What is advising all about?
Most people think advising is just about classes, but that's not true. Sure, meeting with your advisor gives you a chance to talk about majors, minors, classes, and graduation, but you should also discuss other questions, concerns, or ideas you have about your time at UNC Asheville with your advisor. Have you thought about undergraduate research? Your advisor can help you find someone to guide and mentor you through your project. Are you considering an internship? Your advisor may know someone in your area of interest who can help you set up an on- or off-campus experience. What about that trouble you're having with study skills or time management? Your advisor is someone who has worked on these skills throughout their time in academia, and they will have plenty of good advice for you.
Take advantage of the advising process--it is a chance to get to know a faculty member in a different, unique, and meaningful way!
How do I get an academic advisor?
In their first semester, transfer students are assigned an academic advisor in their major area of interest, which they indicate when they submit their RSVP for Summit Orientation. It usually takes a couple weeks into the semester to get all new transfer students assigned advisors, and you can see who your advisor is by going to the "View Student Information" link in OnePort.
How do I change my academic advisor?
You can change your advisor at any time, after your first semester, based on your personal and academic needs. You can also have multiple advisors for multiple academic interests (for instance, if you are majoring in Management but also interest in Education, you can have an advisor from each discipline). If you have not officially declared your major, you can add an advisor by completing the Advisor Change Form and turning it into the Advising & Learning Support Center. Once you have declared your major, you can change your major advisor by taking the Major Declaration form to the chair of your major department and having them assign you a new advisor. You can use this same process to change your minor advisor if you have declared a minor.
Who has to take an LSIC course and when should I take it?
All new transfer students are required to take an LSIC course, with one exception: students who completed the 44 hour General Education Core and have the appropriate notation on their transcript are not required to take an LSIC. However, we strongly recommend that students with the 44 hour Core still take an LSIC course. These courses will better acclimate you to the UNC Asheville culture and our academic requirements. In addition, all LSIC courses fulfill at least one Intensive requirement (LSIC 179s are Writing Intensive, LSIC 379s are both Writing and Information Literacy Intensive).
From the UNC Asheville
Catalog: "Students must
successfully complete the Liberal Studies Introductory Colloquium,
LS 179 or 379 within their first two semesters at UNC Asheville.
Students who fail to successfully complete the course in their first
semester will be limited to 14 or fewer credit hours, which must
include the LSIC, in their second semester. Students who do not
successfully complete the LSIC requirement in their first two
semesters of enrollment will not be allowed to continue in a
full-time status at the University until this requirement has been
satisfied. If the LSIC requirement is not satisfied in the first two
semesters of enrollment, the student will be allowed to register
only for the LSIC course until the requirement is successfully
completed. All other courses for which the student has registered
will be administratively dropped. Less than full-time status may
impact the student’s eligibility for financial aid, housing,
veteran’s benefits, intercollegiate athletics, and progress toward
graduation."