Advisor: A faculty member who facilitates University communication, coordinates learning experiences through academic course (semester schedules) and career planning, evaluates academic progress, and refers students to other campus resources.

Advisee: A student who has final responsibility for all decisions made related to their academics. The student is responsible for seeking advice and assistance from the advisor, knowing university rules and regulations, checking their university MyStuff and e-mail accounts for University communications, and maintaining accurate personal information (address, phone, etc.) on the university system.

Upperclassmen fall into two categories - those that have declared a major and those who have yet to declare one. Each requires different attention and planning.

Undecided/Undeclared
Students who have reached their sophomore year without selecting a major will need special guidance at this crucial stage in their academic program.  One safe course of action is for the student to complete all requirements in the general education curriculum appropriate at the freshman and/or upperclassmen level. It is also a time to selectively choose a few courses in which the student may think they are interested or would like to explore further.
  
If a student is undecided at the sophomore level and has not worked with the Career Development Center, this would be an appropriate time to take that step. It may also be useful for the advisor to take some extra time to discuss the student's interests to determine how they might be matched with available programs of study.  The advisor may also wish to assist the student by making an appointment for the student with one or more faculty in various departments for a more in-depth discussion of particular majors - the student should likewise take the same responsibility for contacting faculty in potential majors.

When a major is selected, the student should go to the Office of Academic Development, 324 Roberts Hall, and complete a Change of Major form, and see Dr. Goedeke to be assigned an appropriate advisor. After which the following information for "Declared Majors" becomes important.

Declared Major
Academic advising becomes the province of the faculty of the department offering the declared major.  The focus of the advising becomes two-fold: continuation of the general education curriculum together with the proper selection and sequencing of courses in the major.

It is important that students have their correct major listed with the University and an appropriate faculty advisor within their desired major. Faculty in a major are most aware of the sequencing and teaching of courses in their department and can then share such information in the planning of the semester schedule. To change your major and/or advisor a student needs to go to the Office of Academic Development, 324 Roberts Hall, and see Dr. Goedeke.

Three areas of advising are important to declared majors.  First, faculty advisors can be of considerable assistance to students in helping them link their program of study with opportunities and uses beyond graduation.  Second, faculty can also provide guidance and assistance in the consideration of graduate study and the actions needed to pursue that option. (Also see "Graduate School Planning" section located elsewhere on this website.)  Third, planning for internships and study abroad can be initiated to help ensure the ability of the student to pursue those options. Therefore, it is important that a student have an advisor in their major.


DEGREE AUDIT

Degree Audits
Every student during their second semester Junior year or no later than their first semester Senior year should go the Registrar's Office and have a "Degree Audit" completed. This is an official statement of what courses/requirements you have completed towards your degree and what courses/credits remain to be taken. This will clarify the student's progress and help avoid any "surprises" later. This is a document that is signed by your advisor and department chair. The student does meet with someone from the Registrar's Office who reviews your Degree Audit with you.

Students can also complete an unofficial degree audit on-line at their MyStuff account under the section of "Program Evaluation." This is another tool that students should use in monitoring their progress towards graduation.

Graduation Application
Seniors are reminded that they need to Apply for Graduation and complete the appropriate application in the Registrar's Office. Likewise, they need to order their gap and gown through the bookstore.

General Education Requirements
Upperclassmen general education requirements are specifically listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. These requirements are in addition to those listed generally for the freshman year. In brief, they are:

ENGLISH
ENG200/217/249/284/293/295

HISTORY
(one course required) choices - HST205 or HST206

ETHICS
(one course required) choices -  REL/PHL 205, 208, 209, 216; PHL246; ACC403

SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(two courses required) choices - ECO207, PSC201, PSY202, SOC201

WRITING AND RESEARCH
one course required in the major, designated by the major

GLOBAL STUDIES [INTERNATIONAL OR INTERDISCIPLINARY]
(one course required during Junior year) see catalog or current semester Schedule of Classes

SENIOR SEMINAR
(one course required) Senior Seminar in major (xxx499)

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Several specific programs that might be of interest to upperclassmen include the following four options:

INDEPENDENT STUDY: Students in their sophomore through senior year may opt to take one, three-hour independent study course per semester. Independent Study is defined as the combined study, research, learning , and reporting that is completed independently by a student on an agreed upon topic with a professor who serves as the supervisor and resource person. The student is responsible for developing and organizing the entire course which is neither the same or similar to an existing course offered in the University.

DIRECTED STUDY: A directed study course is the study of a prescribed course content of an existing course in which the student, usually due to a schedule conflict, is unable to attend the scheduled class session. A maximum of 4 courses may be taken as directed studies and no more than one in a semester.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION: Also known as a "Course Challenge," this allows a student to receive credit for a course by demonstrating mastery of its subject matter usually via a comprehensive test. Not all courses are available for challenge and other restrictions apply. See the Undergraduate Bulletin.

STUDENT CAREER INTERN PROGRAM (SCIP): Student may earn between 6 and 15 credits by completing an approved internship at an appropriate intern site related to one's major. Additional specific details are available in the Internship Handbook available from the program's director, Dr. David Bergen.