You Should Call Your Advisor When...
As an online student at the University of 麻豆果冻传媒 at Lafayette, you have a support team to help navigate your academic degree program as well as University processes.
One of your star players will be your academic advisor.
Why should I call my advisor?
Advisors are available during advising periods as well as throughout each semester in order to:
- Explain the curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, and procedures.
- Guide online students as they develop their academic goals.
- Connect online students with resources and services available.
To understand your curriculum, set goals
One of an advisor鈥檚 key duties is to help students understand their curriculum.
Sharon Williams-Gregory, advisor for General Studies online, says this is one of the first things she discusses with students once they鈥檝e been admitted.
鈥淚鈥檓 the connection for students to the University, especially for those not in this area,鈥 she says. 鈥淥nce I鈥檝e done their advising with them, students understand our curriculum.鈥
A key component in understanding the curriculum and the time it will take to earn a degree is understanding what transfer credits can be applied.
Health Promotion and Wellness advisor Elizabeth LaPointe says in order to plot the most efficient path to their degree, one of the first things she does is work with students鈥 existing college credit.
She works with various departments to ensure certain courses can be applied.
鈥淲ith transfer and reentry students, there are a lot of classes they took previously that we鈥檙e trying to have count so that they don鈥檛 have to repeat classes,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 try to make very clear to them which classes we鈥檙e substituting and that as much as possible from what they鈥檝e taken previously counts toward our degree.鈥
LaPointe says in many cases, students have attended multiple institutions before enrolling at 麻豆果冻传媒 Lafayette. She says she wants to see them cross the stage as a Ragin鈥 Cajun.
鈥淚 want this to be the place they complete their degree,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want them to feel like they only receive a little coursework here and then go on to the next institution.鈥
LaPointe says through advising, students gain a clear path to their degree.
鈥淭hey are not figuring out anything alone,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 hope the steps to be advised, enroll, and maintain their academic career is very clear. I try to lay it out as clearly as possible so they see their path to graduation.鈥
To stay on track
Part of your planning and preparation as a student should be to expect the unexpected. A class might fill up before you鈥檝e had a chance to register; you spot an interesting course but are unsure how it fits into your curriculum; you鈥檙e overwhelmed with your coursework and need support.
Your advisor is available to help you explore your resources and options.
鈥淭here aren鈥檛 many things students don鈥檛 call me for even if it鈥檚, 鈥業鈥檓 having a meltdown, and I don鈥檛 know what to do,鈥欌 says Williams-Gregory. 鈥淲hen it comes to their academics, they reach out to me first and foremost.鈥
Williams-Gregory says if she doesn鈥檛 know an answer, say, about what will happen to a student鈥檚 financial aid is they drop a course, she鈥檒l help students find the right person.
鈥淚 will answer as much as I can,鈥 she says. 鈥淚f I don鈥檛 know, I鈥檒l find someone I can get the answer from.鈥
LaPointe says maintaining communication with your advisor throughout your academic career is important and expected.
Advisors can鈥檛 assist if they鈥檙e unaware of a problem.
鈥淚 always tell my advisees to copy me on any email, like if they鈥檙e having an issue enrolling in their math class, just keep me in the loop so I can assist with following up,鈥 LaPointe says.
鈥淛ust constantly communicate with your advisor so they can advocate on your behalf.鈥
Who鈥檚 my advisor?
Students are assigned their advisor once they鈥檙e admitted to the University.
Online students can find their advisor by logging onto and selecting 鈥淎cademics鈥 in the left-hand navigation. Advisors are listed at the bottom of the Academic Profile section. Note: Make sure to select a term to see the information.
Students can also find a directory of online advisors on the Online Program website.
Need additional help? Connect with an Enrollment Specialist by emailing online@louisiana.edu, or find resources through the Student Support tab on the Online Programs website.