Advising is a process that includes collection of information, interpretation of data, and dissemination of facts regarding educational programs, courses of instruction, resources, policies, procedures, and career options. Together, the adviser and the student can discuss educational goals and map out an academic program that will achieve the student’s long-range goals.

The University takes academic advising seriously and accordingly has developed an official University policy.

To progress satisfactorily through a degree program, each student must have available ample and accurate academic advisement, tailored to individual educational needs. The Florida State University is committed to a strong program of effective academic advising for all of its students. The Florida State University understands academic advisement to be a function considerably broader than assistance with course scheduling. Academic advising is a process which helps students interpret the values and benefits of higher education, assists students in their choice of educational and career objectives commensurate with interests and abilities, and examines the consequences of possible short- and long-range goals.

The faculty and staff of the University affirm their responsibility to make available to every student information about academic policies and requirements, timely notification of changes either in the University’s policies and curricula or in the student’s academic standing, assistance in evaluating course options and in planning successful completion of educational goals, guidance in developing decision-making skills, and referral to the various academic and student support services on campus available to help the student make the most of educational opportunities. Further, the faculty and staff affirm their responsibility to inform students clearly about their own responsibilities in the advising process.

The Florida State University expects students to assume an ever-increasing responsibility for their own academic progress as they move through the University. To accomplish this goal, each student will:

1. Assume responsibility for knowing the rules, regulations, and policies of the University and the requirements pertaining to the student’s degree program and will consult the University General Bulletin and Directory of Classes for up-to-date information;
2. Furnish a current address and immediately inform the Office of the University Registrar of any changes of address;
3. Know the student’s adviser, make timely contact with the adviser upon arrival on campus and during the first semester, and continue to see the adviser at least once a term until achieving junior status;
4. See the student’s adviser or academic dean immediately after being placed on academic warning or probation;
5. Notify the appropriate dean’s office of any change in intended major or any problems the student is experiencing with advisement; and
6. Recognize that the matriculation catalog (i.e., the General Bulletin) governs each student’s graduation requirements—this catalog remains in effect for six years for the bachelor’s degree unless the student elects to meet the requirements of any subsequent General Bulletin published during the period of enrollment.

The Faculty’s Role in Advisement

1. Each college, school, or department will formulate its own plan to meet undergraduate advising needs and problems. The plan shall include attention to appropriate advising loads and to the method of recognizing and rewarding individual advisers’ work in advisement for purposes of annual evaluation, promotion, and tenure. The plan, agreed upon by the appropriate unit, shall be filed with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and updated whenever the unit makes significant changes in advisement policies.
2. Each unit shall designate one member of the faculty or administration as director, coordinator, or undergraduate adviser for the unit. This faculty member will serve as the unit’s liaison with the Division of Undergraduate Studies to ensure that the advisers within the unit are kept abreast of changes in academic policies and procedures and to work with the Division of Undergraduate Studies to solve special advising problems. Units shall also monitor closely the quality of their advising and ensure that it meets the goals of the University.
3. The unit will not assign a first semester faculty member to advising unless there is ample evidence of prior college-level advising experience. Each adviser shall attend a workshop before beginning advising duties for the first time and at least every two years thereafter.
4. Recognizing that sound advisement and a successful undergraduate experience should begin even before the student arrives on campus, units shall communicate with students accepted as freshmen or transfer students who indicate an intended major, outlining requirements and preparatory work expected for specific degree programs. Such contact with admitted students shall be coordinated with the Office of Admissions.
5. Each unit will provide a planning guide for lower-division students working toward their majors—designed to help students understand course requirements, prerequisites, and sequences—to enable them to move into the major as efficiently and as well prepared as possible. A similar planning guide will be available for junior and senior students in the major. Both guides will be filed and updated annually with the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
6. Advisers should be aware that students transferring to The Florida State University after the freshman year have as great a need for detailed information as do freshmen. Extra care should be taken to inform these students of The Florida State University’s rules and regulations, which may differ from their previous college-level experience.
7. Advisers should also be aware of the special needs of the undecided majors they advise. Directors or coordinators of advising in each unit should take care to inform advisers of the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center, Curricular-Career Information Services (CCIS), and other services on campus available to such students.
8. Advisers should inform students who may have other special needs (e.g., part-time students, disabled students, returning students, minority students, etc.) of the student support services available to them. Directors or coordinators of advising in each unit will ensure that advisers are aware of these student support services.
9. Advisers should take a role in identifying students who are working toward certain majors which may be inappropriate (e.g., a student with low math test scores and/or poor math preparation seeking a major in computer science or engineering). Such students may be referred to the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center for information about their academic options or to Curricular-Career Information Services (CCIS) in the Career Center for help in clarifying their interests and abilities.
10. Units should identify students who have declared a limited access major but who, it appears, are unlikely to be able to meet the special admission requirements of that major. Such students should be made aware as early as possible of the strong likelihood that their intended major will be closed to them; advisers may wish to refer these students to the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies assigns all entering freshmen and lower-division transfer students to an adviser, with the exception of those accepted into the School of Music, the Department of Dance (School of Visual Arts and Dance), and the School of Theatre’s bachelor of fine arts (BFA) program. In these programs, advisers are assigned by the dean of these respective schools. Typically, students are assigned to either full-time professional or faculty advisors. Advisers of freshmen and sophomores assist students with understanding liberal studies requirements and other University policies and procedures. (See the "Undergraduate Degree Requirements" section of this General Bulletin for a discussion of the Liberal Studies Program and other degree requirements.)

