Advising encourages you to meet with your academic advisor on a regular basis. All students can see who their assigned advisor is by logging into Self-Service and looking under the Advisor section on the left side of the Academic Progress tab.
Advising is relevant to students in all stages of their academic career but is required for first year and sophomore students and first year transfer students.
First-year and Sophomore Students
First-year students are assigned an academic advisor who is connected to their Research Studio I course and integrated into the classroom experience during their first semester at SAIC. Students are required to meet with their advisor each semester before registering for classes through the end of their sophomore year. These appointments are called pre-registration, or “pre-reg,” and help prepare students to register for the upcoming semester. See Make and Prepare for Your Appointment for more information.
Juniors and Seniors
While SAIC does not require juniors and seniors to meet with academic advising, we recommend that you continue meeting with an advisor to make sure you are on track to complete your degree. It is recommended that juniors and seniors meet with an advisor once a semester. See Make and Prepare for Your Appointment for more information.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are assigned a faculty advisor they must meet with during their first two semesters at SAIC. Faculty Advisors are practicing artists, designers, writers, and scholars and provide mentorship and guidance through the lens of their active practice. After you complete your required advising, we recommend transfer students continue meeting with an advisor once per semester. See Make and Prepare for Your Appointment for more information.
Advising is also required for students:
- Who have academic holds (e.g., probation or suspension)
- Who are either taking a leave of absence or who are returning from a leave of absence or suspension
Graduate, certificate, and post-baccalaureate students
Graduate, certificate, and post-baccalaureate students receive academic advising directly through their department.