Academic Advising Overview

All students within Letters and Sciences are assigned to academic advisors who monitor their progress, help them prepare for the future and serve as a campus resource. All students have mandatory advising required before they will be cleared to register for the upcoming semester. Students are required to meet between 1 to 3 times depending on their class standing and status. Students should have their first meeting early in the semester and schedule their additional meetings well in advance of their registration date for the following semester.

The number of required advising appointments are:

  • First Semester at UMD: 2 advising meetings required
  • Under 30 Credits Students: 2 advising meetings per semester
  • Between 30 - 60 Credits: 1 advising meeting per semester
  • Students on Probation/Dismissal: 3 advising meetings per semester

Overview of Appointments

The First Advising Appointment –»

1. New students are sent an email by the third or fourth week of the semester with the name of their assigned academic advisor. Returning students continue to work with their advisor from the previous semester.

  • Once students know their assigned advisor they should schedule their first appointment within the first month of classes. Current LTSC students can schedule an appointment online here.

2. The first advising appointment should occur within the 1st month of the semester (Fall: mid-September through early-October / Spring: mid-February through early-March).

3. The following topics are covered during the first advising appointment:

  • Academic Major Options
  • Campus Resources
  • Four Semester Plan (if applicable)
  • Exploration Activity Option (if applicable)
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Individual student concerns
  • Possible courses for the next semester

Students that arrive late (more than 9 minutes) for an appointment will be asked to reschedule.
The Second Advising Appointment –»

1. Students should set up their second advising appointment at the conclusion of their first appointment.

  • Failure to complete all advising appointments results in not being able to register on their assigned date and time for the upcoming semester.

2. The second advising appointment should occur before the student’s assigned registration date (Fall: November through early-December / Spring: April through early-May).

3. The following topics are covered during the first advising appointment:

  • Registration blocks that will delay their ability to register on time
  • Mid-semester grades
  • Proposed schedule for the following semester
  • Follow up on issues discussed during the first appointment
  • Four Semester Plan (if applicable)
  • Exploration Activity (if applicable)

4. At the conclusion of the second appointment, the student’s mandatory advising block will be removed.

Students that arrive late (more than 9 minutes) for an appointment will be asked to reschedule.
Four Semester Plan –»

All LTSC students are required to complete and have a Four Semester Plan approved before their advising block will be lifted each semester. Every degree granting major has a Four Year Academic Plan that students can use as a guide to complete the Four Semester Plan.

Note: Students should not wait until last minute to submit a plan for approval. Once submitted advisors may need several days to review and once reviewed, additional changes may be needed.

LTSC is not a degree granting major and all students are required to declare a major in a degree granting program by the completion of their 60th credit.

Exploration Activity –»

Each semester LTSC students will be required to explore possible majors or learn more about a particular career they have in mind. These exploration activities may range from taking an introductory major course, attending an information workshop, taking UNIV100, meeting with a department advisor, shadowing a professional in a particular field, or meeting with a career advisor in the Career Center. Students will work with their advisor to determine which type of exploration activity will be appropriate for their situation. If the assigned Exploration Activity is not completed, the student's advising block may not be lifted.

Special Populations –»
  • Non-Degree Seeking Students: Are not assigned to an academic advisor and must use drop-in advising. Drop-in hours are posted on the office calendar. Non-Degree Seeking students must meet with an advisor at least once before they will be cleared to register for courses.
  • Student Athletes: NCAA certified student athletes who have not declared a major are required to meet with an advisor in the Academic Support & Career Development Unit (ASCDU) to obtain permission to register for classes or adjust their schedules before meeting with a LTSC advisor.