Upon entering a major, usually around the junior year, the focus of advising shifts from liberal studies to major and college requirements. In most cases, this means that the student is assigned to an adviser who will assist with all requirements for the chosen academic major.

The first academic advising experience for all students occurs either during early orientation or during the orientation period at the start of each semester. Due to time constraints, this session usually consists of brief general information and course selection. Students are strongly urged to contact their advisers early in their first semester for an individualized advising appointment.

Advisers are initially assigned based on information provided the University during the admission process. Incoming students may also declare an intended major or change previously provided information concerning their major during orientation check-in. The Office of Undergraduate Studies reviews information on intended major and career goals for lower-division students and assigns an adviser from that information. Upper-division students are assigned advisers through the dean’s office of their college or school.

The academic advising relationship should be a comfortable and personal one between the student and the adviser. Sometimes, due to personality conflicts or shifting academic interests, this relationship does not develop. Students in this situation may request reassignment to a different adviser through their dean’s office.

The Undergraduate Academic Advising Center provides specialized advising for undecided students, designed to help students fulfill their liberal studies requirements, and to settle upon an appropriate major. While The Florida State University will allow students to remain undecided until they have attempted seventy-five (75) semester hours, it is becoming more common for academic majors to require that specific courses be taken as part of the Liberal Studies program. An adviser from the academic major is the best person with whom to discuss these prerequisites. Students should, therefore, declare their interest as early as possible to ensure proper advisement.

Undecided students should also contact The Career Center early in their academic program.

Students are encouraged to declare an intended major and request an adviser in that academic discipline. The declared major is extremely important because it may allow a student access to particular prerequisite courses for that major; having the wrong major code may keep a student from registering for required courses.

Lower division students are allowed to change their major at any time during the semester by going to the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Upper division students should contact their academic dean’s office.

The Undergraduate Academic Advising Center (UAAC) advises most undecided freshmen and sophomores. Undecided students are advised to take appropriate liberal studies and introductory courses while exploring their available options. UAAC works closely with the Career Center to provide a unified academic and career approach for the undecided student. For a description of the Career Center and its services, refer to the "Student Services" section of this General Bulletin.

UAAC supports the academic departments through adviser training, publications, workshops, and assistance in setting up peer advising programs. For more information, contact: Undergraduate Academic Advising Center, 3200 UCA, 644-3430.

Each academic unit has designated someone to serve as the advising coordinator for that particular area. All freshmen and sophomores are required to see their academic adviser prior to registration each semester. Some major departments prevent students from registering at all if they have not seen their respective advisers. The advising coordinator may be contacted by calling either the dean’s office for the college or school or the academic department of the intended major. The Office of Undergraduate Studies maintains a list of academic advisers for lower division students.

The state of Florida has implemented a computerized advising system to help both the student and the adviser monitor academic progress. At The Florida State University, students will be provided copies of their report prior to registration each semester. The SASS report outlines requirements the student has already met and those the student has yet to complete. Reports typically will be available through the academic adviser, although some departments have alternative methods for distributing reports to their majors. Individual requests for SASS reports may be made at the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center, A3200 University Center.

Prelaw students may major in many different fields and will have an adviser assigned to them based on their undergraduate academic area. Students planning to enter law school after earning a bachelor’s degree should join the prelaw society, Phi Alpha Delta, where they will receive special information and services focusing on prelaw issues. Students may come to the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center to obtain a list of advisers who specialize in working with prelaw students.

Pre-health profession students will also be found in different academic fields. All students planning to enroll in a professional school of medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, or other health-related areas should contact the Pre-Health Professions adviser in the Program in Medical Sciences (PIMS) office, 104 School of Nursing.

