1. Faculty Academic Advisor Training
March 2019
Dr. Barbara Cobb
Coordinator of Academic Advising
Professor, English
Coordinator, Liberal Arts (multidisciplinary) Major
The Advising Committee, composed of academic advisors from the colleges and schools at Murray State University, serves as the steering and advisory committee for Murray State University Academic Advising.

2. Murray State University Academic Advising
provides:
academic advisor training, both “live” and online
the Academic Advising website, with resources and training for students and academic advisors
academic advising support for students and advisors

3. Advising Model at Murray State
“Blended Decentralized”
faculty advising, discipline-specific
JCSET specific programs – staff advising
BCOB AACSB programs – CUBA
undergraduate advising center until fully admitted
faculty advising once fully admitted
Center for Student Engagement and Success
referrals
at-risk students
MapWorks myGate Teaching/Advising tab
Starfish implementation April-August

4. 3 Major Advising Seasons
Fall: Before Advanced Scheduling mid-October - early November
Spring: Before Advanced Scheduling after spring break – early April
Summer: Summer Orientation – May-July trainings Apr & June

5. Advanced Scheduling Student Information
myGate Academics tab Calendars/Deadlines (right side) Timetable for Advanced Scheduling Registration date/time on myGate Academics tab Registration Tools Registration Status (add/drop classes located there as well)
Advanced Scheduling Student Information

6. To Contact Advisees use Google Scheduler or other scheduling app
myGate Teaching/Advising tab, Advisee Listing then click the envelope icon
for list
use Google Scheduler or other scheduling app
add extra “Open” Office Hours
give advisees clear instructions for advising
AACSB Programs: check CUBA Advising Schedule
Student M
Dunker M

7. To: Advisees From: Dr. Murray Advisor Advanced Scheduling begins April 8th. Please use this scheduler to sign up for an academic advising appointment. Go to and use the Your Advisor, Your Responsibilities tab to prepare for your advising session. We will review your RACR, discuss classes for summer and fall term, and plan for future terms. Also, we will cover study abroad and internship options, as well as career and professional plans. You must be advised before your Advisor Hold is lifted so that you can register for summer and fall term.

8. The Academic Advising website

9. How to Read a RACR (10 minute training)
RACR, Racer Academic Completion Report: degree audit used to determine progress to graduation and status
Review RACR every semester
Make sure all credit is included on RACR
Student is responsible for accuracy of RACR
Academic Advisor makes changes with appropriate approvals
myGate Teaching/Advising Registrar Forms

10. RACR Basics 120 credit hours minimum to degree
42 credit hours at 300+ level required (39 for BIS)
Degree Requirements
University Studies / Honors Sequence
Area, Major, Minor
Electives (at bottom) – evaluate for substitution in area/major/minor
Click-through to course descriptions
Course Exception Form (Registrar Forms)

11. RACR – Area, Major, Minor Match with the Bulletin
Prerequisites, co-requisites
Univ Studies required courses
Tracks
Advisor Approved Electives (AAPR)
use Course Exception Form to approve (Registrar Forms)

12. Placement – see myGate Teaching/Advising

13. Placement – see myGate Teaching/Advising

14. Unrestricted Electives: Additional Hours Toward Degree
Unevaluated transfer credit and other courses that may be eligible for substitution in University Studies, Area, Major, or Minor may be here – use Course Exception form (Registrar Forms) to move these courses.

15. Advising Honors College Students
Honors Sequence REPLACES University Studies
See RACR
Honors College students must enroll in at least ONE Honors Sequence course every semester until Honors Sequence is complete
Honors College students register with Special Populations on first day of advanced scheduling
Holds MAY be released by the Honors College advisors (make sure that they are advised by you too)
If the Honors Sequence disappears from an Honors College student’s RACR, the student should contact the Honors College office immediately.

