Faculty Resources

Registration for new freshmen begins in May. All departmental changes to requirements, advisor assignments, and personnel should be submitted to Academic Advisement by the beginning of May.

New Students

Freshmen are registered by the Office of Academic Advisement and receive their fall schedules at Orientation (mid-July). Students are registered on a first come/first served basis. Program plans and any special instructions from departments are used as guides to making the initial schedules. Students may make changes to their schedules through the first week of classes (drop/add). Inquiries regarding placements (MTH, CMP, Modern Languages) may be referred to the appropriate departments.  AP scores, official transcripts of prior college coursework come at or after Orientation and may necessitate changes in schedules.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are generally registered by a faculty member in the department of their chosen major. Appointments for this are made by Admissions with specific faculty.

• Student or faculty advisor can put courses on student's program.
  • If faculty puts courses on program, they are "approved."
  • If student puts courses on program, faculty must "approve."
• All courses must be approved on WebAdvisor by a faculty advisor in order for a student to register for them
• Student must select sections at the time they register (they cannot earlier in the process)
• Student must register - approving courses does not register the student
• Remember – after initial registration any/all new courses to be added must be approved by faculty advisor. Therefore, it is highly recommended that students be advised to add additional backup courses at the time they request their initial approval. This will eliminate the problem of having to re-evaluate their plans every time they request a new course.

Note

Academic Advisement does not register students after their first semester with the exception of Undeclared. All other students must register through their advisor or department.

Question to Ask: What Requirements Remain?

For Core:

• Any remaining competencies to fulfill?
• Is the core completed? (45 credits)
• Do any other requirements remain?
  • Upper division?
  • Quantitative?
  • Modern Language? (major or degree specific)
  • Writing Intensive?
• Has the student completed Service Learning?

For Major:

• Required courses?
• Elective courses?

GPA:

• Some departments have cum gpa requirements for upper division and/or graduation.

 Other Questions:

• Is this course part of a sequence?
• What are the prerequisites?
• Does it have a competency?
• Is there a grade-level requirement?

Factors to consider in course selection (discuss with/recommend to student):

Total Workload

Recommend minimum of 15 credits per semester (16 or 17 with lab). Reason: provides fallback to 12 if needed. No consequences for housing or financial aid. Keeps student on track for timely graduation if they complete at least 30 credits per year. Some program plans suggest heavier loads.

Check Self Services.

*Remind students that they MUST average at least 15 credits per semester to complete a 4-year program in 4 years (8 semesters). Summer courses and intersession courses may be used to meet that. A number of majors require more than 120 credits. This increases the average credits per semester that a student must complete.

Are There Outside Obligations to Schedule Around? 

• Work
• Family
• Sports team
• Other

Times of Day of Classes

Encourage students to spread courses out and avoid back-to-back classes. This enables them to review material right after class and gives them time on campus to attend to other academic matters.

Consider Balance of the Course Load. 

It is ideal to have a balance between major courses and electives each semester.

What are the Previously Demonstrated Academic Strengths and Weaknesses of the Student?

These should be considered when choosing classes.

What is the Current Academic Standing of the Student?

• GPA?
• Probation? (what are the risks?)
• Deans List? (discuss taking advantage of opportunities)
• Grades in current semester?

Course sequences: When should the student plan to take sequenced courses?

• Does the student have GPA requirements (in particular courses, in the major, and overall)?
• International Study

(refer Global Programs for information on programs & discuss relationship to degree progress)

• Cross-Registration
• Courses elsewhere (summer, intersession, etc.)

Will a course transfer?

• Course Equivalencies Database

Ask the student about summer course plans and/or intersession course plans.

• Washington Internship Institute

Can a Student Take More Than 18 Credits? 

Students are allowed to register for up to 18 credit hours.  Students may be permitted to register for additional credit hours without additional charge if student is on Deans List or if student's program plan permits it.  Students must have faculty authorization if above conditions not met. Click here for the required form.

Where are the Forms Students Might Need?

Registrar's website

Assignment of Advisors/Advisees

Advisees are assigned to Faculty Advisors based on instructions received in Academic Advisement from the chair of the department.

Students requesting a change of faculty advisor are not permitted to make the change unless there is a written (e-mail) request to Academic Advisement for the change from the faculty member who the student wants as an advisor.

• Concept of Academic Advising (NACADA – National Academic Advising Association)
• Developmental advising
• Intrusive Advising
• Appreciative Advising

Expectations/Roles/Relationships – Advisor/Advisee

• Parks College of Engineering  
• Lewis & Clark
• U of Missouri