Beyond registration, advisors are available as resources throughout the year to offer curricular or non-curricular guidance. To benefit from advisors’ ability to support students with sound, helpful counsel in the critical first two years of college, first-year students and sophomores should contact their advisors with questions about their academic plans or progress or for referral to other campus resources. Individualized success plans may be put in place to encourage students on academic probation to avail themselves of advising and academic success services.
First-year Students and Sophomores: Upon entering college, each new student is assigned a general education advisor. This relationship continues until the student declares a major, which typically occurs during the student’s second year of enrollment. Before students register for classes, they plan their class schedule and academic program with the assistance of their advisors. After the student and advisor confer, the advisor will release the advising hold, allowing the student to register.
Juniors and Seniors: By March 1 of the sophomore year, students are expected to specify the academic program in which they intend to major. They do this by completing the major declaration form which is available in myWofford. As part of the declaration process, the student will meet with the department chair or program coordinator of their intended major. A faculty member within the department will be assigned as the student’s advisor for the junior and senior years. During that time, students should consult their advisors on all matters concerning their academic progress and plans: majors, graduate school, professional preparation and related work. Major advisors can also refer students to resources important to their academic progress and plans. As are first- and second-year students, juniors and seniors are required to meet with their advisors to review their class schedule and secure the release of their advising hold prior to registration.
Transfer Students: Students who transfer to Wofford from another institution will initially be assigned an advisor from the Office of Academic Advising. That office will advise the students about appropriate coursework and register the students for their first semester. The students will register for subsequent semesters after meeting with their advisor to review their plans and release their advising hold. After the student formally declares a major, a faculty advisor in that major department will advise the student for the remainder of their academic career at Wofford.
Prior to registration each semester, students are assigned a registration time and an advising hold. The registration time, or time-ticket, is the assigned day and time when the registration system will open for the student. The advising hold can only be removed by the general education or major advisor. Advising holds are removed by the student’s advisor after the student and advisor meet to discuss courses for the following semester and any other aspects associated with the major, degree requirements or next steps. The registration time ticket, advising hold (or any other hold), any overrides that have been granted can be viewed through myWofford, by selecting Student, Registration and Prepare for Registration.
Students should make an appointment with their advisor once the class schedule is available through myWofford. The schedule can be viewed multiple ways – the interactive schedule, the PDF and in BannerWeb through the Registration link. For registration in Spring courses, the class schedule is available in October. For registration in Fall semester courses, the class schedule is available in March. Students should come to the advising meeting with a schedule of the courses they plan to registration for.
The Office of Academic Advising manages the advisement of students interested in pursuing additional studies after graduation in areas such as professional schools in medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, ministry, engineering, law and education. Advisors and students collaborate to outline plans of study that not only complete the college’s degree requirements but contribute to the professional schools and programs of their choosing.