1. UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC ADVISING AT
September 2018

2. WHY IS ADVISING IMPORTANT?
Advising is a shared partnership
As an advisee you will be responsible for making sure
you know where to find the information you need to make important academic decisions.
you know the policies that effect you such as the suspension and probation policy and requirements for your major.
you have met your requirements for graduation.
Your advisor will help you to navigate all of this information and to assist you with developing your academic, career and personal goals.
Advising in College will differ greatly from High school. How so?
YOU are responsible for information and requirements you will need for graduation, not your advisor.
YOU are responsible to know how policies and procedures at RU affect YOU, such as the suspension and probation policies which we will go over in another power point. It is important you become your own best advocate, ask questions and understand the policies and requirements that will effect you.
Your advisor will also be your advocate and guide to help you through the process.
Undergraduate Academic Advising

3. Orientation to Advising (OTA)
The OTA module on D2L that you completed this summer is still available to you as a resource.
Helpful information in the OTA module includes:
Basic info about academic policies
Quick facts in the ‘How Do I…?’ section
List of advising center locations
List of academic resources with links to websites
List of helpful offices on campus with locations and website links
The Orientation to Advising module is listed as a class on the homepage of new student’s D2L.
The full course title is ‘Orientation to Advising ’
The picture for the course shows a pair of converse sneakers with the words ‘Start Here’
Undergraduate Academic Advising

4. IMPORTANT ADVISING RESOURCES
Undergraduate Academic Advising Website
The Undergraduate Academic Advising Website is all you need to know! (please click on the website for a brief preview – quick links) It will have all of the information you need and can help answer most of your questions. The Advising centers have the
Locations
Hours
Progress sheets
Majors and even minors information
The Student Resource page on the Undergraduate Academic Advising Website has links to important resources outside the advising centers
Course catalogs
Academic Policies and Procedures
Detailed Course Descriptions
On-line tutoring
Transfer information if you want to transfer a course in the summer back to RU
And important campus resources such as the Career Center, Registrar and Center for Accessibility and Services
Undergraduate Academic Advising

5. 2018-2019 CATALOG Undergraduate Academic Advising
Did you know you have an undergraduate catalog for the year you entered Radford University? Why is the catalog important?
The catalog is your “contract” for requirements the year you entered Radford University
It has a list of the official Academic policies
It contains your Major and minor requirements
Undergraduate Academic Advising

6. IMPORTANT DATES TO HIGHLIGHT
September 10: Last day to withdraw for a full tuition refund
October 12: Fall Break
October 29: Spring/Summer 2019 registration begins
November 2 : Last day to withdraw from an individual course(s) through your advising center.
November 16: Last day to withdraw from the University with no grade penalty (no refunds) through your advising center.
November : Thanksgiving break.
December 10-13: Fall Exams.
Office of the Registrar Academic Calendar
Make sure you write some of the important dates on your calendar such as:
Last day to withdrawal from a class with a “W”
Final exams
Undergraduate Academic Advising

7. Advising Appointments,
MyRU PORTAL
Course Supplements
Check Daily
Schedule,
Degree Audit,
Academic info
Get involved
Advising Appointments,
Campus Resources
Your portal contains important information.
Check your daily. It is the University’s official communication.
Check out the get involved link
Let’s take a look at your Academics
Explore Starfish to schedule an advising appointment and learn about other resources on campus such as the HKC
Handshake is your link to all things related to career exploration, planning, and job searches
Career Services
Undergraduate Academic Advising

8. ACADEMIC TOOLS Undergraduate Academic Advising
Your Academic tools - Your Banner SSB Student Menu will be an important part of your advising.
Let’s look at what it has to offer.
Undergraduate Academic Advising

9. BANNER SSB STUDENT MENU
You can look at your personal information, student information, or finance information.
On the student information tab you can go to registration and look at your class schedule as well as open classes when it is time to register.
You can go to student records to make sure you do not have any holds preventing you from registering, check your grades and your unofficial transcript.
Undergraduate Academic Advising

10. STUDENT SCHEDULE University Academic Advising
It is never to late to check your schedule. Sometimes classes are canceled, or dropped due to credit, or the location is changed and students may be attending a wrong class. Always check your schedule right before the semester begins.
University Academic Advising

11. DEGREE AUDIT Undergraduate Academic Advising
Back under your Academic Tools is your Degree Audit.
Undergraduate Academic Advising

