Preparing for the Advising Session

Taking the student seriously is the foundation of all effective advising, and it has implications for every aspect of advising. Think of your advising actions as responses to the following questions:

If I really took the student seriously………….

  1. How would I prepare for an advising interview?
  2. How would I listen to the student?
  3. What kinds of questions would I ask in the advising interview?
  4. What would I want to know abut the student?
  5. How would I follow up after the advising interview?
  6. How would I communicate my concern and caring during the advising interview?
  7. How much time would I give the student in the advising interview?

Possible Questions to Ask During an Advising Session

Classes:
What was your favorite subject in high school? Why?

Do you understand what “full-time” means? Do you know what it means to be enrolled in 12 hours?

Why did you choose this program of study?

Placement Information, for those not in TSI compliance:
Do you know what you need to accomplish in order to move into college-level classes?
Do you understand that you are not able to register for college-level classes in the restricted areas you have not yet passed? (For example, a student taking READ 0320 and has not passed Reading cannot pre-register for HIST until they have a “B” or better grade on their transcript, or until they pass the placement test if they decide to re-test)

Make the student aware that, if they are in only one developmental class and have not met all TSI compliance, they will be dropped from their entire schedule if they are dropped from their developmental class-they must stay continuously enrolled in developmental work until they have met all 3 areas of TSI compliance

Course Scheduling Considerations:
How many hours do you plan to take next semester?
Do you have to be enrolled full-time (at least 12 hours) for scholarship, financial aid, or insurance purposes?
Do you plan to transfer? If so, have you visited our website for transfer information, or made an appointment with the Transfer Counselor?
How many hours of week do you work? How does this conflict with your school time?

Where will you live? If you live in the dorms, how do you think that will be different from living at home?
How often do you plan to study per week?
How do you manage your time?
If you have family, how do you balance school, work and family?

Do you have reliable transportation?

Are you prepared to go to class every day, if your schedule requires it?

If you have children, do you have reliable child care?

Students who are interested in taking Internet Classes:
Be honest with every new student about taking an internet course their first semester. The extraordinary amount of reading, writing, and constant attention to the class may be more than they can handle their first semester.

After visiting with them about time management skills, other commitments such as family and work, you may decide they are ready for the time-intensive internet course curriculum.

You can refer your students to the Internet Skills Inventory at the SPC website so they can gauge their on-line skill level.

The Advisor’s Checklist to Conducting an Advising Session

View the student’s information on CampusConnect.

  • Note any holds the student may have; you will see these on the screen after you enter the student’s ID. The student will be blocked from registering for classes until the holds are lifted.
  • Check the TSI status. Refer to your “Placement Information,” sheet to interpret scores and developmental course sequence.
  • It is recommended that students complete their developmental work as soon as possible, so they are not further delayed in completing their educational goals. The skill-building those classes provide are vital in their success in other classes not directly related to TSI restrictions, such as Chemistry, reading-intensive classes such as Human Growth & Development (PSYC 2314), Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 1301), or American Minority Studies (HUMA 2319), as some examples.
  • If the student is taking the highest level of development in one or more of the TSI areas, encourage them to begin preparing to sign up and study for a THEA or Accuplacer exam. You can direct them to for THEA test dates and registration information.
  • Look at the student’s Degree Audit. Show students what their program of study requires for graduation, and begin building a schedule based on those courses.

Check the student’s information on FileBound, if needed.
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  • Your user name and password are the same as your email user name and password
  • FileBound includes transcripts from high school and/or other colleges; this information can be helpful, as students sometimes forget what classes they’ve already completed.

Compile any forms you may use during the session

  • Degree Worksheet, Trial Schedule, Semester-by-Semester Degree Plan

Registering Using CampusConnect

Under the Student Information drop down menu, choose Demographic Data. Review this information and please update this if any is missing or incorrect. Notify your advisor if corrections are needed for the major or advisor name.

You may also wish to view Degree Audit on CampusConnect under the Registration drop down menu, to see what courses are needed for graduation.

To register for courses:

(You must register for any required developmental courses first.)

  1. From the Registration drop down menu, select Add/Drop Classes.
  2. Select the desired term and department.
  3. Click the List Courses button.
  4. Use the scrollbar to view available courses. Click on the Add button adjacent to the course you wish to add. The course will be added to your schedule, and will be visible in the top portion of the screen.
  5. Click on the Select a Different Term or Department button to add additional courses.

To drop a course from the schedule:

  1. Click on the “Drop” button adjacent to the course listed on your schedule at the top of the page.

Once Scheduling is Complete:

Have the student check their balance on CampusConnect by going to “Review/Pay Account.” Remind them of the payment deadline

Remind them they can purchase their books in the bookstore at the campus they’ll be taking classes

Give them your contact information, and let them know you’ll be available to visit with them in your office once the semester begins; encourage them to email you if they have any questions before the semester begins

Sample Letter to Advisees

Dear Student;

My name is ______, and I am your advisor for the ______major. I am writing to let you know that registration for the Spring 2007 semester begins on November 13. If you need assistance with scheduling your classes, or with any other advising questions, please contact me for an appointment at 806-894-9611, ext. ______or at my email address:______. My office is located in the ______building, room ______. My office hours are ______.

If you need to change your major, I can help you as well, just let me know to what program of study you plan to pursue.

You may access the Fall 2007schedule books on line at or pick up a hard copy in the Admissions Office. To access CampusConnect, please go to and click on “CampusConnect/Students,” at the top of the screen. If you do not know your log-in information, please go to the Admissions Office to obtain your PIN.

For more information on the following offices, please contact them at the email address or phone number below:

Admissions:Graduation Questions: 806-894-9611, ext. 2374

Transcript Requests: 806-894-9611, ext. 2573

Degree Audit Questions: 806-894-9611, ext. 2578

Holds: 806-894-9611, ext. 2574

Business Office: 806-894-9611, ext. 2400 or 2408

Financial Aid: ; 806-894-9611, ext. 3800

Counseling: Levelland, 806-894-9611, ext. 2366

Reese/ATC, extension 806-885-3048, ext. 4606

Plainview, 806-296-9611, ext. 4302

Testing: Levelland, 806-894-9611, ext. 2530

Reese/ATC/Plainview, 806-885-3048, ext. 4689

Bookstore: Levelland, 806-894-9611, ext. 2399

Reese/ATC/Plainview, 806-747-0576, Ext.4610

If I may be of assistance to you, please let me know. Good luck!

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