Learn About A&S Academic Advising

Your Academic Advisor is Here to Assist Throughout your Journey

Academic advising is here to help you make the most of your time at CU 糖心传媒. Academic advisors take the time to get to know you, help you explore your options, and support you as you shape your academic goals. We鈥檒l connect you to resources and opportunities and support you in making informed choices that help you unlock the full potential of your degree.

Learn About A&S Academic Advising


Academic advisors help you explore majors, plan your degree, and connect your goals to opportunities.

What is Academic Advising?

Ways to Meet with A&S Academic Advising


Not sure if you need help with a quick question or a full meeting? Start here to learn about meeting types and how they work.

How Can I Meet with Academic Advising?

Prepare for Your A&S Academic Advising Meeting


Get ready to make the most of your time with your academic advisor. Check out our helpful checklists and questions.

How Should I Prepare for My Meeting?

What is Academic Advising?

Academic advising is a partnership between you and your academic advisor, designed to help you get the most out of your time at CU 糖心传媒. Your academic advisor supports you in making informed decisions about your classes, areas of study, and campus/college opportunities -- helping you connect your academic plans to your personal and professional goals.

Academic advising goes beyond class selection --
it鈥檚 a resource to help you build a personalized plan that reflects听who you are and where you want to go.

Why Meet with an Academic Advisor?

Your academic advisor is a partner in your college journey 鈥 someone who can help you feel connected, supported, and confident as you navigate your time at CU. Every student is assigned an academic advisor, who is here to support their success. Academic advisors listen, guide, and help you make the most of your experience, whether you have a quick question or are figuring out your long-term goals. Your academic advisor can help you:

  • Guide your way through academic goals and decisions, campus resources, and opportunities at CU by building a supportive relationship with you.
  • Reflect on what you want from your college experience and explore where you're headed after graduation.
  • Talk through possibilities to assist you in making confident decisions about your future.
  • Understand your degree requirements and create a plan to stay on track for graduation.
  • Navigate challenges, whether academic or personal, by connecting you with a range of campus opportunities and support services.
  • Connect with resources that support your academic, career, financial, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
  • Explore majors, minors, certificates, electives, general educational requirements, and additional fields of study.
  • Discover opportunities like research, internships, and study abroad.
  • Learn strategies and tools to connect your interests with academic and career goals.
  • Use tools like degree audits, class search, and class scheduling to build and optimize your academic plan.
  • Get guidance on navigating academic policies and procedures.
  • Create a plan to make the most of your time at CU!

Academic Advising is a Partnership

What Academic Advisors Do

Your academic advisor is here to:

  • Provide degree guidance and help you plan your graduation timeline
  • Help you explore options and think through decisions
  • Answer questions and share important information
  • Connect you to opportunities and campus resources

What You Do

Academic advising works best when you take an active role. You are responsible for:

  • Making final decisions about your academic path
  • Coming prepared and staying engaged
  • Taking ownership of your academic journey
  • Staying 鈥渋n the loop鈥 by reading emails from your academic advisor and the academic advising office

Stay in the Loop

We Can't Wait to Meet You!

A&S Academic Advising Across Your College Experience

We're here to help you explore, grow, and reach your goals -- one step at a time. Connect with your academic advisor early and stay connected over time.

We Encourage Your First Meeting to Be In-Person

  • During your first year at CU, we encourage you to schedule an in-person appointment with your A&S academic advisor within your first semester! This first meeting is a great opportunity to learn where academic advising offices are located and begin establishing familiarity with campus resources.
  • If you can't meet in-person for your first semester appointment, look for a virtual appointment option. You are also welcome to book an in-person appointment and then email your academic advisor to convert the booked in-person appointment to virtual.
  • We'd love to meet you in-person at least once in your first year, but we ultimately want to support you in whatever modality (in-person/virtual) works best for you!

How Often Should I Meet With My A&S Academic Advisor?

We recommend that you meet with your academic advisor each semester (fall & spring) for your first 2 years and then at least once a year in your junior and senior years.听

Students are required to meet with an Arts & Sciences academic advisor at least once in their first and second year. First-year and second-year students who have not done so will receive a registration hold in the spring semester. This hold will prevent them from registering for fall semester classes until they schedule and attend an appointment with their A&S academic advisor.

FIRST YEAR鈥

SECOND YEAR鈥

JUNIOR YEAR鈥

SENIOR YEAR鈥

How Often Should You Meet?

Once each semester

Once each semester

At least once听each year

At least once听each year

Note: These are recommendations, but we are happy to provide whatever support works best for you!

Types of A&S Academic Advisors and the Assignment Process

All students in the College of Arts & Sciences have a Primary Academic Advisor, which is based upon the student鈥檚 first declared major. Your Primary Academic Advisor will be your main point of contact for academic advising. If you have more than one academic advisor, this is the advisor who is more likely to be the one to email you.听

  • Open Option & Transition Specialist: All incoming Open Option students are assigned an Open Option & Transitional Specialist as their Primary Academic Advisor to provide dedicated exploration support for those who are deciding on their primary major.听听

Students in Arts & Sciences who have an additional major and/or minor will be assigned an academic advisor for each curricular area(s). In addition to their primary A&S academic advisor, these students will have access to their additional academic advisor(s) for their additional major(s) and/or minor(s) as needed. Students with more than one academic advisor are welcome to meet with whichever academic advisor best aligns with the major/minor they have the most questions/interest in.听听

What to Expect from Your Academic Advisor

Your academic advisor is here to support your success -- academically, personally, and professionally. Here鈥檚 what you can count on from us:

  • Accessible Support: We offer in-person and virtual appointments, along with regular drop-in or same-day micro-appointment support. If you schedule an in-person appointment and need to switch to virtual, send your academic advisor an email!
  • Clear Guidance & Planning: We help you understand degree requirements, plan your class schedule, and map out a realistic path and timeline for graduation.
  • Opportunities & Resources: We provide connections to research, internships, study abroad, honors, and campus resources.
  • Answers & Information: Have questions? We provide accurate information, policy guidance, and timely updates.
  • Decision-Making Support: We help you explore academic and career options and make informed decisions.
  • Whole-Person Advising: We care about more than just your class schedule. We provide support for your goals, strengths, and overall academic, personal, and career development.
  • Campus Connections: We support beyond academic advising, we鈥檒l connect you to services like Career Services, Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS), Financial Aid, Pre-Health Advising, Student Organizations, and more.
  • Timely Communication: We aim to respond to emails within 2鈥3 business days (sometimes longer during peak times, such as registration periods).

What Students Say听About A&S Academic Advising

鈥淸My advisor]听was very friendly and supportive! Knew lots of great resources and made sure I understood all of the options I have!鈥

- Reagan M., Art Practices Major

鈥淚t was great! [My advisor]听is super understanding and helpful! I was worried about messing up my timeline and being behind but she was able to calm me down and make me feel like I wasn鈥檛 ruining things. I鈥檓 glad I talked to her because I feel much better now and I have an understanding of what my options are.鈥

- Anjali M., Neuroscience Major