Academic Advising
At Ƶ, we understand choosing a major and navigating your academic journey is a big decision, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. We’ve designed our advising system to provide the guidance, encouragement, and resources you need to succeed. Whether you’re certain about your path or still exploring options, we offer personalized support to help you thrive.
Academic advisors
When you first arrive at Ƶ, you will be assigned a first-year advisor who will help you navigate your academic journey by:
- Developing effective academic strategies
- Addressing any academic challenges
- Exploring and discovering your major
Sometime during your first two years, you will be assigned a faculty advisor to guide you through your degree requirements and point you to career or graduate school opportunities.
Meet your first-year advisors
Alex Blanchard
First-Year Education Advisor
Viviana Belisle
Pre-Nursing Advisor
Claudia Gonzalez
First-Year STEM Advisor
Madison Petrusevski
First-Year SMAT Advisor
Arbella Pera
First-Year Advisor forHumanities and Undecided Students
Explore available majors
At Ƶ, students can start as declared or undeclared majors. If you’re uncertain, it’s ok! In your first year of studies, we recommend that you examine whether your intended major is a good fit. You can always change your mind. Our advising system is designed to help you make informed decisions as you explore various academic paths. No matter where you are in the process, we are here to help you succeed academically and prepare for your future career.
Ready to get started? Your advisor is here to help you take the next step in your academic journey.
View all majors and programs
Undecided? No problem!
If you’re unsure about your major, you’re not alone. Many new students enter college unsure of what they want to study. At Ƶ, we provide the space and resources to help you explore your interests and discover what you’re passionate about. Our Core Curriculum gives you exposure to various disciplines, while the First-Year Experience connects you with extracurricular activities and a supportive community that can help guide your decision.
Here are some steps to help you explore:
- Self-assessment: Reflect on your skills, hobbies, and what inspires you. Consider what motivates you and think about how you want to make a difference in the world.
- Explore resources: In addition to your advisor, Ƶ’s Career Development Office offers career counseling and tools to help you assess your strengths and interests.
Additional Information:
- Registering for classes: To register for classes every semester, students are encouraged to connect with their academic advisor during the advising period and work together to create a course schedule. If you are an admitted incoming student, you can find class registration information here.
- Student Success resources: Visit this page to see some of the many resources available to you as a student.
- Placement exams: Subject placement exams assess your skill level in writing, math, and modern language, ensuring dz’rplaced in theappropriate classes for academic success. Review the placement exam information and connect with your academic advisor to see which placement exams are relevant for your major.
Tips for maximizing your advising appointment
Before your advising appointment:
- Reach out to your academic advisor in advance of registration to schedule an appointment.
- Examinedegree requirements, course offerings, and prerequisiteson self-serviceprior to your advising appointment.
- Develop a tentative course schedule with specific courses and sections selected before meeting with your advisor.
- Write down your questions andconcerns andbring them with you to your appointment.
During your advising appointment:
- Review the Progress tab on Self-Service during your advising meeting to ensure you are progressing through the requirements and on track with the required credits to complete your degree. Your advisor assists you with this process, but it is your responsibility to confirm that all degree requirements are met.
- Discuss your education and career goals and create an action plan of how to achieve these.
- Check for holds and determine who to contact to resolve these.
- Consult the academic catalog for any academic policies that might affect you, such as repeating a course, academic standing, course load, grades, appeals, etc.
Change your major
Ƶ encourages all undergraduates to decide on a major by the end of their first year. While you’re not required to choose a major immediately, discussing potential majors and your broader academic and career goals with your academic advisor is an important part of your first-year experience. Complete a Change of Major Form to change your major, add a second major, or drop a major.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can view your academic advisor on in“Plan and Schedule”.There is a tab titled “Advising”,and your advisor will be listed here.
You can reach out to your advisor via emailto schedule a meeting to make this request. Then,you canclick “Request Review” on the Advising tab in Student Planning, , which will notify your advisor that your schedule is ready for review.
A quad class is an eight-week class that is usually two credit hours,whereas a semester-long class is 16 weeks and usually four credit hours.Quad classes are either offered in quad A, the first eight weeks of the semester, or quad B, the second eight weeks of the semester.Students usually pair two quad classes together, one in quad A and one in quad B,to balance out their schedule.
Yes, the requirements listed on your progress page on are requiredas part of either the core curriculum or your major requirements. Somerequirementswillsay “0 of 1course completed”; this means you only need to complete one course for this requirement. Some will say “0 of 4 courses completed”; this means you need to complete all 4 courses listed.
In , you can click on anycourse, and it will say “Offered: fall,” “Offered: spring,” or “Offered: fall and spring”.