IUPUI’S SPAN PROGRAM –FROM A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. What is SPAN?
3. Is SPAN right for your son or daughter?
4. Academic (or intellectual) maturity versus emotional maturity
5. Can’t I just let him/her take AP classes in high school?
6. SPAN requirements
7. Create a working partnership with your school or just register as home-
schooled?
8. How to apply to SPAN
9. Welcome to SPAN
10. How to register as Home Schooled and regulations you’ll need to know
11. Meeting Indiana’s High School diploma requirements
12. Planning Your Student’s Schedule at IUPUI
13. Tailor the IUPUI Schedule to YOUR child
14. Getting Your Schedule Registered
15. What will be required in SPAN:
-Attendance
-Work ethic
-Keep up with readings and assignments
-Computer literacy
16. Getting Help…the Math Center and the Writing Center
17. Don’t Miss the Payment Deadline
18. Buying Books for IUPUI Courses
19. JagTag…the Student I.D.
20. Extra perks as SPAN students
21. College degree requirements or “Killing two birds with one stone”
22. High School Graduation time
23. Miscellaneous Things we have learned
1. Introduction
Smart kids! They are always a challenge, but once they hit high school the complexity intensifies. Obtaining
a balance between emotional growth, intellectual challenge, and self-esteem becomes a full-time balancing
act for a parent. The traditional choices of public school, private school, boarding school, and home school
may not fit your child. As an alternative we present IUPUI’s SPAN Program, from a parent’s perspective.
2. What is SPAN?
SPAN (or Special Programs for Academic Nurturing) was established at IUPUI in 1984 to let academically
gifted kids take college classes. While this program is aimed at high school students, younger students have
qualified and excelled in this program, as well.
SPAN offers many opportunities that can be configured many ways. It permits motivated high school students
to get started on their college education or just take courses that aren't’t available at their local high school.
Perhaps your high school student would like to take a class during IUPUI’s summer school. Maybe your student
would like to attend half a day at their high school and a half-day at IUPUI. Or maybe your gifted high
schooler has had enough of high school or home school, and is ready for the challenge of full-time college
classes. Qualified students can design a program at IUPUI to fit their needs.
3. Is SPAN right for your son or daughter?
How can you tell if you have a student who might thrive in SPAN? We’ve assembled some traits that might
indicate that your child’s present educational situation is inadequate:
-Does your child achieve a high grade point average with little work?
-Does your student complain that their classes are just boring, busy work or that their teacher is poorly
prepared? Are they tired of being “spoon fed” a high school education?
-Does your child report that they are relearning the same information that was covered in a previous class?
-Does your student seem to lack academic ambition? Do they have fluctuating grades?
-Is your student unwilling to complete routine assignments? For example, can they get nearly straight A’s on
test, quizzes and in classroom work, but then get zeros for refusing to turn in “pointless” homework?
-Do your child’s national test scores indicate that they are exceptional, but the school system treats them as
just regular run-of-the-mill students?
-Does your child excel in one subject area, but perform comparatively poorly in another academic area?
-Is your home schooled child looking for additional challenge? Has he or she mastered even the best
materials available?
-Has your student participated in a gifted program and still finds the material boring and unchallenging?
OK. What about what we’ll call “personality types?” Does your child exhibit any of these behaviors?
-Is your child a perfectionist?
-Does your child play down his or her intelligence to fit in socially with friends? (More often girls seem to do
this.)
-Do they find the juvenile behavior of their fellow high schoolers emotionally exhausting?
-Does your child continually explore new subjects, hobbies, sports or other activities and then lose interest
and move on, just as they begin to master those new skills?
-Does your child seem more emotionally mature than classmates?
-Is your child self-motivated? Does he/she find the pace of learning too slow and ask for more of a challenge?
-Is your child a “risk taker”? Bright kids, even those who don’t get identified as such by their school, will find a
way to entertain themselves. The danger is that in their quest, they may find inappropriate avenues to
explore. This could lead to risky lifestyles, extreme sports, or dangerous hobbies. Finding an educational
challenge instead may divert them from trouble.
If you’ve answered “yes” to some of the above questions, then it’s possible that you have a gifted child who is a
perfect SPAN candidate. “Why didn’t you realize it sooner?” you may ask. Well, don’t blame yourself – often-
bright kids keep it hidden just under the surface.
4. Academic (or intellectual) maturity versus emotional maturity
OK, so you’re now willing to admit that your child is bright, very bright. And your child thinks they would like to
see if they could handle freshman and sophomore college classes. Does that then mean that they are also
fully emotionally mature individuals? Nooooooooo!
They are still teenagers, capable of behaving like two- year-olds on a bad day. They still can giggle all night
long at a sleep over. They can doodle, shoot spit-wads, pass notes in class and participate in all manner of
immature (and fun-loving) behaviors. And they should – it’s all part of growing up. But the great thing about
the SPAN program is that they can receive a challenging education, while still living at home where they
can continue social activities at church, scouts, 4-H, etc. They can plan movie nights with their inner circle
of friends. In other words, they can still “just be kids.” Finding a balance between education, work, extra-
curricular activities, and fun is critical to success in SPAN.
