ADVISING SERVICES

ACADEMIC ADVISING AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY

Academic advising is a service provided by various faculty and staff throughout the university. The goal of advising is threefold:

Getting advising on a regular basis is strongly associated with academic success. Therefore, all students are expected to make use of available advising services. Advising services are located either in the academic departments, the Advising Center, or in additional advising and retention support programs.

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS (MAJOR, MINOR, AND GRADUATE ADVISING)

Major, minor, and graduate advising is done by faculty members in each department. It is the student's responsibility to seek out a faculty member to serve as an adviser. Some departments assign advisers; others have students choose from a list. Contact the department to get an adviser.

ADVISING CENTER

The Advising Center (ADM 212, x2101, e-mail: advising@sfsu.edu) is a university service staffed by professional and peer advisers committed to providing guidance and information to help undergraduate students enjoy a successful college experience. More information regarding advising programs is available on the website http://www.sfsu.edu. Along with general service to students, the Advising Center has the following programs:

Undeclared Majors. Academic advisers in the Advising Center help students make informed and satisfying decisions about academic goals that are best suited to their interests and needs. Workshops, resource materials, and appointments are available.

Ongoing Advising Center Workshops. The Advising Center offers workshops to inform students about the following requirements, programs, and procedures:

New Student Programs. Orientation programs for new students explain academic requirements at SFSU and orient new students to university life. Orientations are scheduled during the summer and winter prior to each semester. Academic Advising Days are scheduled each December and May to give incoming and prospective students an opportunity to learn about the university and to talk to faculty advisers. Information materials regarding Orientation and Advising Day are sent to all applicants.

Orientation/Peer Advising. Students interested in becoming orientation leaders and peer advisers should contact the Advising Center.

Reentry and Readmit Students. Coming to college for the first time or returning to college after a long absence can be a difficult undertaking. Through workshops, the Advising Center provides advising, information, and referrals to on-campus resources to help make this transition smooth and successful. The Advising Center holds periodic workshops for prospective reentry undergraduate students and oversees the Reentry Admissions Program, an alternative admission program available to students who meet certain criteria and who are not otherwise admissible to the university as undergraduates.

Students who attended SFSU in the past (Readmit Students) may make an appointment in the Advising Center to discuss the possibility of readmission.

Special Majors. Students who have unique interests and needs which cannot be met by one of the regularly offered undergraduate programs may visit the Advising Center to investigate the possibility of developing a special major. For additional information about the B.A. Special Major, consult the Index for page reference.

ADDITIONAL ADVISING AND RETENTION PROGRAMS

San Francisco State University offers other advising services and support programs to assist students. Consult the Index for page reference for each of the following programs.