The University of Texas at Arlington

University Advising Center

The University Advising Center, located in 105 Ransom Hall, provides academic and career advising for all freshman students, exploratory (undeclared) students and certain probation student populations.  You'll receive personal attention from our team of academic advisors who will help you create a personal plan of discovery that transforms your interests, goals, and talents into an academic path that's right for you. Seminars, such as UNIV 1131: Freshman PASS and UNIV 1131: Majors Exploration taught by our academic advisors, also provide structured, on-going experiences that further clarify academic and career goals and support life-long learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is my academic advisor? Where do I go to get advising?
Depending on your major, your advisor could be a

• faculty member who has been assigned to you
• departmental staff advisor hired solely to advise students
• peer advisor for some of the simple questions

If you do not know who your academic advisor is, you can ask the personnel in the main office of your department. Also, you may develop relationships with other faculty and staff on campus that may help you in your decision-making process. Ultimately, you have to weigh the information presented and make an informed decision for yourself.

How can I get the most out of academic advising?
An often underused, yet extremely valuable resource for UT Arlington students is their academic advisor. Regardless of your discipline, students have access to an academic advisor to assist them with academic and career planning and to help make sense of UT Arlington's policies and procedures. Advisors can also provide students with information on co-curricular resources and other support services available on campus.

How do I make my conversation with my advisor a success?
Get to know your academic advisor. This person is your advocate and can serve you better if they know you. For instance, if your advisor knows you are interested in studying abroad and a scholarship comes available, he/she can contact you. Also, students often seek letter of recommendation from their advisors, so be sure they have plenty of good things to write about you.

• Do not be afraid to ask questions. Your advisor is there to answer them. Policies and procedures on a university campus can be very complex, so asking questions is an excellent way to get a handle on them.
• Take an active role in your advising sessions. Come to your appointment prepared with questions and materials. This is your educational process, and you have the right to participate in shaping it.

How do I prepare for an academic advising appointment?
Whether you are meeting with your advisor in person or via some other medium, you should have all applicable materials for that conversation, including

• a prepared list of classes you are considering
• a schedule of classes
• the most recent copy of your tentative or official degree plan
• an unofficial transcript, if requested
• course syllabi
• a generated list of questions about resources or concerns you may have
• materials gathered from a plan-of-action from a previous appointment

What are the advisor's responsibilities?
The advisor's responsibilities are to

• inform students of the nature of the advisor-advisee relationship.
• develop a purposeful relationship with advisees.
• provide contact information and posted office hours.
• keep appointments or call if it is necessary to change or cancel an appointment.
• inform inquiring students of campus resources and special services available to them.
• assist students in defining and developing desired educational, career and life plans.
• assist students in preparing a program that is consistent with their abilities and interests.
• monitor progress toward educational/career goals.
• listen and help develop a realistic plan of action to meet student goals.
• interpret and provide rationale for institutional policies, procedures and requirements.
• refer students when attitudinal, attendance or personal problems require intervention by other professionals.

What are the student's responsibilities?
The student's responsibilities are to

• understand and communicate personal values, abilities and goals.
• provide accurate and truthful information when being advised.
• schedule and keep appointments or call if it is necessary to change or cancel an appointment.
• learn and understand UT Arlington's policies, procedures and requirements.
• come prepared to advising sessions.
• be open to the new possibilities that an advisor may suggest. Follow through on plans of action identified during advising sessions.
• understand and accept that you are ultimately responsible for your education and decisions.

When should I contact my advisor?
Though academic advising is an important part of their job, advisors may have other obligations that occupy their time. Here are some "best practices" to consider when contacting your advisor:

• schedule an appointment in advance with a stated agenda for the optimum experience.
• if you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, be courteous and call to cancel.
• become familiar with their office hours and all forms of contact information (e.g., office location, telephone number, e-mail address).
• if you are an undeclared intended-AP student, University College freshman, or you cannot come into the University Advising Center to see your undergraduate advisor please contact Academic Advisor Eddna Adams (eadams@uta.edu).
• if dropping by without an appointment, do so at a time when your advisor has posted office hours; allow plenty of time in case you have to wait to see your advisor.
• because the first and last two weeks of each semester are the busiest for advisors, schedule longer conferences during the middle portion of the semester.

Here are some situations when a visit with your academic advisor is merited:

• if you have questions concerning your academic performance in a class and progress toward your degree
• if you are considering selecting or changing your major. Speak with your current advisor and an advisor in the other department
• if you need advice about adding, dropping or withdrawing from a class
• if you are concerned about study habits or are struggling with coursework
• if you are on Academic Probation. Visit your advisor to ensure you understand university and departmental policies surrounding probationary students
• if you want to discuss career opportunities or graduate school
• if you need to file an official degree plan
• if you are a PRE-major and need to be cleared to register for classes
• if you are getting ready to graduate. You should do this before your last semester to ensure time to complete a degree plan audit and understand the graduation procedures
• if you will not be attending school during the semester for a long period of time; your advisor can suggest a course of action based on your circumstances
• if you have questions about UT Arlington policies and procedures
• if you have any other questions, comments or concerns
• to schedule an appointment to see an advisor please click here.