WELCOME

Academic advising is a dynamic process between the student and his or her advisor that focuses on academic planning and decision making.  Faculty advisors also help students interpret and understand degree requirements and University polices.  It is important to realize that faculty advisors are full-time faculty who devote most of their time to teaching. Ultimately students are responsible for knowing and fulfilling degree requirements and for observing deadlines.

Undergraduate Advising

The counselor for the School of Education and Professional Studies (SEPS), Mary Pat Hager Bigley, provides supplemental advising for all undergraduate students in the School.  While it is important for students to meet with their own faculty advisor(s), Mary Pat is available throughout the year to assist students.  She can answer questions about requirements and policies, assist in resolving academic issues, and help with long term planning by seeing the “big picture.”

New Student Advising

Continuing Student Advising

Education Pre-Professional Program

After the initial advising and registration and prior to admission to the Professional Program, students are advised primarily by faculty in their subject matter major departments. Students are assigned a faculty advisor who helps them with course planning and registration. Students who are unsure about which subject matter major to choose are advised at The Advising Center, Willard Hall 100. Students are, however, encouraged to select a subject matter major as soon as possible as this facilitates better academic planning and timely degree completion. Some advisors contact their advisees; however, most students need to check Pipeline or contact the department to find out the name of their advisor along with the advisor's office hours, and then make an appointment to see their advisor. Continuing students register for upcoming semesters using the University's Central Pipeline system. During advising sessions, students obtain an alternate PIN number from their advisor, which allows them access to Central Pipeline.

Education: Admitted to the Professional Program

Once a student has been admitted to the Professional Program and is officially a teacher candidate in the School of Education and Professional Studies, he or she is assigned a second advisor. (Physical Education majors continue to have only one advisor.) This additional advisor is a faculty member from the Department of Teacher Education specifically from the student’s area: elementary, secondary, or all-level education. Teacher Education advisors help students as they plan to complete the Professional Program. They will be able to give valuable advice about professional courses and help plan for a career as a teacher. Students should make a point to meet with their Teacher Education advisor at least once a semester to make sure they are on track with their academic plan.

Social Work majors check Central Pipeline account for Social Work faculty advisor’s name.

Athletic Training majors and Exercise Science & Health Promotion majors check Central Pipeline account for Physical Education faculty advisor’s name.

Nursing Majors check Central Pipeline account for Nursing faculty advisor’s name.

Advising and Registration Guidelines for the Professional Program

  1. Students should schedule an appointment with their advisor(s). Consult the list of faculty advisors for the preferred way to contact Teacher Education advisors. Faculty advisors generally put in extra office hours during the two week advising period prior to registration.  Because of these extra hours, they are often hard to reach during the actual registration period.  Advisors not only provide alternate pin numbers but are helpful in planning a schedule and upcoming field experiences.
  2. Prepare for the advising appointment. Students should print an unofficial transcript from Central Pipeline, pick up a Course Registration Booklet for Matriculated Students, and make a preliminary plan of the courses desired for the next semester.
    • Undergraduate students should print a CAPP report from Central Pipeline.  This is a new feature available to students and is a very useful tool.  After entering a student ID number, degree and major, the system compares the degree requirements to the student’s transcript and explains which requirements have been met and which ones still need completed.  It is not perfect and there may be discrepancies.  Speak with an advisor about the audit and resolve any discrepancies with her or him or with the Registrar’s Office, if necessary.  Directions for running a CAPP audit are on the Registrars’ website or following this section.
    • Prepare a plan for graduation (undergraduates) or program completion (post-baccalaureate students).  Lay out the next several semesters, including summer and winter sessions if necessary.  There is a much better chance of graduating on time if planning ahead.  Many professional courses must be taken in clusters or sequences and require specific prerequisites. Consider how to manage and schedule field experience hours; pencil in remaining major and general education requirements as needed.
  3. Register on the Priority Registration date! It makes no sense to wait.  An imperfect schedule can always be adjusted later.
  4. If problems with registration, seek help right away. All of the professional courses are programmed with prerequisites. Some courses have certain sections designated for Elementary Education students and other sections for Secondary or preK-12 students.  There may be a registration error if:
    • students try to register for an inappropriate section of a course.  Check the Course Schedule for section information. This information is NOT visible in Central Pipeline;
    • prerequisites have not been completed;
    • students’ major or degree information is not correct in Central Pipeline. Errors can occasionally occur and sometimes records are not coded correctly.  For example, a degree may still say “pre-BSED” or “pre-Cert” even though a student has been fully admitted to the Professional Program.  Seek help in the Office of Student Academic Services in Barnard 250 immediately.
    • course is closed. If all sections of a professional program course are closed, bring this to the attention of the appropriate academic department immediately. Professional program courses with designators of EDEL, EDF, EDSC, EDTE are offered by the Department of Teacher Education in Barnard 277.  For courses with other designators, go to the appropriate department.  Don’t wait and hope that someone will drop a professional program course!  Departments will try their best to accommodate all students admitted to the Professional Program.