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Student Advising
At CLTCC, we are committed to helping you navigate your educational journey with confidence and clarity. From your first semester through graduation, you’ll have access to the support, guidance, and insight needed to make informed decisions and reach your goals. Whether you're exploring majors, planning your course schedule, or preparing for the next step in your career, this guide will connect you with the tools and resources to help you succeed every step of the way.
How often should I meet with my Advisor?
RECOMMENDED FREQUENCY:
- At minimum, meet with your advisor once per semester before registration
- Consider additional meetings when facing academic challenges
- Schedule appointments for career guidance or program adjustments
- Touch base briefly after midterms if you're having difficulties in any courses
- SUGGESTION: Consider a check-in near graduation to ensure all requirements will be met
How do I effectively contact my program advisor?
COMMUNICATION BEST PRACTICES:
- Email your advisor using your student email account (preferred method)
- Check your course syllabus for designated "office hours" - time specifically set aside for tutoring, mentoring, and advising students
- Use Canvas messaging for course-specific questions
- Phone calls may be appropriate for urgent matters
- Always include your student ID number in communications
- Allow 24-48 hours for a response before following up
PLEASE NOTE:
- Different instructors may prefer different communication methods
- Some advisors may use appointment scheduling software - Book time to meet with me
- Always check your syllabus first for your instructor's preferred contact method
How to Prepare for an Effective Advising Session
BEFORE YOUR MEETING:
- Review your Degree Works audit and note any questions
- Prepare a list of specific questions or concerns
- Think about your short and long-term academic goals
- Be ready to discuss your current academic performance honestly
- Research potential courses for upcoming semesters
DURING YOUR MEETING:
- Take notes on important information and recommendations
- Ask for clarification on anything you don't understand
- Be open about challenges you're facing
- Discuss any changes in your academic or career goals
- Confirm next steps and any follow-up actions
How to Best Utilize Your Advisor
PROGRAM EXPERTISE:
- Your program advisor has specific knowledge and information unique to your program of study
- Utilize their expertise by asking targeted questions about your field
- They can provide insights that general advisors cannot offer
PRODUCTIVE ADVISING SESSIONS:
- Check in on your current semester progress
- Discuss course selection for upcoming semesters
- Ask specific questions about program requirements and course sequencing
- Share academic challenges and ask about appropriate support resources
- Set a concrete goal date for graduation and create a plan to achieve it
- Discuss your career goals and inquire about internships, job opportunities, and industry connections
What are my responsibilities as a student?
- Know your program requirements and keep track of your progress
- Register for classes during the designated registration periods
- Meet with your advisor each semester before registration
- Check your student email regularly for important communications
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
How do I prepare for advising meetings?
- Review your Degree Works audit before your appointment
- Prepare a list of potential courses for the upcoming semester
- Formulate specific questions about your academic progress
- Be ready to discuss any academic challenges you're facing
What happens if I don't meet with my advisor?
- Advisor hold will remain on your account
- You may miss important information about program changes
- You could take unnecessary courses that don't count toward your degree
- Your graduation timeline could be extended unnecessarily
Degree Audit Tool: Degree Works
Degree Works is a web-based tool that helps students and advisors track academic progress and understand degree requirements. It provides an unofficial degree audit outlining institutional, general education, major, and concentration (if applicable) requirements for a student’s current program of study.
What is Degree Works?
- Degree Works is an online tool that tracks your progress toward degree completion
- It shows which requirements you've completed and which are still outstanding
- The system helps you plan future semesters based on remaining requirements
How do I access my Degree Works?
- Students and their advisors have access to the student's degree audit via LoLA (CLTCC online student portal).
- The link for Degree Works is found under the Academic Profile tab.
How do I read my Degree Audit in Degree Works?
- The audit is divided into sections representing degree requirements
- Completed requirements are marked with a checkmark (✓)
- Incomplete requirements show as "Still Needed" or "In Progress"
- Your overall completion percentage is displayed at the top
What is the "What If" feature in Degree Works?
- This feature allows you to see how your completed courses would apply to a different program
- Useful when considering changing your major or adding a minor
- Results are hypothetical and do not constitute an official change to your program
How accurate is Degree Works?
- Degree Works is generally very accurate but should be used as a guide
- Always verify important degree information with your advisor
- Report any discrepancies to your advisor promptly
How often is Degree Works updated?
- Grade updates appear after the end of each semester
- Registration changes typically appear within 24-48 hours
- Transfer credits may take longer to appear after evaluation
Advising and Registration
When does registration open for each semester?
- Fall semester registration typically opens in April
- Spring semester registration typically opens in November
- Summer session registration typically opens in March
- Exact dates are posted on the Academic Calendar
What are the key dates I need to remember each semester?
- Academic advising period (2-3 weeks before registration)
- Registration opening date
- Payment deadline
- First day of classes
- Add/drop period (typically first week of classes)
- Withdrawal deadline (typically mid-semester)
- Final exam schedule
- Your program instructor becomes your academic advisor after your first semester
- They are experts in your field of study and can provide specialized guidance
- Advisor holds are placed on all student accounts to alert you that it's time to meet with your advisor
- These holds protect you from registering for the wrong classes
- Due to our curriculum and semester requirements, we want to ensure you register for the correct classes
- Meeting with your advisor helps you stay on track with your academic plan
Advising Comes First—Then Registration
- Advising is an essential first step in your enrollment process. Advisors help ensure you’re selecting the right courses for your academic goals.
- Once advising is complete, your advisor hold will be lifted, and you’ll be able to register for classes.
- Skipping advising may delay your graduation by causing you to take unnecessary or incorrect courses—so don’t skip this important step!