Is there a danger of a teenager, yes even a really smart one, being overly influenced by regular college-age
students? We have given this a great deal of thought. College campuses have always had a reputation for
wild times, e.g. crowded telephone booths, goldfish swallowing, streaking and, horror of horrors, anything in
the movie Animal House! But remember, IUPUI is largely a commuter campus, with lots of students still living
at home, still somewhat sheltered. Also, the legal drinking age is still 21in Indiana, and IUPUI has no campus
fraternity houses that might try to evade such legal limits.
What about dating? Yes, that gave us some concern, as well. What we have done is to establish the following
rule for our teens: “They may look but cannot touch.” What do we mean? Just this, no dating with anyone
more than two years older or younger. Period. Enough said. And in fact this has worked out very well. They
know they can talk to and be friends with any student, but that is it. Consequently, if the girls get “hit on” at
lunchtime or in the library, no problem. The answer is no. No need to even think about it and no need to
explain to anyone. Case closed.
And for those who do meet the requirements, both by age and academically (the 3.0 GPA—grade point
average), we established the five rules of dating. They may date as long as they meet these requirements:
1. No alcohol.
2. No drugs, no smoking.
3. No fast cars. What do we mean? If a person gets a ticket while driving my daughter, and it’s for more
than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, then they won’t be going out together anymore. They will be
dating in my living room. It goes for a seatbelt infraction. And there will be no second chances.
4. No sex. High-risk behavior is common among gifted teens that aren’t academically challenged. But it
can be career ending, so there will be no exceptions. No sex.
5. If your GPA falls below a 3.0 accumulative, from then until the end of the semester (when it better be
much higher) there will be no further dating. This doesn’t include social events, such as a group movie. But if
it is really love, it can wait until the end of the semester.
Most families seem to make dating rules on a daily basis. It was our experience that what was desired was a
set of permanent rules so our teens knew exactly where they stood. These Five Rules of Dating made it simple
and very understandable. Post ‘em by the back door – they’ll get it.
Another concern we had was for personal safety. If your student happens to have a buddy who is accepted
into SPAN also, it can be great for them to take as many freshman classes together as possible. After all, there
is safety in numbers. Or Dr. Russell could help get your student acquainted with other SPAN students.
Additionally, we have noticed that EVERYONE seems to have a cell phone on campus. And we must admit
that cell phones are great. In fact, we consider a cell phone essential; classes’ cancel, tests finish early, and
emergencies arise. The added security is well worth the additional expense.
Another word of caution; High school is apt to be a place where information is handed to your child and it is
expected that they will regurgitate it to the teacher at test time. Homework tends to be given in small daily
assignments, which are graded frequently. It is hard to get behind. College is not like that.
College requires greater organizational skills. Grades tend to be based on larger projects that demonstrate an
understanding of the material and an ability to implement it. Homework is rarely collected. If a student has
difficulty understanding the material, they are expected to ask questions of the teacher during office hours or
find someone in class with whom to study.
Students must take responsibility for their education. The ability to stay on top of the work daily and break
larger projects into smaller sections is important. They must be self-motivated and able to succeed without a
teacher constantly supervising their performance.
And one last word of warning; we have noticed that adult subject matter may be presented, especially in
English, literature, and social studies courses. For example, Freud and Oedipus are not uncommon topics for
discussion in college classrooms. Atheism, communism, and agnosticism – all kinds of topics can come up
for classroom debate. But we figure that these topics could come up in any college classroom. With SPAN,
we at least have the advantage of discussing the topic with our child to advance our viewpoint and let both
sides of issues be heard.
We suggest you discuss with your son or daughter whether he or she is ready mentally and emotionally for all
these challenges before enrolling in SPAN.
5. But can’t I just leave her or him in high school and let them take AP classes?
Well, you could. But not all AP classes are alike. A high school teacher who may or may not be able to cover
all the material in the required amount of time usually teaches them. College credit is awarded to those who
earn at least a 3 or 4 out of 5 points on a type of “final exam.” The classes and even the test itself have a fee
attached. It is possible to earn an A in the course work and still not earn the necessary points for college
credit on the “final.”
And once they get to college, they will be tested again to see how advanced their knowledge is. College
faculty complain that because AP classes use high school teachers, the classes may not be equivalent to the
material they would have studied in a college course. For example, they may not have covered the last
couple chapters of the text. The consequences of this may result in the student having a poor foundation and
being unprepared for the next higher course.
Another complication is that with the current shortage of funding as the state level, AP courses are being
reduced or eliminated from many high schools. This is at a time when requirements for an Academic Honors
diploma for the class entering high school in 2006-07 are being elevated. To meet this goal, some schools
are encouraging taking college classes, for example at Ivy Tech State College. But be careful. Not all
colleges are alike. Watch out for “dumbed down” college experiences that may not transfer to all colleges
and universities. Other leaders in academia, however, hold IUPUI classes, in much higher esteem.
