Academic Support

Academic Advising

In addition to the academic assistance provided by the faculty, MTSU has academic college advisors in each undergraduate college. Academic college advisors assist students in their academic growth and adjustment to university life. Advisors counsel students regarding correct college courses, make referrals to faculty major advisors, assist students during CUSTOMS orientation and registration activities, and make referrals to Counseling Services.

The University College (UCAC) provides academic advising services for MTSU students with undeclared majors, students with ACT prescribed courses, and other special populations. In addition to course selection and registration, UCAC advisors provide guidance and information to help students select appropriate majors early in their academic careers. Students interested in changing a major or exploring the majors MTSU has to offer should visit the center. The center also coordinates learning communities, the community reading program, and other academic initiatives. Students seeking academic assistance are encouraged to contact an academic advisor through their colleges or the University College Advising Center at (615) 898-2339.

Army/Air Force ROTC

Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AROTC)

MTSU students can earn commissions as second lieutenants in the United States Army, Army Reserve (USAR), or Army National Guard (ARNG) while pursuing either undergraduate or graduate studies.

Army ROTC provides multiple paths for students to obtain their commissions. Entry-level military science training during the freshman and sophomore years consist of leadership development training. There is no military service obligation during this phase. Students with prior military service may receive academic credit for the first two years. Students who have not taken any military science classes by the end of their sophomore year may receive placement credit by attending the Leader Training Course, conducted each summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets receive pay for the training.

At the beginning of the junior year, students begin Advanced ROTC training built around leadership assessment and practical application of their management and leadership schools. Airborne, Air Assault, and other military schools are available to students. Cadets attend a leader training course during the summer between their junior and senior years. All advanced training students receive a monthly subsistence allowance. Full-time employment upon graduation is available for those students who are selected for an initial three- or four-year active duty assignment.

Scholarships: Army ROTC offers three- and two-year on-campus scholarships each year to qualified enrolled and non-enrolled military science students. These scholarships pay for registration, books, and lab fees, in addition to the monthly subsistence allowance. Scholarship recipients may be selected for initial active duty assignments or reserve assignments.

Further information concerning AROTC may be obtained by consulting the Military Science Department course offerings in this catalog, listed under the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, or by writing

Army ROTC
Military Science Department
Middle Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 52
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
or by calling (615) 898-2470 or toll-free 1-888-MT-AROTC
or by e-mailing arotc1@mtsu.edu.

Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC)

MTSU students may participate in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at Detachment 790 on the campus of Tennessee State University. Air Force students at MTSU can earn a minor in Military Science through a cooperative program between TSU and MTSU. Air Force ROTC provides pre-commissioning training to college students (male and female) who desire to serve as officers in the U.S. Air Force (USAF).

High school students may also apply for the Air Force High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) online at www.AFROTC.com. The application deadline is typically December 1 of the student’s senior year. Detailed eligibility requirements are available on the Air Force Web site.

As Air Force ROTC cadets, students can compete for scholarships that may cover all or a significant portion of tuition costs. In addition, cadets earn a monthly stipend of up to $500 tax-free and up to $900 per academic year to pay for textbooks.

Cadets are required to attend Air Force classes and lab in uniform one day per week. One summer, typically between the sophomore and junior year, cadets must attend a four-week military training session. The combination of USAF military education, training, and college-level curriculum offers cadets a broad-based knowledge of management, leadership, and technical skills.

The minimum eligibility requirements are as follows: U.S. citizen, thirty years old or younger on December 31 of the year of graduation (exception–prior enlisted), meet USAF height and weight standards, pass a physical fitness test, have a 2.0+ cumulative college GPA, and pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (a USAF-unique academic aptitude test similar to the ACT/SAT).

Although the USAF will accept students from any accredited academic major, there is a critical need for technical majors such as engineers (all disciplines) and those with foreign language proficiency. Upon graduation, cadets will earn commissions as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force and will have the opportunity to serve a minimum of four years on active duty.

