Current Students

Advisors can assist you with matters beyond course selection and registration.

They help guide your social and academic experiences in ways that will give you the skills to succeed beyond college.

Check in with your advisor often during the semester and share your extra-curricular experiences as well as your academic ones.

  

Advising Center Walk-In Visits

Walk-In visits are for students who have very specific quick to answer questions.

Common Reasons for Walk-Ins are:

• changing minor or concentration
• course withdrawal
• general academic questions
• transfer issues

Advising Center Appointments

Schedule appointment through Navigate for topics requiring more than 5-10 minutes.

Reasons for Appointments include:

• academic standing
• major changes ( see below )
• registration advising
• Pre-Professional advising
• athletic advising

Finish in Four

The Finish in Four initiative is Western Carolina University's pledge to provide students with the resources and guidance necessary to successfully complete their undergraduate degree in four years. In Finish in Four, students will work with campus professionals to create a clear roadmap for success.

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Understanding WCU's Dual Advising Model & Registration

Prior to attending WCU, you were assigned an initial advisor based on the information you provided in our online pre-registration web application. This advisor is assigned to you based on credit hours. All students with 0-45 credit hours with majors within the Advising Center will be assigned to a professional advisor within the Advising Center. This professional advisor:

• is assigned based on your major selection and/or special program affiliation
• built your first class schedule
• met with you at Orientation to explain advising and registration processes
• will continue to give you the alt-PIN that you need to add or drop classes
  

Once you reach 46-60 credit hours, you will be assigned to an additional advisor from your major department (some education majors may be the exception). This faculty advisor will become your PRIMARY advisor, and the Advising Center advisor will become the SECONDARY advisor. Your faculty advisor:

• will meet with you each semester to plan your class schedule for the next term
• will review your degree audit with you and recommend upper level courses and internships relevant to your program
• will give you the alt-PIN you need to register for classes

At the time that you reach 61+ credit hours, the Advising Center advisor will drop off your student record and you will only be assigned to your faculty advisor.

If you did not declare a major and have Undeclared/Undecided status, the Advising Center professional advisor serves as your PRIMARY advisor.

You can change your major by meeting with the advisor who is liaison to the major you want to declare.

• Search major/advisor assignments on the Advising Center Staff page.
• Make a "Change Major/Minor" appointment with the appropriate advisor through Navigate.
• BE SURE TO INDICATE IN NAVIGATE WHICH MAJOR YOU WANT.

If you change or declare your major, both your faculty advisor and your professional advisor are likely to change.

• Professional advisors serve in a liaison role to specific major programs.
  • The appropriate professional advisor will be assigned to you based on your new major and credit hours (0-45).
• Your new major department will assign you a new faculty advisor based major and credit hours (45+).

Change your major well before Advising Day to avoid the possibility that you won't be able to get your Alt PIN until after your Registration Date.

• It can take up to a week or more to process a change of major and have a new faculty advisor assigned to you.
• REMEMBER - Only your PRIMARY advisor is authorized to give you an alt-PIN.