Students participating in certain programs within the University may receive specialized academic advising. These programs and services include the Summer Enrichment Program and Intercollegiate Athletics. Also, the Multicultural Student Support Center offers the Horizons Unlimited program and student support services. Most of the students in these programs will be assigned a faculty adviser from their major by the time they reach junior standing. In some cases, students will be required to see two advisers, one from their program and one from their academic major. All students admitted to the University under alternative admissions standards receive special advising, either through the program that sponsored their admission or through the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center.

The Academic Support Program for student-athletes assists student-athletes with the transition into college and provides continued support in all phases of academic and professional development culminating with graduation, job placement, or graduate school. Program staff provide academic counseling, study skills development, and additional academic assistance through tutorial programs.

Before classes begin, students meet with their academic counselor to discuss potential academic majors and select classes. An extensive career exploration program is initiated in the Fall semester and continues until the student-athlete selects an appropriate career path and academic major.

The Academic Support Program is comprised of 80-90 tutors—seniors or graduate students with outstanding academic records—who provide a proactive and individualized approach. This supplements the sound educational practices (class attendance, note taking, reviewing and preparing properly for quizzes and exams, actively participating in class discussions, and staying current with all assigned readings) that are imperative for academic success.A6100 University Center, 644-9201.

The Minority Academic Programs Office is designed to enhance the recruitment and retention of minority students. Freshmen are provided with social activities and other opportunities to alleviate some of the problems inherent in the first year at a large university. Academic support is provided through academic advising tutorials, smaller classes, and learning skills workshops.

The University Experience Program is available for minority high school students who would like to visit the campus for a week during the summer. Smaller groups of high school students are invited to visit the campus so that they may experience college life.

High school seniors who plan to enroll at The Florida State University should inquire about the Summer Enrichment Program. The program works as a high school-to-college bridge for minority and/or economically disadvantaged students, providing students with an intensive academic and social orientation to the University during the summer session. Students continue at the University during the fall semester and are assured continuing academic support. A high school counselor’s recommendation for the Summer Enrichment Program and assessment of the student’s abilities should accompany the admission application.

The center consists of three programs:

Horizons Unlimited, a state-funded program, serves students of all races who come from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Through the program, students can be admitted to The Florida State University under broadened admissions criteria. Program staff provide these students with special orientation experiences, exclusive full-credit course sections in some liberal studies areas, tutoring, peer group counseling, and academic advisement.

The Student Support Services Program, a federally funded program, provides tutorial support and instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics. Program staff help students acquire good study skills and provide personal counseling and academic and career advisement. Program participants are encouraged to participate in community cultural and educational events. To qualify students must 1) be United States citizens, naturalized citizens, or permanent residents of the United States; 2) be accepted or enrolled at The Florida State University; and 3) come from low-income families or families in which they are the first-generation college students, i.e., neither parent having completed a baccalaureate degree. Students with physical disabilities are also eligible.

The Multicultural Student Support Center staff also administer the Upward Bound Program, a federally funded precollegiate program that serves minority and other students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Staff members help students develop academic skills and encourage them to complete high school and to continue their formal education at the college or university level.

The Reading/Writing Center provides individualized instruction in reading, writing, and study skills. The center offers ENC 1905-01, required for freshmen who score 420-470 on the verbal section of the SAT or 16–18 on the Enhanced ACT. It also offers directed individual study in reading and writing to undergraduate and graduate students at all levels. Students sign up for one to three (1–3) elective credits (ENC 1905-02) and undertake a course of study designed to meet their specific needs. Students may also receive short-term tutorial instruction on a no-credit, walk-in basis. Help in preparing for the Florida CLAST, GRE, and LSAT is also available.

The Mathematics Help Center offers tutorial assistance for mathematics courses MAT 1024, 1033; MAC 1105, 1113, 1140, 2233, 2311; MGF 1106, 1107; and limited help in MAD 2104 and MAC 2312 and 2313. The center offers a "practice" Florida CLAST several times each semester. Center hours are announced each semester by course instructors. The hours are also posted at the help center at 110 Milton Carothers Hall and at 208 Love Building.

The Academic Support/Acceptance Program (ASAP), located at A3500 University Center, provides an intensive one-semester counseling/advising program for third-year students who are having unusual difficulty in selecting or gaining admission into upper-division majors. Most ASAP students participate in a special section of SDS 3340r Introduction to Career Development, though other options are available. ASAP has been funded through a special grant for enhancing undergraduate education to address the special needs of these students. The contact person for this program is Linda Mahler, (850) 644-0387.

