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Advising Resources for Students

The #1 Best Tip is to check (and read) your BearMail every day. Your advisor will send you information, invitations, and action items. Learn more about BearMail and the technology you need as a student.

The #2 Tip is to follow @unco_success on Instagram for tips, reminders, and *secrets* to college from the advisors and staff in Student Academic Success.

Types of Advising

UNC has several types of advising and success support based on your major and situation. You might even have more than one advisor!

  • Academic Advising (Majors, Programs, Minors, and Certificates)

    At this type of meeting, you will work with someone from your college to discuss your academic plan. You can find your assigned academic advisor in Degree Works.

    You should ask questions about which classes will apply to your major, minor, or program and what order to take these classes in. Often, students attend academic advising 1-2 times per semester as they prepare for registration or graduation.

    If you notice something weird in your Degree Works about a class, ask your Academic Advisor to help you.

    Graduate Students meet with academic advisors too! Your graduate program advisor will help with your academic plan and research goals.

    If you would like to add a Certificate (shorter and smaller than a full minor) to your degree, you will meet with the Certificate Advisors:

    • Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate Program – Aisha Gallion
    • Brewing Laboratory Science Certificate Program – Michael Mosher
    • Diagnostic Assessment and Skills Training Series – Please call the ASL & Interpreting Studies department, not all certificates may be offered 970-351-1075
      • Leadership and Supervision Certificate Program
      • Legal Interpreter Training Program
      • Educational Interpreting Certificate Program
    • Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate Program – Lisa Caldwell
    • Digital Marketing Certificate Program – Denny McCorkle
    • Human Resource Management Certificate Program – Milan Larson
    • Music Technology Certificate Program – Katie Runkel
    • Safety Science Certificate Program – Byron Straw
  • Probation Advising

    For Probation Advising, you meet with the probation support in your college (this might be your academic advisor or a success coach). 

    Your probation support will discuss academic policies, study skills, and other resources related to why your GPA is lower than a 2.0. You might also talk about some goals and how to address the challenges in your life.

    Students going through Academic Probation must meet with their support at least once to remove the registration hold. And students who meet with their probation support at least once per month tend to accomplish their goals sooner.

    Visit the Probation Portal or Email probation@unco.edu with policy questions, access to the Academic Success Workshop, and information on suspension or readmission appeals.

  • Success Coaching

    During a coaching session, your support will provide academic and life assistance. You might discuss milestones or goals you want to hit, how your major or minor fits into your end-game plans, and how a class is going right now.

    Most students meet with their mentor for success coaching regularly in the semester. And building a relationship with your success coach or advisor can help you down the road: this person might be a perfect reference or able to write a letter of recommendation if they get to know you throughout the year.

  • Special Program Advising

    UNC offers a lot of opportunities to connect with fellow Bears as part of special programs. You will know who and how often you need to meet with your program support during your orientation with those folks. 

    Here are a few programs that support your success and are part of our campus advising community:

Ready, Set Register for Next Semester

Your assigned advisor is trying to contact you! Check your BearMail every day and follow the instructions they send to schedule your registration support and advising sessions.

How to prepare for advising


Start with the steps for Ready, Set Register each semester. Take time to clear any Holds, look at Degree Works, write down questions, and identify a few classes to discuss with your advisor for your academic plan. If you are a new Bear, your first advising session will be at New Student Registration.

Every semester you need to:

  • Reflect on your personal and academic values, skills, interests, and goals
  • Schedule at least one appointment with your advisor and reach out when questions come up
  • Prepare for advising sessions by checking Degree Works, your past plans, and writing down your questions to ask
  • Complete any additional advising prep that your advisor sends you
  • Read about the rules and requirements for your next degree milestones (registration deadlinesacademic standing, graduation)
  • Check BearMail for updates from your professors, advisor, Bear Central, and other university announcements

What to expect at advising


You should expect a conversation with someone from your college (major and minor) to chat about your academic plans, classes you need to consider, and your education goals. Advising might occur over multiple meetings, in-person or virtually, and in an individual or group setting. 

Your advisor may want to discuss:

  • How your current classes are going
  • What courses you are interested in or nervous about taking
  • Which campus resources, like Tutorial Services, you have used
  • How your study habits or exam prep is going
  • If you have plans for graduate school or other professional programs
  • What GPA goals you have and how you can achieve them
  • What questions you have about registration for the next semester
  • How you are adjusting to campus

We want you to get the most out of your academic advising session and be Registration Ready each semester.

Find your college advising center


Some majors pair you with a faculty mentor/advisor. You can find your advisor's name and email in Ursa under your "Student Information" link. And when you feel lost, you can always start by contacting the advising center in your college.

Find a program mentor


Top Things Every Bear Should Know

As a student, you have a lot of information, policies, departments, and people to know: we have a list of the 12 things many Bears forget, don't realize, or haven't heard of before. 

Follow @unco_success on Instagram for tips, reminders, and event information straight to your feed. Bookmark our Linktree as a shortcut to the links you need about campus events.

Just a few more notes

Graduate Students

As a graduate student (earning a Masters or PhD), you may follow different deadlines and policies from our undergraduate Bears. Make sure you bookmark your Graduate School Policies and Deadlines page and review the Graduate Catalog. Graduate students are considered full-time with 9 credit hours (undergrads are at 12) and generally complete thesis or dissertation projects as part of the graduation requirements. Stay in touch with your advisor for both academic planning and research support.  Graduate students receive advising support from the graduate coordinator (Master's Students) or select a faculty member to serve as an advisor (Doctoral Students). 

And consider volunteering with the Graduate Student Association to enhance student life and your experience as a Grad Bear.

International Students & Scholars

As an international student studying at UNC, you will meet with your college's advisor for academic planning and our International Advisor through the Office of Global Engagement for support on cultural adjustment, immigration services, and more.  

If you are an exchange student, you will need to work with both your home school and Office of Global Engagement to ensure your courses align.

You will also visit  if you are interested in education abroad! We have exchange agreements with 15 partner schools, options for shorter programs, and other opportunities like service learning abroad. Talk to the Office of Global Engagement advisor and staff to find the program that works for your experience.

Student Athletes

As a student-athlete competing on NCAA teams, you will work closely with the Bob Heiny Student-Athlete Academic Success Center staff.  You will need to meet with your academic advisor for the PIN and degree planning, and you will verify your schedule with your academic success coordinator before you can register.

You will also meet regularly for classroom support with your coordinator throughout the semester.