Registration for spring semester opened up on Nov. 4. To assist students, the Clarion spoke with Phyllis Salter, director of Academic Advising, for advice regarding when a student should seek assistance from an advisor.
| Q |
: If a person was here prior to the semester conversion, can their courses be grandfathered in to the prior degree requirements?
| A |
: It is important that each student who attended and took coursework during quarters schedule an appointment and meet with an academic advisor to complete an individualized plan toward completing degree requirements. Often, courses taken under quarters will meet semester degree requirements, but it depends upon if the student completed sequences and how the coursework has changed. The individualized plan, called a MAP, will help the student see what courses they still have left to take.
| Q |
: What is a MAP? When should a person get one?
| A |
: MAP stands for My Academic Plan, which is a program designed to help students plan how they will meet their educational goals. If a student wants to earn a degree in Criminal Justice, the MAP plan would be designed to show the student term-by-term how to meet the degree requirements. Because the plan design takes into consideration if a student can only take a couple of courses each term [relative to] when courses are offered, two students majoring in the same degree will likely have different individualized plans (MAPs). A MAP does not guarantee a student a degree, but it does help students see how they can meet their individual goals. Any student can get a MAP, but we especially encourage students who are decided in their program of study to meet with an advisor to plan their academic journey.
| Q |
: What kind of broad advice can you offer students about advising?
| A |
: Students tend to come to academic advising only when registration is open. We encourage students to meet with academic advisors early and often. You can meet with an academic advisor in September to plan your courses for January; you can come see an academic advisor in April to plan what you will take the following August. Don’t wait until registration opens to meet with an academic advisor. Students are also encouraged to make (and keep) their academic advising appointments. This will help you avoid the long lines that tend to occur late in the registration process.