For more information, visit www.AFROTC.com or telephone Detachment 790’s Unit Admissions Officer at (615) 963-5931. You may also visit Detachment 790’s Web site at www.tnstate.edu/rotc.

Experiential Learning Scholars Program

Jill Austin, Director of EXL Scholars Program
Ron Kates, Coordinator of Service Learning

The Experiential Learning Scholars Program provides students with opportunities for hands-on experience in their fields of study, valuable networking with professionals, and an opportunity to explore career paths through real-world activities. For more information about the program, view the Web site at www.mtsu.edu/~exl, phone (615) 898–5542, or send an e-mail to exl@mtsu.edu.

Student Learning Outcomes

Six student learning outcomes for the program have been identified. Students are expected to

1. develop an experience-based knowledge in their disciplines and demonstrate the ability to apply theories and concepts to practical problems;
2. engage in systematic reflection and demonstrate the ability to critically examine their experiences and to create connections between those experiences and disciplinary knowledge;
3. make contributions to their communities and learn the value of making those contributions (good citizenship); develop as individuals who understand the needs of others, learn cultural awareness, and appreciate the differences in others;
4. develop and demonstrate managerial skills including planning, organizing, problem solving, and communicating;
5. develop and demonstrate leadership skills including interpersonal skills, the ability to direct others, and teamwork; and
6. develop and demonstrate research skills that will help them be successful in graduate programs.

Types of Experiential Learning Courses

Experiential learning courses are designated with the EXL course prefix or are listed as approved for EXL credit on RaiderNet. Experiential Learning includes the following types of courses:

1. Internship/Cooperative Education. Work experiences with businesses or nonprofit organizations that require discipline-based knowledge. Coop courses and internships are approved through academic departments.
2. Study Abroad. Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) courses, Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA) courses, Tennessee Consortium for International Students (TNCIS), and formal study abroad courses developed and led by MTSU faculty. Other types of study abroad courses approved by the MTSU International Education and Exchange Office and the academic department are also acceptable.
3. Applied Learning. Application of discipline-related knowledge through projects with businesses and nonprofit organizations.
4. Service-Learning. Opportunities to participate in projectbased, interactive partnerships with community entities to gain valuable experience as mentors and leaders while meeting a community need. Courses are designed to promote community service and self-discovery and should enable students to integrate civic awareness and engagement into their academic and professional pursuits.
5. Creative Activity. Activity driven by the student’s imagination, talents, and/or skills that results in a tangible outcome such as works rendered in aural, visual, physical, written, electronic, and/or other forms. Performance and exhibition of creative works may also be included.
6. Teacher Education. Applied learning courses designed specifically for teacher education programs
7. Laboratory Experiences. Traditional science lab course activities such as biology and physical science.

Requirements for EXL Scholars Program

Students may participate in the EXL Scholars Program by taking EXL-designated courses in their majors or general education. Students who want the EXL Scholars designation on their transcripts should complete the following:

• 16 to 18 hours of EXL-designated classes. EXL classes include internships/cooperative education, study abroad, applied learning, service-learning, creative activities, teacher education, and laboratory experiences. These courses may be part of required general education, major, and/or minor requirements. Experiential Learning courses are designated with the EXL course prefix or are listed as approved for EXL credit on RaiderNet.
• At least one external activity (volunteer project with community organization/business or scholarly research project). An external activity is defined as a project that requires the student to interact with people outside the University or a research project in which students must interact with people outside their departments or outside the campus community. (These experiences require prior approval to count for credit toward the EXL designation.)
• MTSU internal service component. Students may complete this requirement in one of three ways: participate in a leadership role in a campus-sponsored charitable activity, volunteer with a campus office to assist other students, or be a campus leader. (These experiences require prior approval to count for credit toward the EXL designation.)
• Documentation of completion of EXL activities through an e-portfolio (EXL 4000 ).
• Participation in EXL program assessment activities such as completion of surveys.