16. Transfer Advising
Transfer Center
Common transfer course prefixes:
TRN, CLL, SCL, HLP, MLL, SOS, ESC, GAC, GED Evaluate these courses for equivalency or substitution
Transfer Equivalencies see Transfer Center/Transferring Classes to pre-evaluate courses -- if course is not listed, student should contact Transfer Center

17. Transfer Course Equivalencies
If course should be equivalent, contact the Transfer Center: course will be evaluated and added to equivalency for ALL FUTURE evaluations
If course should be substituted for University Studies for THIS STUDENT ONLY, use the University Studies Course Substitution form
If the course should be substituted for a course in your program, use the Registrar Course Exception form
Note: if a 200-level course from another institution is substituted for a 300+ course at MSU, the course will NOT count toward 300+ credit hours for graduation.

18. Declaring Area, Major, Minor
45 Credit Hours: Student MUST have Area or Major declared before Advanced Scheduling
60 Credit Hours: Student with a Major MUST have MINOR or second Major declared before Advanced Scheduling
Change of Area/Major: use this FORM (Registrar Forms)
Change of Minor may be done on same form; student MAY change Minor without advisor signature at Registrar’s Office

19. Notes Feature
Notes can be seen by student and anyone else who has access to RACR. Consider them public, within the advising community.

20. RACR What-If Choose options Options will populate
here. Then click up here

21. Our campus: Housing Stadium LGBTQ Programming Admissions
Transfer Center
Student Support Services
Counseling
Services
Mills Multicultural Center
Blackburn
Curris Center
Testing Center
Career Services
Student Affairs
Women’s Center
Racer Writing Center
Center for Student Engagement and Success
Racer Oral Communication Center
Student Disability Services
Applied Sciences
Waterfield Library
Wells Hall
Study Abroad
Financial Aid
Registrar’s Office
Honors College Tutoring
Bursar
Lovett Auditorium
above lobby
Sparks Hall
Lowry Center

22. Academic Advising Quick Links
Connecting Resources to Students
Academic Advising Quick Links
Student
Admissions
Retention Office
Student Affairs
Student Support Services
Student Disability Services
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Tutoring
Center for Academic Success
Counseling Center
Career Services
Women’s Center
Housing

23. Before Meeting Advisee: Schedule of Classes
Schedule of Classes is available approx. one month before advanced scheduling: check for availability of classes for students in your program
Schedule of Classes can be found on
myGate Teaching/Advising (instructor/advisor)
myGate Academics (student)
RacerNet
Registration 101 for Students / for Academic Advisors:
see Academic Advising website

24. Advising Session – Advisor Checklist
Meet with every student
Use RACR and the Bulletin to help student choose classes
Know prerequisites and advise accordingly
Make sure student is making progress; discuss plans for future semesters
Discuss strengths, weaknesses, successes, challenges
Discuss plans for future (career/professional)

25. RACR: Do the Math!
Your advisee MAY need more than 120 credit hours to complete all requirements.
Your program MAY require fewer than 120 credit hours; your advisee may need electives to reach 120 credit hours.
Check GPA; advisee may need to retake courses to meet GPA requirements.
Advisee may need more than 15 credit hour/semester – extra tuition.

26. Full-Time Status
Bursar: Full-Time = 12 credit hours NON-WEB
Housing: Full-Time = average 12 hours per semester, Fall / Winter / Spring
Scholarship: rules vary; be sure that student knows how to stay in good standing
International: rules vary; be sure that student knows requirements
Veterans: Full-Time = 12 credit hours; no WEB remedial/developmental allowed

27. After Advising: Release Advisor Hold – myGate Teaching/Advising, Advisee Listing
Hold ONLY after
successful
advising
session.
Also note “Release Consent”: see Academic Advising website for IMPORTANT information on FERPA-required compliance with Consent to Release.

28. Contacts – email addresses
Registrar: RACR: Ashley Rogers Transfer: Maria Rosa International: Bill McKibben CSES/Retention: Peggy Whaley Academic Advising: Barbara Cobb