6. SPAN requirements
Running Start Program: – to apply as a 9th or 10 grader.
--Have a SAT score of at least 1000, or an ACT score of at least 21, or a PSAT of 95, or a PLAN score of at
least 20.
--And rank in the top 10 percent of your high school class.
Running Start Program: – to apply as an 11th or 12th grader
--Be pursuing a Core 40 curriculum.
--B or higher grade point average (GPA) past two semesters.
--Have a SAT of at least 950, or an ACT score of at least 20, or a PSAT of 90, or a PLAN score of at least 19.
-- And have a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor.
Upper-class Program: to apply as an 11th grader:
--Rank in the top 20 percent of your high school class.
--Have a SAT of at least 1100, or an ACT score of at least 27.
--Have a letter of recommendation from a high school principal or counselor.
--Successfully complete the IUPUI placement exams in math, reading and English.
Upper-class Program: to apply as an 12th grader:
--Rank in the top 10 percent of your high school class.
--Have a SAT of at least 1100, or an ACT score of at least 27.
--Have a letter of recommendation from a high school principal or counselor.
--Successfully complete the IUPUI placement exams in math, reading and English.
Note: Some special circumstances are given to those who are home-schooled, speaking with Dr. Russell is
usually well advised before making a determination about your students eligibility.
7. Create a working partnership with your school or just register as home-schooled?
Many school districts work well with SPAN on a full or part-time basis. The ways in which they work with SPAN
are as varied and different as the school districts themselves. Within each school district you will find a
variety of rules and a myriad of interpretations of the rules, as they relate to SPAN participation. Finding the
right person and building a relationship with them is crucial to a successful SPAN/ public school partnership.
This can result in a powerful combination, allowing the student the best academic success and personal
development.
However, if the combination fails there are other options: such as filing with the state to pursue home
schooling. The effort and energy you put into continuing to work through your local school district may
depend upon your student and his personal needs; for example, his desire to participate in the high school’s
athletic or music departments, the importance he places on receiving a diploma from that high school, the
choice to stay with friends, etc.
8. How to apply to SPAN
First, have your student take the ACT, PSAT, or SAT exam. The Midwest Talent Search, at www.ctd.
northwestern.edu, often offers these tests as early as 7th and 8th grades.
Second, ask the school system for a complete copy of your student’s transcript. In almost all cases where the
child has undergone standardized testing, you will find that in the school’s file is a small number labeled CSI:
this stands for the Cognitive Skills Index. It is a general IQ score. A gifted child will consistently have scores
over 130.
Third, even if your child isn’t gifted but they are above average, work very hard, are ready for more of a
challenge and have qualifying ACT, PSAT or SAT scores, he/she is invited to apply.
Next, you need to thoroughly assess your child’s strengths and needs, discuss with them their desire for a
greater challenge such as SPAN, and then visit the IUPUI campus. Sometimes even a day of “shadowing,”
following a student through a day of classes, can be arranged. If you are still interested, we recommend you
contact Dr. Johnny Russell, the SPAN Coordinator, at 317-274-0382 or email him at jrrussel@iupui.edu to
gather the necessary materials and apply to SPAN.
9. Welcome to SPAN
Welcome to IUPUI’s SPAN Program. What an exciting opportunity our kids have. But it is also a new and
novel path for us to travel as parents. Having now struggled to learn the finer points of how to help our
students to simultaneously take classes to meet both high school and college requirements, we thought that
as parents, we could try to pass some of our experiences on to make your transition as easy as possible.
Keep in mind that as a “Dual Enrollment” student (enrolled in high school and college), every college class
your child takes can satisfy both high school requirements AND college degree programs (BA or BS programs).
After getting accepted into the SPAN Program, either into the Running Start Program for 9th and 10th
graders or into the Upper-class Program for 11th and 12th graders, your student will receive materials
requesting that they call the Enrollment Center at 274-4240 to set up their IUPUI Placement Exams. These
tests will help the college determine your student’s strengths and weaknesses so that they can take the most
appropriate courses. After you get your results, Dr. Johnny Russell, the SPAN Coordinator, is a wonderful
resource that can answer questions to help you decide what courses your student could or should register for.
We find him to be an essential ally and wonderful resource.
One other note: SPAN gives high school students the opportunity to fit into the college campus undetected.
Only if a teacher carefully examines their class roster, would they ever suspect that they have a dual enrolled
high school student in their class. We have found that it is usually better for students to keep this information
to themselves, until they feel the need to or choose to inform others. This avoids excessive notoriety and
differentiation. Our SPAN kids take great pride that they fit in with college students. And by not bringing this
information forward initially, they still have the option of informing people later in the semester, after they
have “proven” themselves.