12. Undergraduate Academic Advising
Your degree audit will have important information:
Some advisors will ask you to print and bring your degree audit to your advising appointment.
Check your degree audit every semester.
Your college, major and advisor are listed at the top.
You can click on your advisor to . You may have an advising center listed that advises you. If no one is listed contact your College department (Major) or advising center to find out who your advisor is.
It should have any Advanced placement, International baccalaureate, and/or Dual Enrollment credits listed. Make sure you send transcripts/scores to the admissions office if not showing! For dual enrollment credits make sure you request a transcript to be sent to the Registrar’s office from the community college!
If you have declared your major it will have all of the classes required for the major, if Pre-major it will have Core Curriculum requirements.
Remember you have until you graduate to take all of your core curriculum classes.
Your current enrollment will be at the bottom of the audit.
The Degree Audit is NOT your official plan for graduation requirements. It is a tool and is not always accurate. The degree audit and the progress sheets are tools to help you stay on track.
Make sure you compare your Degree audit to your Major’s Progress sheet and ASK YOUR ADVISOR if something doesn’t match up or you have questions!
The most accurate information for your degree requirements is in the on-line Catalog .
Remember, the on-line Catalog and major progress sheets are on the Academic Advising website!
Undergraduate Academic Advising

13. HOW DO I MAKE AN ADVISING APPOINTMENT?
Your advisor’s name or advising center will show on your Degree Audit.
You may be able to make an appointment with your advisor on by looking to see if your advisor is listed in your Starfish Success Network.
If you do not find your advisor listed on your Success Network your academic advisor listed on your Degree Audit to find out how to make an appointment.
If your advisor or advising center is not listed on your Degree Audit please contact your advising center listed on the Undergraduate Academic Advising website
READ YOUR ! You may be receiving an from your advisor about making an appointment !
Undergraduate Academic Advising

14. IMPORTANT POLICIES YOU NEED TO KNOW
COURSE WITHDRAWAL
You receive a “W” on your transcript.
You are allowed only 5 withdrawals your entire time at RU
WHAT IF I GO BELOW FULL-TIME (12 hours?)
You will NOT need to move out of your residence hall unless your behavior is disruptive. You WILL need to notify your Resident Assistant if you fall below full-time status.
Dropping from full to part-time status during a semester may affect your financial aid. Check with the Office of Financial Aid.
If you are a student athlete or international student please check with your advisor and financial aid before going below full-time.
Some important academic policies for you to know and understand. You can refer back to these policies on the University Academic Advising Website.
University Academic Advising

15. IMPORTANT POLICIES YOU NEED TO KNOW
REPEATING A COURSE
The grade earned in the repeated course will replace the original grade in GPA calculations; however both the original grade and the 2nd grade earned will be included on your transcript.
You are allowed to repeat only 3 courses
After you have used your 3 repeats you are allowed an unlimited number of retakes.
Both grades are used in the cumulative GPA calculation as if they are two separate classes (retakes count the same as taking new classes)
Some important academic policies for you to know and understand. You can refer back to these policies on the University Academic Advising Website.
University Academic Advising

16. FERPA FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS and PRIVACY ACT
The university will not release information about a student from records, except directory information, to people (including parents) other than a specified list of exceptions without obtaining the written consent of the student by having the student complete a FERPA form, available online and in the Registrar’s office.
In order for your advisor or instructors to speak with your parents you would need to sign a FERPA release form which can be located on the Registrar’s website.
University Academic Advising

17. TYPICAL COURSELOAD Full-time Minimum 12 Hours Full-time Maximum
Typical Class Load
15-16 Hours
A student on academic probation can not carry more than 16 semester hours during fall and/or spring semesters.
Students pay additional tuition for hours over 18.
University Academic Advising

18. CLASS STANDING Hours Passed Status <26 Freshman 26-55 Sophomore
56-85
Junior
> 86
Senior
Includes Advanced Credit, International baccalaureate, Dual Enrollment and Transfer courses
University Academic Advising

19. IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
To take “upper division” courses in your major.
Most majors will accept you into the major with any GPA; however, many have GPA and course prerequisites to begin junior level courses.
To graduate from RU
You will need a minimum of a 2.0; however some majors require higher GPAs to graduate ; For example ESHE-Allied Health Sciences and Nutrition require a 3.0.
Most majors require a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0 but some require a higher GPA. This is one of the many reasons why you should put your academics a priority. You don’t want to hit a roadblock to declaring or graduating in a major. In addition many majors have specific GPA requirements in the major for graduation. Specific requirements for each major are listed in the catalog and are listed on most Progress Sheets.
University Academic Advising

20. ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION
Academic Probation occurs any academic year (Spring semester) your cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 but above the suspension threshold below:
Hours Attempted at RU only
GPA Required to Avoid Suspension at the end of each academic year
13-23
1.00
24-35
1.50
36-47
1.80
48 or more
2.00
A GPA below a 2.0 (C Average) is a serious issue. Student
University Academic Advising

21. Dean’s List recognition requires all of the following:
A semester GPA of at least 3.40,
Minimum course load of 12 credit hours of graded (A-F, not pass/fail) courses,
No final grade less than C,
No “Incomplete” grades.
University Academic Advising

22. UNIV 100—Advising 1 Quiz
Number of course withdrawals allowed at Radford University?
GPA and minimum number of graded credit hours required for Dean’s List?
Where do you go on the Portal to make an appointment with your Academic Advisor?
How many credit hours do you need to complete to be considered a Sophomore?
How many credit hours are required to be considered a full-time student?