| UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING
QUESTIONS
What is advising?
Advising includes reviewing
academic progress, planning semester schedules, exploring
degree options, and clarifying goals.
I’m a new student. How do I sign up for classes?
You must meet with your advisor.
Freshmen see their advisor during summer orientations for
the upcoming fall, during the fall for the following spring,
and in the spring for the following fall. Students are then
transferred to their faculty advisors for future advising.
Who is my advisor?
You can find out who your
advisor is by logging into EdWeb,
and on the left menu clicking into “Unofficial Transcript”
and looking at the top OR by going into “Biographical
Info” and looking 2/3 down on the left of that page.
Can I see my advisor on the same day I call?
We do not schedule same day
appointment in APSS. There will be occasions that we offer
walk-in hours during peak times (i.e., first week of classes).
Will you be my advisor the whole time I am at St.
Edward's University?
Students starting their college
career here at St. Edward’s work with an APSS advisor
until they complete their freshman year. They will subsequently
be advised by a faculty member of their school so that they
can be mentored in their chosen field. Transfer students
have an initial registration meeting with an APSS counselor
and then are quickly moved to a faculty advisor to utilize
their expertise in the major.
When should I get advised?
Advising typically begins
two weeks after the course schedule is posted on the website.
Most students choose to be advised before their registration
time so that they have more choices available to them for
classes and meeting times. You can check your registration
time by looking at your “Registration Hours”
on the “Biographical” site of your EdWeb
account.
What should I do to prepare for my advising appointments?
You will benefit from utilizing
the Advising
Preparation Worksheet. It allows you to think through
certain variables that might contribute to certain course
selections, etc., and to come as prepared as possible for
advising.
Can I switch advisors?
If you wish to change advisors
while in APSS, contact the front desk staff at 448-8660.
If you wish to change faculty advisors, contact the administrative
staff in your school.
How many classes do I have to take if I major in
________?
Every degree at St. Edward’s
requires at least 120 hours. 57 of those are general education
hours, or 19 courses. The remaining hours will be those
required of your major and, if any space is left, elective
hours.
Where do I find a degree plan for ________?
The Bulletin lists all courses
required of your major. Consult the Undergraduate
Bulletin, Graduate
Bulletin, or New
College Bulletin depending on your program.
Why do I have to take all of those CULF classes?
St. Edward's prides itself
on its holistic liberal arts approach to its undergraduate
education. This includes a group of six Cultural Foundations
courses which cover: literature, understanding and appreciating
the arts, American history, current social problems, western
civilization, and current world issues.
I took a foreign language in high school. Do I
have to take it again here?
High school courses do not
grant college credit, unless taken as Dual Credit or Advanced
Placement with scores that result in a transcript suggesting
credit hours.
Why should I take the foreign language placement
exam for Spanish, French or German?
The test makes sure that
you are placed into the correct level of foreign language,
preventing you from enrolling in a course that is either
too easy or too difficult. Additionally, you may be exempt
from some or all of the foreign language requirement by
taking the test, freeing up credit hours for you to use
elsewhere in your degree plan, such as elective hours or
major exploration courses.
Why should I take the CLEP test?
The CLEP exam gives undergraduate
college credit for a variety of subjects, some of which
may fulfill General
Education and/or major requirements. For a list of the scores required to earn credit visit our CLEP site.
Can I test out of a class?
The foreign language placement
and CLEP exams are the most common ones taken to ‘test
out’ of a class. Students may also request a Challenge
Exam in a topic they feel they are very well versed. Follow
instructions listed in the bulletin under the “Credit
by Examination” section of the Undergraduate
Bulletin.
Can I take classes at home over the summer?
Yes. You must get permission
from your advisor who will then complete a “Request
to Take Courses Off Campus” form for the Registrar. This insures that
the course in which you wish to enroll will transfer in
as a St. Edward’s equivalent.
How does transfer credit affect my SEU GPA?
Any transfer credit (another
school, AP, or CLEP) does not affect your St. Edward’s
GPA. Only the credit hours transfer in, although you must
earn a “C” or higher on graded courses.
What classes can I take at home during the summer?
Students often elect to take
one or two General
Education equivalency courses or courses in which they’ve
struggled, such as math or a foreign language allowing them to focus on these topics
specifically without the distractions of the regular full
semesters.
What are the last dates to add/drop a class?
The Bulletin and Registrar’s
website list important dates on the Academic
Calendar. Typically, you have until the end of the first
week of class to add a class, the 12th class day to drop
unrecorded, and one month before the last class day to drop
with a “W”.
How do I change my major?
You must contact your advisor
in APSS or your faculty advisor and/or secretary of the
school to change your major, minor, or certification.
How do I figure out my major if I have no idea what to declare?
Students who have not declared
a major when admitted are placed into the Academic
Exploration Program. Here, you will work with your APSS
counselor and Career
Planning to explore your interests, abilities, and skills
for possible matches with majors and minors. By the end
of your first year, if you are still unsure, you will be
moved to one of the five schools (Behavioral and Social
Sciences; Business; Education, Humanities, Natural Sciences)
for advising to work with an advisor who specializes in
working with undecided students in that area.
How do I drop a class?
First talk to your APSS counselor
about why you want to drop the class. There may be things
you can do to help salvage the class and/or improve your
relationship with the instructor. If you have exhausted
all possibilities for staying in the course, you may drop
by logging into EdWeb
and going into “Course Selection”.
How do I take the Spanish, French, or German placement test?
Placement tests for all languages are taken on-line,
administered during CLEP exams on Friday afternoons. Please check the schedule here.
Note that dates reading "Session
Full" applies to the CLEP exam, not the free placement exam. However, because
language placement tests will be given on a first-come first-serve basis with only
5 seats per session, please arrive early. Individual administrations are also possible
through the counseling and consultation center.
What score do I need to make to place out/be exempt from the St. Edward's foreign language requirement?
A score of at least 231 fulfills the general education language requirement. Your score will need to be higher if your major requires language courses beyond the general education requirement.
How can I talk to an advisor?
Call APSS at 448-8660 and
they will connect you to your advisor. You can also email
your advisor.
I didn’t know I had to be cleared by my advisor
before I registered for classes.
Once matriculated, all undergraduate
students must meet with their advisor before registering.
This gives you an opportunity to ask questions, express
concerns, get information about your degree, and make tentative
plans for your next semester. After your advisor clears you, it is then up to you to log
into EdWeb
and register.
How do I get a degree audit?
You may view a degree audit
online by logging into EdWeb
. However, this program does not always catch all of your
coursework (especially if done elsewhere), so do not take
it as a final audit. By meeting with your faculty advisor
and/or Dean, you can request a formal degree audit if you
wish to have one done before 90 hours when all schools complete
an audit.
Who should I meet with first when coming to SEU?
As a new freshman, you will
meet with your APSS counselor during
the summer for advising and registration. Once the semester
begins, he or she will contact you to check in and see how
your classes are going and offer any support needed at that
time. You can discuss any offices you need to visit or individuals
with which you need to meet. |
