You Should Call Your Advisor When...
As an online student at the 杏吧专区, you have a support team to help navigate your academic degree program as well as 杏吧专区 processes.
One of your star players will be your academic advisor.
Why should I call my advisor?
Advisors are available during advising periods as well as throughout each semester in order to:
- Explain the curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, and procedures.
- Guide online students as they develop their academic goals.
- Connect online students with resources and services available.
To understand your curriculum, set goals
One of an advisor杏吧专区檚 key duties is to help students understand their curriculum.
Sharon Williams-Gregory, advisor for General Studies online, says this is one of the first things she discusses with students once they杏吧专区檝e been admitted.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 the connection for students to the 杏吧专区, especially for those not in this area,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淥nce I杏吧专区檝e done their advising with them, students understand our curriculum.杏吧专区
A key component in understanding the curriculum and the time it will take to earn a degree is understanding what transfer credits can be applied.
Health Promotion and Wellness advisor Elizabeth LaPointe says in order to plot the most efficient path to their degree, one of the first things she does is work with students杏吧专区 existing college credit.
She works with various departments to ensure certain courses can be applied.
杏吧专区淲ith transfer and reentry students, there are a lot of classes they took previously that we杏吧专区檙e trying to have count so that they don杏吧专区檛 have to repeat classes,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 try to make very clear to them which classes we杏吧专区檙e substituting and that as much as possible from what they杏吧专区檝e taken previously counts toward our degree.杏吧专区
LaPointe says in many cases, students have attended multiple institutions before enrolling at UL Lafayette. She says she wants to see them cross the stage as a Ragin杏吧专区 Cajun.
杏吧专区淚 want this to be the place they complete their degree,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 don杏吧专区檛 want them to feel like they only receive a little coursework here and then go on to the next institution.杏吧专区
LaPointe says through advising, students gain a clear path to their degree.
杏吧专区淭hey are not figuring out anything alone,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 hope the steps to be advised, enroll, and maintain their academic career is very clear. I try to lay it out as clearly as possible so they see their path to graduation.杏吧专区
To stay on track
Part of your planning and preparation as a student should be to expect the unexpected. A class might fill up before you杏吧专区檝e had a chance to register; you spot an interesting course but are unsure how it fits into your curriculum; you杏吧专区檙e overwhelmed with your coursework and need support.
Your advisor is available to help you explore your resources and options.
杏吧专区淭here aren杏吧专区檛 many things students don杏吧专区檛 call me for even if it杏吧专区檚, 杏吧专区業杏吧专区檓 having a meltdown, and I don杏吧专区檛 know what to do,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 says Williams-Gregory. 杏吧专区淲hen it comes to their academics, they reach out to me first and foremost.杏吧专区
Williams-Gregory says if she doesn杏吧专区檛 know an answer, say, about what will happen to a student杏吧专区檚 financial aid is they drop a course, she杏吧专区檒l help students find the right person.
杏吧专区淚 will answer as much as I can,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚f I don杏吧专区檛 know, I杏吧专区檒l find someone I can get the answer from.杏吧专区
LaPointe says maintaining communication with your advisor throughout your academic career is important and expected.
Advisors can杏吧专区檛 assist if they杏吧专区檙e unaware of a problem.
杏吧专区淚 always tell my advisees to copy me on any email, like if they杏吧专区檙e having an issue enrolling in their math class, just keep me in the loop so I can assist with following up,杏吧专区 LaPointe says.
杏吧专区淛ust constantly communicate with your advisor so they can advocate on your behalf.杏吧专区
Who杏吧专区檚 my advisor?
Students are assigned their advisor once they杏吧专区檙e admitted to the 杏吧专区.
Online students can find their advisor by logging onto and selecting 杏吧专区淎cademics杏吧专区 in the left-hand navigation. Advisors are listed at the bottom of the Academic Profile section. Note: Make sure to select a term to see the information.
Students can also find a directory of online advisors on the Online Program website.
Need additional help? Connect with an Enrollment Specialist by emailing online@louisiana.edu, or find resources through the Student Support tab on the Online Programs website.
