Academic advising is "… the use of interactive teaching, counseling, and administrative strategies to assist students to achieve specific learning, developmental, career, and life goals. …" (Creamer and Creamer, 1994). Advisors help students with academic and career planning, learning about degree requirements, navigating university systems and referring to resources.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) has a dual-advising system: a faculty advisor in your major/minor, and an academic advisor to discuss your general –education requirements, transfer credits and graduation verification. Meeting with your academic advisor regularly enables you to stay on track for graduation and to achieve your academic and professional goals.
All new students (first-year and transfer ) are required to meet with a CLAS advisor prior to registering for their first semester. Continuing students are not required to meet with an advisor, although it is highly recommended that you meet with your academic advisor on a regular basis.
There are times when you may be required to meet with an advisor, such as when there are academic issues or concerns (e.g., your GPA falls below a 2.0). The purpose of these meetings is to determine what might be preventing you from maintaining good academic progress and to create a plan for success.
You also may need to meet with an advisor if you’re planning to drop or add a class or to get information about specific petitions (e.g., grade appeals, late drops/add/withdrawals, etc.) and for changing/declaring a major/minor.
Students expecting to graduate must meet with an advisor as soon as you register for your last semester to review the graduation procedures.
In general, it is recommended that students meet with their advisor every semester to discuss academic progress, though you are not required to do so.
Please contact your advisor to see if alternate arrangements can be made (such as phone appointments and e-mail advising).
Students are assigned CLAS advisors by the first letter of their last name.
Advisors have both appointment times and stop-in times. Appointments are made by calling 303-556-2555. Here’s a link to your advisor’s name, appointment and stop-in times, e-mail and phone number: CLAS advisors.
Come with specific questions. If you are a continuing student, review what you discussed in your last session.
Students are not required to inform their advisors about leaving UCD, but this discussion may help you with a smooth return to UCD. If you do not attend UCD for three or more semesters, you will need to reapply to return to UCD.
Your record remains "intact," but degree requirements may have changed. If you left in good standing, you can return in good standing. If you left on Academic Probation or Suspension, this status continues.
Prospective students are welcome to schedule an appointment and meet with the CLAS advisor. Bring a transcript (unofficial ok) with you and the advsor will estimate what requirements you have completed. This evaluation will be UNOFFICIAL and another advising appointment may be required before you can register for your first semester.
A federal law, known as the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), protects your records and prohibits your advisor from discussing your academic record with anyone, unless you provide written permission to share this information. Advisors are only permitted to disclose information classified as "Directory Information": Name, Address, Telephone Number, E-mail Address, Class, Major, Awards, Honors, Dates of Attendance, Registration Status, Degrees Conferred.