UC Davis offers many different types of academic advising to help you get the most from your education. College advisers can assist you in meeting degree requirements and taking maximum advantage of the resources available in the university. A conference at least once a quarter with your faculty or staff adviser is especially desirable during your first year and during your final quarters preceding graduation.
Information:
Office of the Dean
228 Mrak Hall
530-752-0108; www.aes.ucdavis.edu
In the Dean's Office you will find
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs
Information:
Annie King, Associate Dean
228 Mrak Hall
530-752-0108
The College has an associate dean of undergraduate academic programs and advising staff who welcome the opportunity to become acquainted and to talk informally with individual students. They can also help you with academic problems if you are placed on probation or subject to dismissal.
Academic Advising Center. Coordination of the College's Advising Center and the Summer Advising Program is available in the College's Academic Advising Center, 213 Mrak Hall. The Academic Advising Center advises students in the Exploratory Program and the Individual Major.
Faculty Advisers/Staff Advisers. You will be assigned a faculty adviser to help you plan a program that corresponds to your individual educational interests. The Master Advisers coordinate advising within a major. Staff advisers in the department can advise you on courses, specific requirements of majors and career opportunities. You are strongly urged to consult with your faculty adviser or staff adviser each quarter before selecting your courses.
As educational objectives evolve, you may, in consultation with the Master Adviser for your major, choose a new faculty adviser whose area of expertise corresponds more directly to your specific objectives.
Exploratory Program (non-degree program)
Information:
College Academic Advising Center
228 Mrak Hall
530-752-0610
Are you unsure what major you really want to pursue? If so, you may want to register in the Exploratory Program. With the help of staff in the college's Academic Advising Center and the major advisers, you can explore specialized options, develop your decision-making abilities and ultimately select the major best suited to your needs. For registration purposes, indicate "Exploratory" on your admissions materials. You must declare a major before you complete 120 units (see Declaration of Major in the "Academic Information" chapter).
The associate dean and staff in the Dean's Office offer complete academic advising services for the Biological Sciences major and general advising information about other divisional majors. The office also advises on college and university requirements, policies, and procedures, including PELP, withdrawal, change of major and late actions.
This office is also responsible for the academic progress of all students majoring in the division. If you have any problems (personal, medical, financial) that are affecting your academic performance, or if you are on academic probation, make an appointment to see one of the advisers in the Dean's Office.
Sections and Advising Centers. Students entering or intending to declare sectional majors in biochemistry; cell biology; evolution and ecology; genetics; microbiology; neurobiology, physiology and behavior; or plant biology should contact the specific section office for academic advising services, where both faculty and staff advisers are available. Students selecting the biological sciences major should contact the Dean's Office for academic advising services.
Peer Advisers. Peer advisers are available in each section. Biological Sciences houses its peer advisers in the Dean's Office.
Information:
Undergraduate Office
1050 Engineering II
530-752-0557
Information and assistance on academic, career and personal matters is available in the Undergraduate Office, either through direct assistance from one of the staff advisers or through referral to other offices on campus. The Undergraduate Office handles student petitions, transfer evaluation, articulation and degree certifications.
Advising. As soon as you arrive on campus, you should consult with your departmental staff adviser, whose name and office hours you can obtain at the department office. The departmental staff adviser is aware of the requirements for your major and can assist you with planning your program.
Mandatory Advising. The College has implemented a mandatory advising system through RSVP, the telephone registration system. You are required to meet with your adviser once a year, during a specific quarter, which is determined by the number of units you have completed. When you telephone to enroll in classes for your advising quarter, you will be told that you have an advising hold on your registration. You may enroll in classes for and during this quarter. If you meet with your adviser during this quarter, there will be no difficulties with subsequent registration. If, however, you fail to meet with your adviser during your assigned quarter, you will be dropped from all your classes on the first day of the following quarter. Therefore, you have approximately four months to clear an advising hold. For more information on mandatory advising, call the Advising Office at 752-0557.
Peer Advisers. A well-developed peer advising system complements faculty and staff advising. Student advisers are available at Bainer Hall, Engineering II, and other locations.
Information:
Office of the Deans/Undergraduate Education and Advising Office
200 Social Sciences and Humanities Building
530-752-0392
The deans and staff in the Undergraduate Education and Advising Office can help you with issues relating to your academic goals and experiences. You can consult the Advising Office on matters such as program planning, selection of a major, exceptions to regulations and academic enrichment opportunities. The office also provides a number of additional services:
Faculty Advisers. New students are assigned to a faculty adviser during their first term of enrollment. If you indicated an interest in a particular program on your application, your adviser will be a faculty member associated with that major. If you change your major, you will be reassigned.
New students are encouraged to see their faculty adviser at least once every quarter during their first year on campus to discuss their educational goals, course program and progress.
Continuing students who have completed three quarters in residence in the College should consult with an adviser at certain important checkpoint stages in their academic careers (explained below). You are urged, however, to maintain regular contact with an adviser in your major to avoid program errors that may delay graduation. Seniors should maintain close contact with their advisers to ensure that they are meeting the major requirements.
Academic Options Program. If you did not indicate an initial commitment to a particular major program on your application, you will participate in the Academic Options Program, which provides academic advising to lower division students. You will be assisted by an advising team available at sites in each of the university residence hall complexes. Students living off campus should contact the Letters and Science Undergraduate Education and Advising Office early in the quarter to receive their adviser assignments.
Advising Checkpoints. You should consult with your faculty adviser at two, possibly three, critical stages in your academic career:
If you have not met with your faculty adviser before these established checkpoints, a hold may be placed on your registration as a reminder.
Peer Advisers. Student-to-student advising is an important part of the university advising services. The College of Letters and Science dean's office peer advisers are available in the Undergraduate Education and Advising Office, 200 Social Sciences and Humanities Building, and on a weekly basis in the campus residence halls to talk with students about their academic concerns.
UC Davis 1998-99 Online General Catalog. Posted July 31, 1998.
catalog-comment@ucdavis.edu
Keitha Hunter and Barbara Anderson, Editors
We welcome your comments.