirements of two majors. If a student meets the program and university requirements, students are allowed to declare more than one major area of study. There is a university process by which students are granted approval.

Minor

• A minor is a set of courses within a well-defined subject that serves as a secondary area of academic focus. It is very common for students to declare both a major and a minor. Many academic departments and programs offer minors.