Undergraduate Admissions
- High School Students
- First-Year Students
- Steps in Applying
- What to Expect (High School vs. College)
- Academic Options at UCM
- For High Ability Students
- For Home-Schooled Students
- For Students with a GED
- For Adult Students
- For Multicultural Students
- For Recently Admitted Students
- For Students with a Disability
- Bringing in Dual Credit
- Success Program
- Recently Admitted Students
- Transfer Students
- Dual Admission Students
- Non-Degree Seeking Students
- Visiting/Summer/Readmitted Students
- Parents & Family
- Student Financial Services
- Forms
Success Program FAQs
What is The Success Program?
The Success program is designed for students who do not meet regular admission standards to the University but show academic promise. Students are selected based upon ACT scores, and high school GPA/class rank. Students are also asked to answer a few short essay questions designed to elicit information about motivation and goals.
What is expected?
Upon receiving an invitation to apply for the program, students are asked to complete a Learning Agreement outlining the program and university expectations and complete an Insight Resume. The Agreement serves as a guide to the student's transition to becoming a successful college student. The Agreement must be followed to maintain enrollment at UCM. Failure to follow the contract may result in suspension. Students are also required to successfully complete the courses and activities in the Pre-Semester Workshop to ensure conditional admission to the fall semester.
What goes on during the Pre-Semester Workshop?
During the workshop, students are introduced to the campus, university resources, and their Learning Community. They will begin at least one of their courses during the week. Multiple sessions will also ensure that all students are familiar with the technology, such as student e-mail and Blackboard, they will be using throughout the semester, financial aid, and their individual class schedule for the semester . The sessions help ease the transition to the college environment. Along with the mandatory daytime activities, a variety of programming is provided for students in the evening.
What is a Learning Community?
Like many first-year students on campus, students in The Success program are enrolled in a Learning Community. Learning Communities are blocks of two to four classes that a cohort of 20 to 25 students take together during the first semester. Again like a number of major-specific Learning Communities, The Success Program Learning Communities include a General Education course, a linked Supplemental Instruction class, and a Learning Strategies course. The Learning Strategies faculty member also serves as the student's advisor. The Learning Community involves 6 credit hours. Each student will also be enrolled in an additional 6 to 7 credit hours for the semester, which is a normal first semester load of 12 to 15 hours. All first-year students get their individual schedules during the regular Summer Orientation. All of the courses in The Learning Community and on a student's schedule are credit courses toward graduation.
Do students need to attend all the activities during the Pre-Semester Workshop?
Yes, attendance is required at all daytime activities. The activities begin on Sunday with the official welcome and end on Thursday afternoon. There are a variety of free evening events that students are encouraged to attend.
Where will students live?
All early arrivals on campus are housed in one residence hall on campus. Students attending the Pre-Semester Workshop will be temporarily housed the designated residence hall. On Wednesday of that week, they will be allowed to move into their assigned rooms for the fall semester. Every effort will be made to house the students in their permanent rooms.
What will the cost be to students?
The only cost to the students will be a daily meal charge, usually $70.00 for the week. Students with a fall housing contract will be allowed to stay in the residence hall for free. Students who wish to commute during the fall semester are encouraged to stay on campus during the week for a small daily fee.
Does this program replace Summer Orientation?
No, Summer Orientation is very important. The orientation provides students with an opportunity to receive their schedules and make final plans for the fall semester. It also provides their families an opportunity to become familiar with the campus. Try your best to register early for orientation as your course availability improves greatly.
Are students allowed to declare a major?
Students are officially admitted as Open Option students. They have an opportunity during the Pre-Semester Workshop to meet with a faculty member from their intended major to begin making connections with that department. The student’s Learning Community and schedule will be constructed with a student’s intended major in mind, however, complete dedication to major 4 year plan is rarely achievable. Success Program students can officially declare a major during the spring semester of their first year.
What are the GPA requirements to remain at UCM?
Success Program students must earn at least a 1.75 GPA or they cannot return for the spring semester. Since the Program started in 2007, over 850 students began their college careers in The Success Program. The average first semester GPA for all of these students has been over 2.5, with many achieving 3.0 to 4.0 during that semester.
How long is the Success Program?
The program is part of UCM's first-year experience. We work with Success Program students during the fall and spring semester of the first year.