Campus Partnerships with EXL

For additional information about activities related to experiential learning, review activities offered through the following programs.

American Democracy Project – www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem
Undergraduate Research – www.mtsu.edu/urc/
Study Abroad – www.mtsu.edu/~mtabroad/
McNair Scholars – www.mtsu.edu/~mcnair
Academic Departments and Colleges

McNair Program

L. Diane Miller, Director

The MTSU McNair Program is a postbaccalaureate achievement program. The program is designed to increase the number of financially disadvantaged, firstgeneration, or underrepresented college students who pursue and complete the doctoral degree; to prepare promising students for graduate studies leading to the obtainment of a doctoral degree; and to help increase the diversity of college and university facilities. The program is named in honor of Ronald E. McNair, Challenger astronaut, 1978–1986.

The McNair Program is a Federal TRIO program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

More information can be obtained from the

McNair Program
P.O. Box 301
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
www.mtsu.edu/~mcnair

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)

Since 2006, MTSU students and faculty have benefited from the University’s membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of 96 colleges and universities and a contractor for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.

Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOE facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates, graduates, and postgraduates, as well as faculty, enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science- and engineering-related disciplines. A comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the ORISE Catalog of Education and Training Programs, which is available at see.orau.org/.

ORAU’s Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU’s private industry and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Jr. Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, consortium research funding initiatives, and faculty research and support programs, as well as services to chief research officers.

Student-Athlete Enhancement Center

MTSU’s Student-Athlete Enhancement Center is the academic support program for over 400 student-athletes in 17 NCAA sports. Center personnel monitor the student-athlete’s progress toward a degree and are committed to the academic growth of our student athletes.

Facilities for the Student-Athlete Enhancement Center are located at the football stadium and include administrative offices, tutoring rooms, a computer center, and a study hall open 67 hours per week.

The center provides an atmosphere of personal attention and encouragement as well as tutorial assistance, advice during registration, and recognition for academic accomplishments.

The center is also a member of the NCAA Life Skills Program, a five-point commitment program dedicated to assisting the student-athlete in developing skills to cope with every aspect of life. Some of the seminars and workshops presented to the student-athletes include instruction in communication skills, social development, value and ethics awareness, emotional health, fiscal responsibility, community outreach, and career development.

Undergraduate Research Center

The Undergraduate Research Center (URC) fosters the implementation of active and engaging modes of learning in the curriculum. It also serves to facilitate the creation of an environment where students desiring to excel can reach their full potential through research opportunities and creative activities with inherent pedagogical value. The URC promotes change that institutionalizes a culture of inquiry and scholarship for all students. It also coordinates the integration of research-based learning in undergraduate education, from introductory experiences to senior capstone experiences.

The URC is a clearinghouse for information regarding all such programs aimed at involving undergraduate students in research and creative activities. The center also serves as the focal point for publicity and reports activities sponsored by the center. It serves as a catalyst for the development of proposals aimed at securing funding for innovative undergraduate learning and scholarship.

URECA. A component of the URC is the Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (URECA) initiative. This program provides financial support to undergraduate students who want to get involved in research and creative projects at all points in their undergraduate studies. Students can apply for funding using the guidelines accessible on the URECA website www.mtsu.edu/urc/. A committee that includes representative faculty for all colleges reviews proposals and selects recipients. Awards are administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.

URECA’s primary intent is to immerse students in a culture of research, scholarship, and/or creative activity as a part of the educational process and preparation for the workplace. URECA-supported students carry out research under the guidance of a faculty mentor, prepare a statement of the proposed activity, and present the final result(s) of the project. Research or creative projects will typically relate to the work of one or more faculty members but may be of the student’s own design. The interactions of faculty mentor(s) and student(s) should be governed by the important elements of mentoring that meet best practices for mentorship in each department/discipline.