10. How to register as Home Schooled and regulations you’ll need to know.
If you decide to declare your student as home schooled to enable him/her to pursue SPAN full-time or pursue
a combined program of SPAN and home school courses, you will need to fill out an Indiana Dept of
Education form to establish your home school. The state will then issue you a home school number. Also, you
will need to get a complete transcript from your student’s previous high school to verify work already
completed.
We have found the Indiana Department of Education’s website to be essential for success: http://www.doe.
state.in.us/sservices/homed.htm.
The following was copied from it:
“Indiana Home School Help Sheet
This document is provided upon request to all citizens interested in public and nonpublic education. Any
public or nonpublic educator having questions about home education may contact the Indiana Department
of Education.
Getting Started
· RESEARCH HOME EDUCATION:
Before you withdraw your child from a traditional school, learn all you can. Talk to other home educators,
read books about home education, learn about home school law in Indiana, "comparison shop" for a
curriculum for your school.
· WITHDRAW YOUR CHILD AND NOTIFY HIS OR HER CURRENT PRINCIPAL, IN WRITING, OF YOUR
DECISION
While the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) issues school numbers to all private schools after they
report their grade level enrollment data (often inaccurately referred to as "registration") as required by Indiana
law, You do not need a home school number prior to withdrawing your child and beginning home instruction.
However, you do need to let the public school know why your child is no longer in attendance or he or she
may be considered truant.
· REQUEST A COPY OF YOUR CHILD'S PUBLIC SCHOOL RECORDS:
You are entitled to a copy of these public school records, both as a school administrator and as the parent of
a minor child, under state law and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Please
note that this does not apply to private school records.
· NOTIFY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF YOUR GRADE LEVEL ENROLLMENT:
Indiana law requires all private school administrators, including home educators, to notify the IDOE of their
schools' grade level enrollments upon request of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (IC 20-8.1-3-
24 (b)).
Eight to ten weeks after you return the completed enrollment report form, you will receive a home school
number and your local school superintendent will be notified that you have created a home school. This
report does not subject you to state or local regulation. It is simply a way to account, as nearly as possible, for
the enrollment of all school-age children.”
As a parent, there are several requirements to follow under the home school law. We have condensed the
information as follows, but you can find complete information available at the same website http://www.doe.
state.in.us/sservices/homed.htm.
Attendance -- You will need to keep written attendance records. Please note that your local public school
superintendent is entitled to view these records, if they so choose. Your child must complete the mandatory
180 days per year. However, the rules do allow you to decide which days will count and how long the day will
last. This allows you maximum flexibility and control. A teacher’s classroom attendance log purchased from
your local teacher supply seems to work well.
Proof of grades – It is a good idea to maintain the transcripts and materials (all written tests, quizzes, and
other supporting material, including workbooks) to verify your child’s high school courses. In case there should
ever be a question about the completion of a course or a final grade, a written record would support your
position.
Core 40 curriculum -- Although home schoolers are not required by law to follow a Core 40 curriculum, we
strongly recommend that you do. Following such a curriculum provides the best base for a solid education.
And failure to pursue the Core 40 may sabotage your child’s best chances for scholarship opportunities and/
or transfer to other degree seeking programs. As a home schooler, you do have the added flexibility to decide
whether your student would learn a topic best in an IUPUI class or through a home school course, thus giving
the best possible balance.
Community service – While not required, it is always preferable for colleges to have well-rounded,
contributing young adults to recruit. A written log of your child’s community involvement adds to his resume
and contributes to their student profile. Combined with sports and hobbies, these activities show your child’s
inner strength and commitment, and can be important on resumes for post-graduate schools or job
opportunities.
11. Meeting Indiana’s High School diploma requirements
As you may already know, to earn a high school degree in Indiana, one can work toward either a general
diploma, a Core 40 Diploma, or an Academic Honors Diploma. The following are the requirements for these
diplomas. The Core 40 is currently under review --check for changes to requirements at: http://www.doe.state.
in.us/core40.
Indiana General, CORE 40 or Academic Honors High School Diplomas (effective beginning for Class of 2008)
Subject General Diploma CORE 40 Diploma Academic Honors Diploma
English 8 Credits 8 Credits In literature, composition, and speech 8 Credits In literature,
composition, and speech
Math 4 Credits 6 –8 Credits Must include Alg. I, Geom., & Alg. II 8 Credits must include Alg. I,
Geom., & Alg. II Plus Pre-calculus, etc.
