Academic Advising

Why do I have to see my advisor before I schedule classes?

See your advisor to have an engaged discussion about your academic progress, goals, and future paths. During this meeting, your advisor will help you make good academic decisions so you can graduate in a timely manner. In addition to discussing your academic progress, you can talk about programs such as internships and study abroad, graduate school opportunities, and other campus resources, such as the Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) for tutoring or Department of Counseling & Psychological Services for personal problems. An advising appointment is also a good time to talk about the big issues - what kind of person do you want to be, and how can your time at WCU help you be that?

At the conclusion of your advising meeting, your faculty advisor will lift the “advisor hold” to allow you to register beginning on your assigned date. This means you should contact your advisor for a meeting (however he or she wants to be contacted) before this date.

Registration for Fall (and Summer) classes will begin soon – the date and time when you will be allowed to enroll in classes will appear on your myWCU homepage soon.

How do I make an appointment with my academic advisor?

All undergraduate students must meet with their academic advisors at least once per semester to discuss their academic progress and plans for the following semester. To schedule an appointment with your advisor, you should log on to your MyWCU page to find your advisor’s name and contact information. Ask how they set up appointments. Your advisor may prefer that you email them your availability; others use an online scheduling site; others prefer a phone call; and still others ask you to sign up on sheet placed on their office door. Use the preferred method to schedule an appointment with your advisor at least one week before your scheduling date listed on your MyWCU page.

What should I bring to an advising meeting?

Consider how you can best make the meeting serve your needs as you move through your program. What questions do you need to ask? What information do you need? For example, you could be considering study abroad, or you could be experiencing difficulty in a class. Both of these topics would be good to anticipate so that you can bring them up during your appointment. At minimum, you should always go to your meeting with your advisor with a plan for the classes you want to take in the following semester. Also bring your advising sheets and a copy of your DPR printout, if your advisor requests it.