The College of Sciences Advising Center has various programs whose aims are to outreach to students and help them succeed in their academic career at UTSA. The following are programs that the COSUAC offers.
Transfer Advising
The COSUAC offers transfer sessions for students admitted to UTSA with more than 30 college credit hours. There are usually 2 sessions (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) in which students are given a brief overview of important policies at UTSA and in the College of Sciences. The student will also meet with an advisor one-on-one to discuss how their courses transferred and what to take that semester. Click here to view more available online information on Transfer Sessions.
Students who transfer to UTSA in the College of Sciences are placed in a Blackboarc class at the beginning of their transfer semester. There are various interactive tools within the Blackboard to help transfer students transitioning to UTSA. Transfer students can also communicate through the Blackboard course with a College of Sciences advisor about issues they may be facing.
Strategies for Academic Success
College of Sciences students who have earned 30 or more college credit hours and have less than a 2.0 UTSA GPA are placed into an academic recovery program entitled Strategies for Academic Success (SAS). SAS students are required to meet with an advisor at least two times per semester that they are on probation. Students are also required to complete 3 "actions" each semester they are on probation. SAS students also have a hold which prevents them from registering for the following semester and the only way it is removed is if they have completed their 3 actions.
SAS students are also placed in a Blackboard class while on probation. They can complete the actions through Blackboard. Once the student's UTSA GPA is above a 2.0, they are no longer required to participate in SAS.
UNM students are placed into a Blackboard class to assist them in figuring out which major is best. Students can communicate with the UNM advisor through the Blackboard as well.
Back-On-Track
Students in the College of Sciences who make below a 2.0 GPA for two consecutive semester will be required to take part in COSUAC’s new program, Back-On-Track. This program is designed to assist students in their overall academic development and reduce the risk of being placed on academic probation or dismissal from the university. Back-On-Track students will receive an email from the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Dr. Jordan, notifying them of their required participation in the program. From there, students will meet with an academic advisor twice during each long semester to develop and ensure that the individual assessment and action plans are working and that success in the program is accomplished.
Graduation 101
College of Sciences students who have earned 90 or more hours are placed into a Blackboard class to assist with applying for graduation questions and queries. The Graduation 101 Blackboard contains helpful information regarding application deadlines, expectations of graduating students, and checklists to make sure students apply for the right semester. Graduation 101 students are able to discuss issues with each other and with a College of Sciences advisor through Blackboard.
***Due to staffing, we have suspended the Sophomore BB and APEX programs.
APEX
College of Sciences students who have earned 30 or more hours and have a 3.5 UTSA GPA or higher are placed into a program entitled APEX (At the Peak of Excellence). The program will offer a lecture series, highlight a major a month, and even have an end of the semester celebration. APEX students are placed into a Blackboard class to communicate information and discuss options with the APEX advisor.
Sophomores
College of Sciences students who have earned 30-44 hours are placed into a Blackboard class entitled Sophomores. The Sophomore Blackboard offers information to sophomores transitioning from CFAC (Colleges' Freshman Advising Center) to COS Advising. Basic information regarding office hours, appointment and walk-in times, and COS outreach programs is contained in the Blackboard class to help familiarize transitioning sophomores with COS Advising.