Science 4 Credits Must include more than one major category: Life, Physical, or Earth & Space
Science. 6 Credits Must include Biology I, and either Chem or Physics 6 Credits Must include
Biology I, and either Chem or Physics
Social Studies 4 Credits include: 2 cr. US History, plus US Gov’t, 6 Credits Include 2 cr. US History,
1 cr. US Gov’t, 1 cr. Economics, & 1 cr. World History & Civilization or World Geography 6 Credits Include
2 cr. US History, 1 cr. US Gov’t, and 3 cr. with emphasis on Economics, World History or Geography
Foreign Language None 4 Credits 6 Credits In one language or 8 cr. In two languages
Fine Arts (Music & Art) None None 2 Credits
Physical Education 1 Credit 1 Credit 1 Credit
Health 1 Credit 1 Credit 1 Credit
Total Credits for Graduation 40 Credits 45 Credits 47 Credits B Average Nothing Below a C-“
Dr. Russell encourages all SPAN students to pursue at least the Core 40 diploma, but if your student is so
inclined, he may choose to work toward the most difficult choice, the Academic Honors Diploma (AHD).
12. Planning Your Student’s Schedule at IUPUI
The basic rule of thumb you’ll need to realize is that a one-semester college course can usually be counted
as equivalent to two semesters of public high school.
So, how can you figure out what courses your son or daughter should take to meet the Core 40 requirements?
Well, after studying the diploma requirements, the place to start is with the “Course and Program Descriptions
For Indiana Schools Part I." The easiest way to get this publication is on the Internet at the following address:
www.doe.state.in.us/publications/courses.html. This huge document (around 150 pages) provides detailed
descriptions of the high school courses, which meet the various diploma requirements.
Now, are your problems all solved? No! This thick document will require careful reading and a big bottle of
an anti-migraine medication! It is at this point that most parents give up and hire Todd Academy to do the
job, not only is this a complex process it changes yearly and requires constant monitoring.
Should you decide to continue on your own, the other document you will also need is the IUPUI Campus
Bulletin, available electronically at http://bulletin.iupui.edu/. This nearly 600 page book gives descriptions of
all the courses offered at IUPUI, as well as graduation requirements for the many degrees available.
So how do you use these two books to plan your student’s courses? Maybe we can give you an example of
how to meet the state requirements.
Let’s look at the social studies requirements to get a Core 40. This diploma requires US History. From the
“Course and Program Descriptions For Indiana Schools Part I," we read, in part “United States History
emphasizes national development in the late nineteenth and the twentieth centuries and builds upon
concepts developed in previous studies of American history. …Students will be able to sequence historical
events, examine cause and effect, identify different perspectives, and relate historical situations to current
issues.” Now, from this passage we know this course concentrates on material after the Civil War.
Next, if one looks at the IUPUI Campus Bulletin, in the School of Liberal Arts, under History on page 293, one
finds: H106 American History II (3 cr.) “II. 1865 to present. Political history forms framework, with economic,
social, cultural, and intellectual history interwoven. Introduction to historical literature, source material, and
criticism.” Viola", we seem to have the comparable course, but we’re not quite done.
The question is do we count it as a one or two credit course? You see, under US History it says that two
semesters are required to graduate. But if we thumb through the “Course and Program Descriptions For
Indiana Schools Part I," to U.S. History we find, “US History, Advanced Placement or College Credit, is a title
covering any of these courses: (1) a course which follows College Board Entrance Examination guidelines for
advanced placement United States History, (2) any United States History course offered for credit by an
accredited postsecondary institution through an adjunct agreement with a secondary school, or (3) any other
postsecondary United States History course offered for dual credit under the provisions of 511 IAC 22-10.1-
22.2-1-2.6. A Core 40 and AHD course. A one or two credit course.”
Please notice that this is the advanced placement or college credit course description. Okay, “postsecondary”
means college, and option three refers to our dual enrolled students. And the statement that it may count as a
one or two credit high school course indicates we may use our discretion to decide how many high school
credits it is worth. After experiencing the H106 course at IUPUI, we easily chose to value it at two credits. So
H106, a one-semester course at IUPUI satisfies one year of high school US History.
Below are other equivalences we have found:
High School IUPUI
ENGLISH:
Literature English Lit L105, L115,
Folklore M117, F101
Classical Myth C205
Writing English W130, W131, W132, W231
Speech Communication R110
LABORATORY SCIENCE:
Earth and Space Science Astronomy A100, A105
Biology I Biology N100, K101, K103
Chemistry I Chemistry C100, C101, C102, C105, C106
Physics I Physics 100, 152
SOCIAL SCIENCE:
US History (post Civil War) History H106
Other US History H105
American Government Political Science Y103 or Y101??
Economics Economics E101
World History History H113, H114, or H108
World Geography Geography G107
MATHEMATICS:
Intro. To Pre-Algebra Math M001
Pre-Algebra Math 001
Algebra I Math 110
Algebra II Math 111
Calculus Math M119
Finite Mathematics Math M118
ART Herron H100, H101, H102
MUSIC M174
THEATER COMMUNICATIONS T130, Eng Film C190
Physical Education School of Health, Phys Ed and Recreation
Health HPER H163
Now, we’ve found the English requirements to be a little less straightforward. The high school requirements
refer to each year including the study of literature, composition, and oral presentations. Consequently, we
believe that six high school credits would be met by taking an IUPUI literature class, an IUPUI writing class,
and an IUPUI speech class.
