Where will I go for academic advising? You will be able to consult academic advisors at both schools. Your primary academic advisors are located at ASU-Newport. A-State advisors are located on campus. 

How will I set up my class schedule(s)? Incoming Pathfinder students will register for (ASU-Newport and A-State) courses while attending a New Student Conference on the A-State campus. Academic advisors from both ASU-Newport and A-State will be present to make appropriate course recommendations. Factors that influence suggested courses include: Core Curriculum requirements, previously-earned college credits (such as dual credits or AP credits), choice of academic major, exam scores such as ACT/SAT/Accuplacer or Math Placement Exams, prerequisite limitations, and course availability. 

Pathfinder students must coordinate their class schedules between the two schools to avoid time conflicts. The goal is to minimize transitions between campuses. Many students have found that a Monday/Wednesday/Friday class schedule at A-State and a Tuesday/Thursday schedule at ASU-Newport (or vice versa) is most efficient. If such a schedule is not possible, you may need to have classes on both campuses on the same day. If so, you should try to schedule one campus in the morning and the other in the afternoon to minimize transitions. Always allow at least one hour between classes (for commuting and parking) when you change campuses during the day.

Where will I eat? You may want to wait until you know where you will live, and what your class schedule will be before you decide on meal arrangements. All students living on the A-State campus are required to purchase a dining plan, but any student may purchase a plan regardless of where they reside. 

There is a food court on the A-State campus. Click here to visit the A-State Dining Services website. 

Can I apply for on-campus housing at  A-State? Yes, Pathfinder students are eligible to apply for on-campus housing. Click here to learn about Residence Life. Also, to view the 21-22 housing rates, click here. 

Will I be able to join a sorority or fraternity at A-State?  Click here to learn more about Greek Life. 
YES: National Panhellenic Council (NPC) sororities 
YES: Multicultural and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations 
YES: Fraternities (Interfraternity Council Organizations)

If I run into a problem in a course, will I be able to drop the course? Yes, you may drop a course at ASU-Newport or A-State, but there are deadlines for dropping courses at each school. (Consult the ASU-Newport and A-State academic calendars.) If you drop a course you may fall behind schedule and need to make up those credits in summer school or subsequent semesters. You must plan to complete the Pathfinder Program requirements by the end of the first summer session following the sophomore year. Never drop a course without first consulting an academic advisor!

Do I have to have a certain grade point average (GPA) at both ASU-Newport and A-State every semester? No, it is your cumulative GPA that is most important. It is easier to maintain a high GPA each semester rather than trying to raise it late in the program.

Will I be able to enroll for courses in my future major at A-State? Students are able to enroll in some courses that apply to all majors. However, there may be limited or no access at A-State to freshman and sophomore-level courses in majors. There may be increased possibilities of taking courses in these majors at A-State during summer school. If you have questions about making the transition to these majors, talk to an academic advisor. 

What happens if I fall short of the Pathfinder Program’s academic requirements? Many Pathfinder students strive to transition before the two year Pathfinder program ends. Students who have not transitioned to degree-granting majors by the end of the program may be able to gain readmission into majors (as returning former students), subject to current readmission policies.

What tuition and fees do I have to pay? You will have to pay all required tuition and fees (separately) at both schools. The payment of fees made to each institution must meet the respective institution’s deadline. Both schools drop courses if payment deadlines are missed. 

Many Pathfinder students are able to qualify for financial aid based on the combination of courses at ASU-Newport and A-State. The ASU-Newport Office of Financial Aid disburses financial aid to eligible Pathfinder students. The final A-State College payment deadline sometimes occurs prior to financial aid having been disbursed, nevertheless, each student is responsible for meeting the payment deadline. 
 

May I take classes during the summer at ASU-Newport or A-State? Yes. Students do not have to be co-enrolled at both schools during the summer. Realize that after a student begins the Pathfinder program, only courses completed at ASU-Newport and A-State may satisfy the Pathfinder admission requirements. (Courses taken at hometown community colleges may still be transferred to satisfy degree requirements, but such courses will not count toward completion of the Pathfinder program requirements.) ASU-Newport offers many distance education courses during the summer that will count toward the Pathfinder requirements while allowing a student to complete them from home.

Do college credits I earned while in high school count toward completion of the Pathfinder Program requirements? Yes. Transferable credits earned prior to beginning the program will count toward completion of the ASU-Newport 45-credit hour requirement, but course grades earned at other schools will not affect the ASU-Newport or A-State GPA. After a student has begun the Pathfinder program, courses completed at schools other than ASU-Newport or A-State will not count toward completion of the Pathfinder program requirements.

May I manage a part-time job while attending college? We recommend you limit work commitments until you meet the academic requirements of the Pathfinder program.

Will I be able to participate in NCAA sports? No. Due to national regulations only students fully enrolled at an institution are eligible to represent that team in NCAA sports.

Will I be able to participate in Sport Clubs? You may be able to participate in sport clubs. All sport clubs are associated with National Governing Bodies and may require full-time status at one school. Please contact the sport clubs office or the club directly for specific information. Any student can participate in intramurals. Click here to learn more about intramurals.