You Should Call Your Advisor When...
As an online student at the 小蝌蚪APP, you have a support team to help navigate your academic degree program as well as 小蝌蚪APP 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小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檝e been admitted.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 the connection for students to the 小蝌蚪APP, especially for those not in this area,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淥nce I小蝌蚪APP檝e done their advising with them, students understand our curriculum.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP existing college credit.
She works with various departments to ensure certain courses can be applied.
小蝌蚪APP淲ith transfer and reentry students, there are a lot of classes they took previously that we小蝌蚪APP檙e trying to have count so that they don小蝌蚪APP檛 have to repeat classes,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 try to make very clear to them which classes we小蝌蚪APP檙e substituting and that as much as possible from what they小蝌蚪APP檝e taken previously counts toward our degree.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP Cajun.
小蝌蚪APP淚 want this to be the place they complete their degree,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 don小蝌蚪APP檛 want them to feel like they only receive a little coursework here and then go on to the next institution.小蝌蚪APP
LaPointe says through advising, students gain a clear path to their degree.
小蝌蚪APP淭hey are not figuring out anything alone,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP檝e had a chance to register; you spot an interesting course but are unsure how it fits into your curriculum; you小蝌蚪APP檙e overwhelmed with your coursework and need support.
Your advisor is available to help you explore your resources and options.
小蝌蚪APP淭here aren小蝌蚪APP檛 many things students don小蝌蚪APP檛 call me for even if it小蝌蚪APP檚, 小蝌蚪APP業小蝌蚪APP檓 having a meltdown, and I don小蝌蚪APP檛 know what to do,小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP says Williams-Gregory. 小蝌蚪APP淲hen it comes to their academics, they reach out to me first and foremost.小蝌蚪APP
Williams-Gregory says if she doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 know an answer, say, about what will happen to a student小蝌蚪APP檚 financial aid is they drop a course, she小蝌蚪APP檒l help students find the right person.
小蝌蚪APP淚 will answer as much as I can,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚f I don小蝌蚪APP檛 know, I小蝌蚪APP檒l find someone I can get the answer from.小蝌蚪APP
LaPointe says maintaining communication with your advisor throughout your academic career is important and expected.
Advisors can小蝌蚪APP檛 assist if they小蝌蚪APP檙e unaware of a problem.
小蝌蚪APP淚 always tell my advisees to copy me on any email, like if they小蝌蚪APP檙e having an issue enrolling in their math class, just keep me in the loop so I can assist with following up,小蝌蚪APP LaPointe says.
小蝌蚪APP淛ust constantly communicate with your advisor so they can advocate on your behalf.小蝌蚪APP
Who小蝌蚪APP檚 my advisor?
Students are assigned their advisor once they小蝌蚪APP檙e admitted to the 小蝌蚪APP.
Online students can find their advisor by logging onto and selecting 小蝌蚪APP淎cademics小蝌蚪APP 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.