All of the high school Core 40 requirements can be completed with courses at IUPUI. But if your student has a
particular weak spot (i.e. Math), there are easier courses of which you may want to take advantage. For
example, the math department offers Math M001 – Introductory Pre-Algebra and Math 001 – Intro to Algebra.
BUT, please notice that these college remedial or “Special Developmental Courses” do not count toward any
college degree programs. Alternatively, you may want to investigate a home schooling program to complete
the Core 40 requirement at a more leisurely pace. The Abeka Home Schooling program has a very fine
mathematics program and can be located at www.abeka.com.
IUPUI Schedule of Classes and Academic Information is a pamphlet detailing courses offered, class times,
instructors, and locations. After the first semester, it will be mailed to your student. According to Dr. Russell, it
is virtually out of date as soon as it is mailed, so he recommends going online to the OneStart website to
verify course offerings and availability.
Remember; classes are not just down the hall, they may be across campus! Even with 15 minutes between
classes, be aware of distances to be traveled if you choose back-to-back classes.
13. Tailor the IUPUI Schedule to YOUR child
It is important to remember that all “early enrollment” students are unique in their abilities and in the way they
learn best; some are great at math and weaker in English, some are vice versa, some are visual learners and
others are auditory learners who rely on hearing the lecture. There is no one best way to set up your student’s
schedule, but it is good to think about these differences to help give your student the best chance for success.
For example, if you have a visual learner, it may be important to get the required texts early so they can have
the opportunity to read ahead for the first day. Books are usually available in the bookstore 10 days before
classes start.
We have also found that a leisurely schedule of 2 to 3 classes per day with breaks between classes can work
very well to our student’s advantage. While it may be tempting to cram lectures together to limit the time your
student spends on campus, as parents, we don’t advocate that for their first year. Permitting our kids to take a
class and then to have time to go over their notes, mull over what they have learned, maybe talk to the
professor after class and/or work on homework right then, seems to enhance their chance for success in a
reduced stress environment. This also gives them time to do any last minute preparations for the next class. It
lets them visit the math center or writing center if they need extra help. And finally, it has the advantage of
leaving the student with minimal homework for that night so that they might have plenty of time to just “be a
kid” and do fun, extracurricular activities with their friends or family.
Prerequisites. Be sure to check to see if there are any prerequisites for the courses for which you intend to
register. While this is not cast in stone, it is a good idea to take Writing 131 early because it is frequently
required before other courses can be taken.
Day classes versus night classes. Although it would seem an easy solution for your student to “pick up a
night class” in there needed subject, we have found one significant difference in day versus evening classes.
During the day, most classes are attended by students of average college age. Evening classes, however,
tend to have older and middle age students finishing a degree or taking a work related class. The significant
age difference can be very intimidating to the younger students. We would exercise caution in choosing a
night class as the first class your student takes.
Fall or spring semesters versus Summer I or II. The traditional fall or spring semesters have 15 weeks of
classes. During these semesters, a typical 3-credit class would meet for two and a half hours per week.
Summer semesters, however, are very compact, lasting for only 6 weeks. And although classes do meet for
longer class periods, condensing the same course readings and assignments into a compact summer
semester requires careful preparation for your student to be successful. We recommend that any student
getting ready to embark upon a summer college class be prepared for the extremely fast pace by purchasing
books as early as possible, getting the syllabus early and starting on required reading, and possibly
“shadowing” the class for a day the semester prior.
Courses no longer available, but still listed in the College Bulletin
Chem Lab C120
14. Getting Your Schedule Registered
After selecting the courses with your student and choosing the class times that best fit their schedule, you will
need to finalize this process in one of two ways. This can be done either by setting an appointment with Dr.
Russell to meet with him in person with your proposed schedule or by forwarding your proposed schedule to
Dr. Russell by e-mail. Dr. Russell will complete the registration and send you a schedule confirmation.
Students in SPAN, because they are part of the Honors Department, are eligible for Priority Registration. This
enables them to register for classes before the regular registration period, thus virtually ensuring their class
selections. After registering the first time, you will receive in the mail future IUPUI semester catalogs and a
priority registration appointment time.
--Priority registration deadlines
Spring 2004 Oct 21-31, 2003
Summer/Fall 2004 March 23-April 2, 2004
Spring 2005 October 26-November 5, 2004
15. What will be required in SPAN
-Attendance
The failure rate tends to be highest for incoming freshman. One reason is because of students’ newly found
sense of freedom and resulting temptation to skip class. We feel that attendance is critical for the success of
SPAN kids, and so apparently does IUPUI. We’ve noticed that teachers do take attendance in most classes,
with varying affect on student’s grades.
-Work ethic
SPAN kids must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or above to remain in the program. This requires a good
work ethic and should be a key consideration in evaluating your student for this program.