The Curricular-Career Information Services (CCIS) is a multimedia, self-service career resource with books, pamphlets, videotapes, slides, filmstrips, computers, and career advisers to help students choose a major and a career. Special equipment and materials are available for students with disabilities. Here students find answers to questions about occupations, job outlook, vocational schools, graduate programs, job-hunting techniques, and many other career-related topics. CCIS holds frequent workshops and clinics.

Participants in this program will enroll in a section of AMS 1363 which offers an introduction to the academic opportunities provided by a research university. Faculty research, scholarship and creative activities are emphasized in the context of the teaching, research and service missions of the University.

The First-Year Experience (AMS 1363) is a one-credit-hour course offered only to first-time-in-college students and is coordinated by the Dean of Students Department and the American and Florida Studies Program. The class helps students to understand the importance of a liberal arts education, develop a framework for understanding their university experiences, and become more goal-oriented in their academic and extracurricular experiences. Students learn the history of The Florida State University, including the values of the institution, and explore the various University resources available to them. Faculty and administrators teach the course in small, seminar-style classes of approximately twenty students, and each group has access to a trained peer leader. Students may contact the Dean of Students Department at 644-2428 to learn more about the First-Year Experience.

The Center for Intensive English Studies, part of the Center for Professional Development and Public Service, provides intensive instruction in the English language to non-English speakers. Its primary target audience is international scholars who are preparing to pursue degree work in American colleges and universities. The center also provides English-as-a-second-language services for the spouses of regular students at The Florida State University, as well as for some already admitted international students who are experiencing difficulty in mastering the English language. Enrollment is full-time [twenty- three (23) hours weekly].

The Center for Retention and Academic Support provides special assistance for students in academic difficulty or who are unable to decide on a major. The center also provides assistance for students having difficulty preparing for the Florida CLAST. The office of Dr. Patricia Stith, the University Director of Retention Studies, and Dr. Linda Mahler, Director of Academic Support/Acceptance Program, is located at: A3500 University Center.

Associate Dean: Bruce Janasiewicz

The Office of Undergraduate Studies provides information and services on all academic matters, including exemptions with credit, information on liberal studies courses, academic standing, dismissal, readmission, remediation, correspondence study, enrollment in courses at other colleges and universities, and major changes for most freshman and sophomore students. The Office of Undergraduate Studies is located at: A3400 University Center.

In addition to serving as the academic dean’s office for most freshmen and sophomores, the Office of Undergraduate Studies performs three important academic functions:

1. The office evaluates all transfer credit to determine how it applies to The Florida State University’s liberal studies requirements and prepares liberal studies check sheets for each undergraduate transfer student who enters without an associate in arts (AA) degree from a Florida public senior or community college. See the "Undergraduate Degree Requirements" section of this General Bulletin for details. Decisions about transfer credit applying towards a major requirement are made in the office of the dean responsible for that major;
2. The assignment of advisers is also the function of this office. Students who are accepted into the School of Music or into bachelor of fine arts (BFA) programs in theatre or dance are advised by their respective academic dean’s office;
3. Finally, the office monitors student progress in liberal studies through the Student Academic Support System (SASS) report. The SASS report will be reviewed with the student at the time of formal declaration of a major for transfer to an upper-division program.

The Florida State University grants an AA certificate to qualified students upon request. The Office of Undergraduate Studies determines the eligibility of students for the certificate. See the "Undergraduate Degree Requirements" section of this General Bulletin for more information.

The cooperative enrollment program between The Florida State University and area high schools is administered by the Office of Undergraduate Studies. See the "Office of the University Registrar" section of this General Bulletin for descriptions of these cooperative programs.

Transfer from undergraduate studies to a major’s advisement program in any college or school of the University is accomplished between the Office of Undergraduate Studies and the appropriate baccalaureate dean after the student 1) has declared a choice; 2) has been certified as eligible for transfer; and 3) has been accepted by the appropriate baccalaureate dean. Acceptance into a major advisement program does not constitute admission to the upper division of the University.

Students will be considered eligible to transfer from the advisement program of the Office of Undergraduate Studies after satisfying the following requirements:

1. Completion of at least fifty-two (52) semester hours of credit;
2. Successful completion of at least one-half of the required semester hours in the Liberal Studies Program, including all required liberal studies courses in freshman composition and freshman mathematics (Areas I and II of the Liberal Studies Program—see the "Undergraduate Degree Requirements" section of this General Bulletin);
3. Achievement of a minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above on work attempted at The Florida State University; and
4. Acceptance by a baccalaureate dean for admission to a major’s advisement program.

A student who has attempted seventy-five (75) or more semester hours without fulfilling all of the above-listed requirements will not be allowed to register. Such students should consult the Office of Undergraduate Studies and the dean of the college or school in which the degree is to be sought before making final decisions on how to meet these requirements.