Orientation
Fall 2016 Orientation
Welcome to Miles College, home of the Golden Bears. We are the First Year Enrichment Program and will be guiding you through your New Student Orientation and a year filled with exciting events and opportunities. Freshman Orientation is mandatory and is your first step in starting your initiation into the Miles College Community. You and your family will learn about the extensive array of programs geared towards you becoming a successful student and graduate of Miles College.
The First Year Enrichment Orientation and Vesper Service is mandatory for all new and transfer students:
- August 2-3, 2016: Band, Choir, and Cheerleaders (Only)
- August 4-6: Football, Golf, and Volleyball (Only)
- August 10-11, 2016: General New Student Registration
- August 11-12, 2016: First Year Enrichment Orientation
- August 14, 2016: Vesper Service
- Vesper Service is an induction ceremony that will mark the students’ official entry into the Miles College family. Due to the importance of this ceremony, there are specific attire requirements that must be met:
- Ladies should wear a black suit, black dress, or a black skirt and white blouse. Ladies can only wear studded earrings, no big earrings or bangle bracelets, and cannot carry a purse.
- Gentlemen are to wear a black suit or black pants, white shirt, and a solid dark tie. Gentlemen cannot wear jewelry of any kind with the exception of a watch.
During your Orientation session, you will learn about:
- Academic expectations
- Miles College programs and services
- Interact with academic advisors, classmates, and faculty
- Take the COMPASS placement exam if required
- Register for classes and develop your four-year curriculum requirements
- Taking care of all outstanding matters that can impact your enrollment
Orientation Schedule | Move In Date | Directions to Miles | Student Resources | COMPASS Testing and Academics Advising | Parent Resources | Contact Us
Orientation Schedule (Back to the Top)
Move In Day (Back to the Top)
The day will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Brown Hall Auditorium with a Parents/Guardians and Students’ General Session, where you will be greeted by College administrators and gain information about various offices and resources on campus. It is imperative that you complete your housing application and pay your deposit before you arrive on campus for Orientation. Prior to checking into Residential Housing, ALL NEW STUDENTS must report to Admissions for CLEARANCE and finalize arrangements with the Office of Financial Aid and the Business Office. You will be required to unload your vehicles as quickly as possible so that other families can move in quickly. Student Orientation Leaders will be there to assist you. Once the unloading process is completed you will be directed to a designated parking area. Your cooperation is essential to making move in day a success.
How to get to Miles College (Back to the Top)
Miles College
5500 Myron Massey Boulevard
Fairfield, Alabama 35064
From Atlanta
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From Montgomery
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From Tuscaloosa
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From Nashville
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Student Resources (Back to the Top)
- Admissions
- Orientation Package
- List of majors
- Student web page
- List of what to bring to college
- To-Do Checklist
- Directory
- Financial Aid
COMPASS Testing and Academic Advising (Back to the Top)
What is the COMPASS placement exam?
The COMPASS placement exam is a computerized tool used to determine your skill level that corresponds to course placement levels in Math, Reading, and Writing. Placement test scores demonstrate satisfaction and skill levels required for enrollment in first level Miles College courses. You will be tested in reading, writing, and math. You will be exempt from taking the COMPASS if you:
- Have an ACT score above 16 and a SAT score above 790 within the last 5 years
- Have an associate degree or higher
- Transferring college-level English and Math courses with a “C” or better
- Are non-degree seeking
- Completed required fundamental coursework at another institution within 5 years
- Can provide documentation of prior assessment (COMPASS, ASSET or Accuplacer) within the last 5 years
- Are a transient student
The COMPASS placement exam is untimed. You may take as long as you require. However, students should allot two hours to complete the test. Upon completion, the scores will be generated and used by your advisor for course placement.
What if I fail to make the required score?
Fundamental Studies courses are courses designed to strengthen students’ basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics so that students can cope more successfully with college-level work. All fundamental courses are numbered 100 in the College Catalog. Students not meeting the required COMPASS score in reading, writing, and mathematics will enroll in the level of fundamental course in which they are deficient. You will be required to complete and pass the associated fundamental course before taking the next level college course.
How can I prepare?
ACT COMPASS placement tests measure the skills you have already learned in high school. You may need some preparation before taking the exam. Listed below are some sample questions broken down by subject that you may encounter. You can use the information below to help in your preparation prior to taking the COMPASS. If you need video assistance in helping your tutorial experience, please visit www.khanacademy.org for additional assistance with math or reading problems.
YouTube Video Assistance for COMPASS Mathematics
Precollege Algebra Prerequisite
Geometry 1
Test Preparation for ACT Compass
Mathematics: Numerical Skills/Pre-Algebra
Can I take the COMPASS placement exam before I come to Orientation?
Yes. You can take the COMPASS placement exam prior to Orientation by contacting the Counseling Advising and Testing Center (CAT) at (205) 929-1824. We encourage you to speak with your advisor prior to coming to Orientation. The name of your advisor is listed on the letter in your acceptance package. If you have additional questions or concerns, please call the CAT Center and speak to an advisor.
Parent Resources (Back to the Top)
Parental involvement is the key to a student’s success here at Miles College. We encourage you to attend the Parents/Guardians and Students’ General Session to prepare you to help your son and/or daughter succeed. You will learn about the financial aid process, class scheduling, campus safety, class attendance policies, the impact of a student’s academic performance on retaining their Financial Aid, and the federal law that protects a student’s information.
Students can choose to sign the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver form. The form permits the College to disclose information to you so that you may learn about your student’s academic performance, and meet with faculty and staff.
Students whose parent/guardian is involved in their education from Orientation to graduation generally have a higher cumulative grade point average during their matriculation. Therefore, attending Orientation is very important. It will give you an opportunity to learn more about:
1. How you can help with your student’s success
2. The Financial Aid process
3. Miles College policies and procedures
4. Developing relationships with faculty and staff
Let this not be a one-time visit. Miles College has a variety of cultural and sporting events that you can attend with your son or daughter. Our schedule of sporting events can be found by clicking HERE
If you are thinking of staying overnight in the Birmingham area, a visitor’s guide can be found at http://visitbirmingham.com/
1. If a student’s ACT/SAT scores are below 16 and 790 respectively, they are required to take the COMPASS placement exam. Click HERE to learn more about the COMPASS. This is necessary to determine if they will be placed in fundamental courses. If enrolled in fundamental courses, students must know that they must pass these perspective courses before they pursue their chosen academic discipline.
2. The COMPASS closely resembles the ACT and takes approximately two hours to complete. We encourage students to prepare themselves for the exam. Practice questions for the COMPASS placement exam are available (Click HERE for Information).
3. Review the to-do checklist with your son and/or daughter to ensure they complete all items before they come to Orientation. The list can be found by clicking HERE. A phone list of all campus departments that can assist you can be found at (Directory) while the campus directory is also available at https://www.miles.edu/faculty.
4. Before your son and/or daughter leaves home, talk to them about financial responsibility. Remember that money borrowed for their education has to be repaid. The ability to budget and handle their financial responsibilities is a college survival skill they must learn.
5. Learn more about the campus by visiting the Parents’ link on the Miles College web page at https://www.miles.edu/
6. Throughout the semester, talk to your son and/or daughter about studying, attending classes, grades in courses, how to find help and to know when they need it, the benefits of engaging with positive friends, and becoming involved with campus events that will aid in their development.
7. Develop relationships with faculty and staff. Get phone numbers and email addresses for ease of communication.
CONTACT US: (Back to the Top)
Miles College
First Year Enrichment (FYE) Program
5500 Myron Massey Boulevard
Fairfield, AL 35064
(205) 929-1141
(205) 929-1890