College requires students to be highly self-motivated. They’ve got to want to be there and they’ve got to be
willing to do the work. While parental prodding may have worked in the past, by college it is often ineffective,
if not totally ignored. And the faculty will not hold your student’s hand and force them to turn in work either.
Be sure that your student clearly understands how to work from a syllabus and that deadlines are deadlines.
Most teachers make no exceptions to their policies.
-Computer literacy
Computer literacy is required for success at IUPUI. This campus is unique in the high degree of reliance upon
electronic communication. A high percentage of teachers use the OneStart website to report grades,
assignments, tests, forums, group projects and group or individual communications. It is imperative that your
student not only has computer access, but also has considerable amounts of time available to the Internet for
their usage.
Caution – if you have parental control settings limiting your Internet, this may keep your student from being
able to access all necessary information for completing assignments. We recommend that you analyze your
need for these tools, as you evaluate the maturity and levels of trust you have with your student.
Students on the IUPUI campus are able to purchase many Microsoft products at greatly reduced rates for their
own personal usage however to be able to purchase software at these reduced rates they must sign the usage
agreement and present their JagTag. (See Section 19.)
16. Getting Help…the Math Center and the Writing Center
IUPUI is excellent for providing hands on help to all their students. Many 100 level classes encourage their
students visit the Math and Writing centers to obtain help on projects, papers, tutoring and areas a student
may feel a little extra support would be beneficial.
Math Assistance Center IUPUI Director: Patrick Frey University College Building, UC 102 815 West Michigan
Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 Phone: (317) 274-7898 Email: info@math.iupui.edu Campus Map MAC
Hours Mon-Thurs, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Fri & Sat, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Sun, closed Exceptions: The MAC will
be closed Monday, May 31, and Monday July 5.
http://math.iupui.edu/MAC/
University Writing Center- SLA Cavanaugh Hall Room 427(317) 274-2049 University Writing Center-
UCOL 2104 (317) 278-8642
17. Don’t Miss the Payment Deadline
It is easy in your first semester or two, to become overwhelmed and miss a Bursar
Payment deadline. This will result in your registered classes being dropped immediately.
If this happens, you will need to re-register as soon as possible. This will necessitate great flexibility and
optimism, since most classes will already be full. We recommend that you make every effort to avoid this
situation. To check these dates, go online to http://www.bursar.iupui.edu
--Payments due at Bursar or your classes will be dropped
Summer I 2004 April 28, 2004
Summer II 2004 June 16, 2004
Fall 2004 August 11, 2004
Spring 2005 December 22 , 2004
18. Buying Books for IUPUI Courses
Although your tendency will be to buy your books early, we have found it better to exercise patience instead.
Required and recommended books are posted on the OneStart website approximately two weeks before the
first day of class. You may purchase them from the bookstore, http://www.bookstore.iupui.edu/main/default.
asp?flash=true in the basement of Cavanaugh Hall or at the Indy College Bookstore on 11th St. It may require
one trip or repetitive trips to one or all of the above to acquire these supplies.
We have two tips that may make this less expensive. First, we encourage our students to choose used books,
especially if they do not intend to keep the books long term. By careful inspection, more pristine selections
can be located. The other tip is not to open sealed books until the first day of class. That way, if the teacher
advises that they are not going to be utilized, they can be returned for a full refund.
A problem has turned up that has made purchasing books an adventure. At the Cavanaugh Hall bookstore, all
checks must be signed in person, making it is impossible to send a signed parental check with the intention of
having your child fill in the required amount. And needing a parent to write a check immediately identifies
your child as younger to all students in line. There are two ways to avoid this situation, other than sending in a
large amount of cash.
1. Open your child a checking account. For identification they can use their IUPUI student ID. This will
require a parental signature at the bank, but is often a free service for college students. And the life lessons
learned can be invaluable.
2. Alternatively, put a significant amount of money on their IUPUI JagTag – associated with their student
ID and have them debit it. When you obtain a student ID, you are asked if you want JagTag privileges. Say
“Yes!” Your student can go to the office and put any amount of cash on it, and use it for everything from coke
machines and copies to library needs and the Cavanaugh Hall bookstore.
19. JagTag…Student I.D.
The official student identification card is the JagTag. It will be required for tests, student discounts, and the
ability to purchase an assortment of things on campus, including software. The JagTag also has the option of
adding debit card services to it for use in the bookstore, copiers, vending machines, and many other campus
locations. We recommend your student obtain his JagTag as soon as he/she is registered for classes. Note: If
they do not have a driver’s license or permit they can use their yearbook with their photo from last year as
identification. Hours and locations can be obtained at http://www.jagtag.iupui.edu/ .
Extra perks as SPAN students
-Microsoft has generously arranged a program with IUPUI to provide software at very low prices. As SPAN
students, some of this is provided free of charge.
-Free Xeroxing in SPAN office
-Access to and use of the Honors Lounge… Just outside Dr. Russell’s Office located on the 3rd floor of
University College.
