Activity Report on “Course Registration Advising for New Students” by IBS in September 2026

Course Registration Advising by IBS and Q-Support
[Dates] Monday, August 31st, Wednesday, September 2nd to Friday, September 4th, 2026
[Languages] Japanese and English
[Method] In-person
[Target Audience] All undergraduate students, including September entrants (Regular and Transfer Students)
[Number of Advising Sessions] IBS: 31 and Q-Support: 2
[Location] 1st Floor, Othmer Library

Teacher Certification Program Talk Session
[Date & Time] Friday, September 4, 2026, 12:00-13:00
[Format & Venue] Hybrid (In-Person, Othmer Library 1st Floor and Zoom)
[Audience] All Undergraduate regular and transfer students, primarily new students entered in September
[Language] Japanese
[Participants] In-Person: 10 and Zoom: 2

Course Registration Advising by IBS and Q-Support
During the September 2026 new student orientation period, IBS (ICU Brothers and Sisters)* held advising sessions on course registration primarily for new students on the first floor of the Othmer Library.

Over four days, the number of individual advising sessions reached 31. The most common topic was Autumn Term course selection, with high interest also in the difference between General Education Courses and Foundation Courses, the Teacher Certificate Program, majors, and the JLP (Japanese Language Program).

Furthermore, continuing from April, as a collaborative project between IBS and Quantitative Skills Support** (commonly known as Q-Support), three Q-Support Learning Supporters (LS) assisted with academic advising for natural science majors for two days during the advising period.. They handled two advising sessions, both with first-year students. The LSs advised them on recommended first-year science courses, referring to the “Introduction to the Natural Science Majors Course Planning Guide Booklet” and course syllabi. They also provided guidance on long-term academic planning, taking potential participation in an exchange program into consideration.

Teacher Certification Program Talk Session
A talk session on the teacher certification program, organized by three IBS volunteers, was the second initiative of its kind for IBS. Senior students enrolled in the teacher certification program shared their advice and personal experiences with new students, reaching 12 participants. During the Q&A session, many questions were raised, reflecting the high level of interest among attendees.

* IBS is a group of peer advisors (student advisors) composed of students from the second to fourth years. They provide advice from a student perspective on various topics related to course selection, four-year academic planning, study abroad, the Teaching Certification Program, and other aspects of life at ICU, targeting undergraduate students.

** Quantitative Skills Support, also known as Q-Support, offers support to enable all ICU students, regardless of their background in the arts or sciences, to acquire the prerequisite and basic knowledge required to take General Education Courses and Foundation Courses concerning mathematics, information science, and statistics. The concept of Q-Support is “a space to think and learn together.” When working with fellow students, undergraduate Learning Supporters (LSs) adopt the following stance: “Study together.”