Academic Advising

The College of Engineering implemented a new policy in 2003 regarding the advising of undergraduate students. The goal of the program is to ensure close contact between students and their faculty advisors. Specifically, the new procedures are aimed at early intervention for students in academic trouble through increased monitoring of student performance and welfare. Through these efforts we intend to enhance retention of undergraduate students in programs within the college.

Students will find attractive displays at each department office that present photographs of all faculty and staff, along with their office numbers. Lists of faculty advisors are also displayed for student information.

Departments and faculty advisors maintain folders on all advisees that typically contain the following information:

• Updated curriculum check list
• Student academic check list
• Copies of blue registration cards
• Drop/add information
• Withdrawal information
• General education check list
• Check list on incomplete courses and prerequisites.

As part of the early intervention process, at mid-semester freshman instructors inform the department chairpersons, who in turn notify the appropriate advisors, about students in academic trouble. Students needing extra help will be advised to contact the Science and Engineering Learning Center, the Math/Business Center, the Writing/Reading Center, or the Counseling Center, as needed. Some students may also be advised to spend less time on off-campus jobs.

No student will be allowed to register for courses without first meeting with his/her faculty advisor. The College of Engineering uses a computerized method for enrolling students in courses for the next semester. The registration takes place in the advisor's office, eliminating the typical long lines at Student Enrollment.

It is important for students to be sure that they have met all university obligations before seeing their advisors. For example, any outstanding university debts will preclude a student from becoming registered for the next semester. Furthermore, it is necessary for students to have successfully completed specific prerequisite courses prior to registration. A student will be allowed to register for a course that has as a prerequisite one of the courses currently being taken. However, if the student fails the prerequisite, he/she will need to drop the subsequent course.

Any time that a student wishes to drop or add a course, he/she must first meet with his/her faculty advisor to get authorization for the change.

Students meet their freshman advisors during new student orientation during the summer before they begin classes. Wherever feasible, freshman advisors are selected from among those instructors teaching freshman classes. Following freshman year, each department has its own method of assigning faculty advisors that best suits the needs of their students.