20. College degree requirements or “Killing two birds with one stone.”
While our main objective is to help our student complete the Core 40 high school requirements, as parents
you may also want to look down the road at the requirements for a college degree. With each college class
they take, they move closer to advancing their college standing accordingly:
0-25 credit hours = college freshman
26-55 credit hours = college sophomore
56-85 credit hours = college junior
86 + credit hours = college senior
If your child has already decided on their future college major great-- you can look up the requirements in the
IUPUI Campus Bulletin http://bulletin.iupui.edu/ and get busy. If your child is undecided but definitely
strongest in Language Arts, you may want to investigate the basic requirements for the School of Liberal Arts.
Possibly the most important information at this point is what courses do not count toward a Liberal Arts
degree. Under Bachelor of Arts, General Education Requirements, Item 9, we find:
“Credit hours from the following courses will not count toward the 122 hours needed for graduation: English
E010, W001, G010, G011, G012, and G013; Mathematics M130, M131, M132, M136, and any mathematics
course lower than M118; Business C221, C222, and C225.”
On the other hand, if math and science are definitely your child’s stronger field, you may want to look over
the School of Science’s information, starting on page 491. You may find it of value to examine the
recommended high school curricula and test scores on pages 491-2. And on page 493 is a discussion of the
Baccalaureate Degree general required courses. On the same page, Item 11 reads:
“The following courses do not count for any credit toward any degree program in the School of Science: AGR
101; BIOL N120; CSCI N100-level courses; CPT 106; all Indiana University remedial and developmental
COAS courses; EDUC U205, X100, X150, X151, X152; ENG W001, W130; MATH M010, 001, M001, 002,
110, 111, 123, 130, 132, 136; PHYS 010; UCOL U112.
Note that CHEM C100 may count for general elective credit only if the student has not already established
credit in CHEM C101 or CHEM C105/C106, or equivalent courses. Otherwise, CHEM C100 does not count for
credit in any given degree program.”
21. High School Graduation time
If your child is a full-time SPAN student, they can complete the equivalent of a year of high school in one
semester of college. This makes it very important that you understand what needs to be done to reach
graduation time.
It is very important that you maintain a complete and verifiable transcript. And your child will need to take the
ACT and SAT right before graduating as a high school student [Admissions will need a test taken within one
year of applying for regular admission]. Be sure to ask Dr. Russell for a recommendation on which test your
student should take and when. Test scores will be needed if your student wishes to transfer to another college,
as well as for academic scholarship money.
Please note that as a high school student, your child is NOT eligible for college scholarships or grant monies.
This may influence how quickly your student decides to complete the Core 40 diploma.
Planning is very important to your teen’s success in receiving scholarships and/ or financial aid. You need to
submit the paperwork to transfer them over regular college student status at least one semester before they
complete their high school degree. But it often requires up to one full year of planning to make it possible to
benefit fully. Timing is everything.
22. Miscellaneous Information we have learned.
Parking Permit – We recommend that if your student drives, they purchase a parking permit. It allows your
student access to both the parking garages and parking lots. Permits may be purchased on line at: http://www.
parking.iupui.edu/. Tickets must be paid or towing will occur.
Class Cancellations – No matter how well you plan, it is possible for a class in which your student has
registered to be cancelled. This usually happens within a week of the start of class but can happen as late as
the start of school. Periodically make sure the classes you have registered for are still listed. If a class is
cancelled you must go in and officially drop it for it to be removed from your bursar account and credit to be
refunded. This has nothing to do with you or the process it just happens. Reregister as soon as possible into
another class.
Student Profile- Your student will have the option of filling out a student profile. We prefer to provide only
minimal information. Usually the option exists to allow access to the teacher only or the entire class. While it
will be the decision of your student, we have found that only basic information is best.
Setting up E-mail – The campus assigns an e-mail account for every student. We recommend they use it. It
avoids trying to access and manage several accounts on a daily basis as teachers and other students will use
that address to contact one another.
Work – Although we as parents would love them to work the college, as a guideline offers the following:
Course Loads and Work (IUPUI Campus Bulletin 2004-2006)
The following guidelines may assist a student in determining the appropriate number of credit hours to take in
combination with work and other obligations. Financial aid regulations also affect course load.
Hours Employed Per Week Semester Load Summer Load Status
31-40+ 6 credits 3 credits half-time status
21-30 9 credits 4-5 credits three-quarter status
0-20 12-17 credits 6 credits full-time status
But we have our own recommendation. No more than 10 hours of work a week for at least their first year. It is
critical that the student still have time for friends, fun, and the test that “took more time to study for than they
had planned.” Our recommendation is to give them time to find a balance and still be a teenager.
This document was prepared by:
Sharon Todd, Director, The Todd Academy and
Shelley Crimans
For use by the IUPUI SPAN Program
About IUPUI SPAN
Program
Program
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| An early college high school for the virtually unlimited student. |