Recruitment, Mentoring, Retention and Graduation

The Department of Sociology Recruitment, Mentoring, Retention and Graduation Program is to improve academic success, retention, career development of students enrolled in sociology at Southern University through structured support and mentoring interactions.

Goal 1: To increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Department of Sociology recruitment and retention program, and to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary for successful completion of academic and career goals.

Goal 2: To Increase the number of sociology graduates going on to graduate and professional schools by 5 percent.

Each student admitted to the Department of Sociology is assigned a faculty member who will advise the student on academic and career matters while the student remains a mass communication major.

It is the student's responsibility to make an initial appointment with his/her adviser. The faculty member will post office hours and be available at those times or by appointment for advising.

Students will meet with their advisers at least twice a semester. The adviser must keep a current record of those individual meetings for department files and notify the Chairman promptly of any unusual situations.

Advisers will counsel students about course schedules and other academic questions during every registration period.Students are required to see their advisers or an appointed substitute prior to pre-registration. Any student attempting to register without first getting approval from a faculty member will be disciplined.

In the beginning of a student's senior year, the adviser will check the records of each advisee to make certain all university, college, and department requirements for graduation will be met in time.

The Program Chair will supervise student completion "Application for Graduation," which the student must obtain from the Dean of the College of Sciences the semester before expect to graduate. Advisers also will complete a sociology balance sheet. All course substitution forms should be completed at this time. The completed form is signed by the student, advisor, and Chairman. Thereafter, the graduation papers are submitted to the Dean of Sciences for verification and approval.

Remember: All students are responsible for keeping track of the courses that they are required to take for graduation. Your adviser will help you as much as possible, but the final responsibility for completing your program lies with YOU.

Finally, before graduation, make sure you provide your adviser with your permanent address and current telephone number. That will enable you to keep abreast of, and involved in, activities in the department after your graduation. Also, tell your adviser if you move before graduation.