In the School of Business, advising is an essential part of a student’s experience. All Business students have some form of required advising, and interact with both Professional Staff Advisors (primarily in first two years) and Faculty Advisors (primarily in second two years) throughout their educational journey.
Our Professional Staff Advisors, who work year-round, are a dynamic and experienced team of student development professionals in the Undergraduate Programs Office who support students through education and empowerment. Our Faculty Advisors, primarily available in Fall and Spring terms, are dedicated scholars and experts in their fields, and come from one of our five Academic Departments.
All admitted School of Business students have a required advising experience facilitated by the Undergraduate Programs Office.
Professional Staff are the primary advisors for all Business students in their first, second, third, and fourth term (and all transfer students in their first term at UConn) at the Hartford, Stamford, Storrs, and Waterbury campuses.
- Advisors are assigned by the first day of the term, and are intended not to change.
- Students can find their assigned advisor's information in Student Admin and in Nexus.
Additionally, all first year students are assigned a School of Business Peer Mentor and have multiple meetings over the student's first year. Peer Mentors may also open their calendars for additional appointments, and/or offer drop-in advising, depending on availability.
Additional advising meetings, beyond what is required, happens through Drop-In Advising Hours.
Any student at UConn can utilize our drop-in advising hours.
- Current first and second year Business advisees with quick questions, or seeking follow-up meetings after required advising
- Junior and Senior Business students with specific academic requirement or university policy questions
- Non-Business students seeking admission to a Business major
- Non-Business students interested in Business minors
Common drop-in advising topics may include: course registration questions; university policy navigation; deciding if withdrawing from a course is an appropriate action, and/or determining if pass/fail is an option; questions about Business scholastic standing requirements and supplemental dismissal; planning for admission (for current non-Business majors) and/or a Business minor; any assistance resolving issues with graduating, challenges with classes, etc.
Faculty are the primary advisors for all Business students in their Junior and Senior year. Advising is not required in junior and senior years for Business majors, so meetings are up to the student to request, and may include the following topics:
- Determining whether or not to declare a concentration (if available, varies by major)
- Selecting courses as they relate to the major to enhance skills for the industry
- Acquiring skills to help achieve goals and get the most out of the Business major
- Exploring ways to grow professional skills beyond the classroom
- Approving the electronic (through StudentAdmin) final plan of study needed for graduation
Getting to know your faculty advisor could also lead to opportunities for references or recommendation letters when seeking professional or post-graduate experiences. See the latest LAUNCH publication sent to students on the topic: The Importance of Advising: Knowing Your Faculty Advisor and Professional Advisors
How to Prepare for Registration Each Term
Registration for the following semester for continuing students begins the ninth week of class. Check the Academic Calendar for the specific dates as well as details on summer and winter enrollment, withdrawal deadlines, and other important dates.
Quick Registration Checklist:
- Check the Academic Calendar and make note of all important term dates.
- Check if you have any holds on your account and resolve them ASAP, prior to the start of registration.
- Check your specific enrollment appointment (aka "pick time") in StudentAdmin - this is determined by how many credits you have completed, and assigned by the Registrar's Office.
- Check your remaining requirements by completing a self-audit.
- You may or may not need to complete required advising through the School of Business before you can register for courses. Regularly check your UConn email, follow provided instructions, and schedule an advising appointment if required.
- Business students with required advising will have a "Business Advising" hold in StudentAdmin.
- A general "Advising Hold" in StudentAdmin will show for dual degree students, whose non-Business program requires advising. Those students should reach out to their non-Business major's advisor for help resolving that hold.
- Prepare for your pick time, and use provided resources (the Catalog, our Registration FAQs, Drop-In Advising Hours, even Google) if you have questions.
- Finally, register for classes using StudentAdmin at your pick time.
Foundational Advising Information Covered by Professional Staff Advisors
These are some key learning objectives that Professional Staff Advisors aim to prepare every student with before transitioning to a Faculty Advisor. Whether an admitted student is attending a First Term Advising Palooza workshop, or recently admitted Junior is attending a Newly Admitted Student Advising (NASA) session, the Undergraduate Programs Office strives to educate and inform each School of Business student regarding essential academic information necessary to make informed choices when structuring their plan to make the most out of the time spent here at UConn.
Academic advising is rooted in UConn’s mission of teaching, learning, and student success. Advising is a series of collaborative and purposeful interactions that teach and empower undergraduates to be independent decision makers and self-advocates as they pursue their unique educational, professional, and personal goals.
At UConn, a business education encompasses your entire pathway to a great career. By building a foundation of critical thinking and real-world problem solving, our faculty will help you become an intellectual leader with business and cultural savvy. Our academic and career advisors take a personal interest in you and your unique talents. Our advising philosphly focusese on targeted areas of growth, known as the Four Cornerstones.
