Mandatory Advising

Interacting with an academic advisor early in your university career can enhance your college success.

Mandatory advising is one of the ways your college and department advisors help ensure that you get a strong start at UC Davis. Our objective is to help you achieve your personal, career and academic goals.

Your assigned academic advisor will listen carefully to your questions and concerns, provide a safe and inclusive space, guide your exploration of curriculum, graduation requirements, opportunities in your major, and help you make timely degree progress. Advisors will also encourage, guide and, support you in developing career and academic goals and academic plans.

Another goal of mandatory advising is to review the advising syllabus you received during orientation, and make sure you are keeping up with your annual goals.

Starting Fall 2018: New students will be assigned a primary academic advisor based on their last name. **Do no stress if there are no appointments available with your assigned advisor! Any of our staff advisors can help you release your hold**

First-Year Students (Freshmen)

First-year students (who are not transfer students) will meet with a college advisor in the College of Letters and Science, Undergraduate Education and Advising. More information about your first year hold can be found HERE. 

First-Year Transfer Students

Mandatory advising for first-year transfer students in Psychology, Philosophy, STS, and Cognitive Science begins during the Fall Quarter. The goal of mandatory advising for new transfer students is to ensure that you have the opportunity to meet your major advisor, develop an academic plan for your major classes, and discuss helpful resources.

New transfer students have TWO quarters to clear this hold, though we encourage transfer students to meet with us as soon as possible.

To clear this hold, you must make an appointment with a staff advisor in the PSC, PHI, STS, CGS Advising Center. Peer advisors cannot clear this hold.

Do not come in during drop-in hours to clear your hold, we want to make sure that we have a full 30 minutes to learn about you and your educational goals.

The hold will not be “active” until March. If this hold is unresolved by March, it will prevent changes to your Spring schedule and future registration.

Second-Year Students (Sophomores)

Mandatory advising for second-year students in Psychology, Philosophy, STS, and Cognitive Science occurs during the Spring Quarter. The goal of this mandatory advising is to ensure that you are making progress toward your major requirements and to connect you with helpful resources and opportunities in your major.

Second-year students have ONE quarter to clear this hold, though we encourage students to meet with us as soon as possible.

To clear this hold, you must make an appointment with a staff advisor in the PSC, PHI, STS, CGS Advising Center. Peer advisors cannot clear this hold.

Do not come in during drop-in hours to clear your hold, we want to make sure that we have a full 30 minutes to learn about you and your educational goals.

The hold will not be “active” until June. If this hold is unresolved by June, it will prevent changes to your Summer/Fall schedules and future registration.

Seniors

Mandatory advising for seniors occurs in Fall Quarter. The goal of this mandatory advising is to ensure that you: (1) are on track to graduate, (2) plan for your transition out of college, and (3) finalize your next steps towards your professional goals.

*** You are NOT required to meet with an advisor to clear this hold ***

To Release Your Hold:

1. You must participate in TWO campus engagements in preparation for graduation and your goals after graduation. 

WHAT COUNTS AS A CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT?

You may also with an advisor in your major to discuss graduation and future goals

2. Once you complete TWO engagements, you must summarize your engagements by submitting this GOOGLE FORM. Submission of this webform is necessary to clear your hold.

If you choose to meet with a major advisor as one of your engagements, you must make an appointment with a staff advisor in the PSC, PHI, STS, CGS Advising Center. Meeting with a peer advisor will not count as an engagement.

Do not come in during drop-in hours to clear your hold, we want to make sure that we have a full 30 minutes to discuss your progress toward graduation and your goals for career/graduate school.

The hold will not be “active” until March. If this hold is unresolved by March, it will prevent changes to your Spring schedule and future registration.

Appointments & Listserv

Advising appointments are reserved for sophomore, junior, and senior students declared in Psychology, Philosophy, Science and Technology Studies, or Cognitive Sciences. If you are a first-year student in one of these majors, or you are not currently declared in any one of these majors, you can meet with an advisor during drop-in advising.

book an advising appointment

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