Division of Biological Sciences

Welcome to Division of Biological Sciences Academic Advising!

Undergraduate Student & Instructional Services (USIS)

ADVISING SYLLABUS PDF

Office: Pacific Hall 1128

9500 Gilman Dr.

La Jolla, CA 92093-0348

Phone: 858-534-0557

Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM/Closed daily 12-1pm and Tuesday until 1pm

Undergraduate Information

Advising Overview

Academic advising is an important part of UCSD and the Division of Biological Sciences commitment to the process of educating the student. Advising involves both an interaction process designed to facilitate student development and the communication of accurate information regarding degree programs, courses, resources, departmental policies/procedures, and other opportunities, all with the objective of helping students attain their educational goals. The academic advising process is one which leads students to:

• become well informed about policies and procedures, curricular options and academic program requirements.

• clearly define their educational objectives.

• plan programs which incorporate their interests, abilities, and goals.

• make full use of the facilities and resources available at UCSD

The Division of Biological Sciences is committed to providing high quality academic advising to students in all eight biology majors. Attaining this goal requires that both advisors and students understand and embrace their respective roles in the advising process.

The Division of Biological Sciences recognizes academic advising as an integral part of your educational experience.  Based on your individual circumstances, personal development and academic interests, academic advising provides an opportunity to work with a professional expert who will guide you in educational decisions.

Get to know your advisor and let your advisor get to know you! It will be one of the most beneficial relationships you will develop on campus.

Communication Protocol

E-mail communication via a students’ UCSD email account and the Virtual Advising Center (vac.ucsd.edu) are the official methods of communication used at UCSD by the Division of Biological Sciences and your college. Due to privacy regulations, your Advisor will communicate solely through the VAC or your UCSD email account. While some inquiries may be resolved through email correspondence, most situations benefit from face-to-face interaction, so please select the most appropriate form of communication to address your inquires.

Advisor and Advisee Responsibilities

The Division of Biological Sciences advisors and advisees both play important roles in the advising process.

Advisors will…

  • Understand and effectively communicate the curriculum, major requirements, and Divisional policies and procedures
    • Accurately document students’ progress toward meeting their goals
    • Refer you to other campus offices as appropriate
    • Assist students in working closely with their professors, suggesting you meet with them at least once per term to ask questions about challenging material or to pursue ideas in more depth
  • Encourage and support students with information about strategies for utilizing the resources and services available
    • Be accessible for meeting with advisees via office hours for advising, telephone, or e-mail
    • Respond to student inquiries ASAP (generally 1-2 business days)
  • Assist students in gaining decision-making skills and skills in assuming responsibility for their educational plans and achievements
  • Provide a safe, respectful, and confidential space to ask questions, discuss your interests, and express your concerns

What your advisor will expect from you…

  • Schedule and attend an advising appointment at least once a year
    • Be prepared for advising sessions with questions (course options, academic concerns, decisions about upcoming quarter, major/minor options)
    • Bring any relevant materials with you (quarter-by-quarter plan, degree audit, draft schedule, list of potential courses)
    • Be courteous and plan ahead (schedule appointments early; cancel or reschedule if necessary)
    • Arrive on time and check in at the front desk
    • Silence your phone prior to meeting with an advisor
    • Schedule and attend an advising appointment at least once a year
  • Stay informed
    • Read your UCSD email, review the Virtual Advising Center (VAC), check the Biology website, and TritonLink regularly (at least 2-3 times/week)
    • Review your class schedule each term to verify your registration and grading options for all your courses
    • Research Divisional and University programs, policies, procedures, and opportunities as appropriate
  • Keep a personal record of your progress toward meeting your goals
    • Organize official documents (degree audits, schedule plans, notes from advising meetings, transcripts, etc.)in a accessible ways
    • Complete all assignments or recommendations from your advisor
    • Review your degree audit and academic history each quarter and track your progress
  • Accept responsibility for your decisions and actions (or inactions) that affect your educational progress and goals
    • Ask questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern
    • Be open and willing to consider advice from faculty, advisors, and other mentors

How do I contact an advisor?

  • Virtual Advising Center (vac.ucsd.edu) is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week except holiday periods.  Post your question and an academic advisor will respond to you.  Responses to your submitted questions and concerns are generally given within 72 business hours.
  • Advising appointments are scheduled to review long-term planning, major degree checks, and review/approve forms (e.g. double major petitions).  Appointments are scheduled to last 30 minutes and must be scheduled in advance.  Appointments can be scheduled no more than two weeks in advance.  You can make an appointment in one of the following ways:
    • Call the USIS front desk at (858) 534-0557.
    • Come in-person to the USIS office during business hours.
    • If  you are unable to keep your appointment, or will be more than 5 minutes late, please call (858)534-0557 to cancel or reschedule.
    • Prepare for the meeting.  Write down questions/issues you plan to discuss with the advisor.
    • Arrive on time and check in at the front desk
  • Walk-in advising is useful for quick inquiries or referrals that can be completed in15 minutes or less (e.g. one quarter of course planning, review impact of dropping a course, and to answer general questions about your major). If your question requires more time than this, please make an appointment. The office staff may request that you schedule an appointment if they believe your inquiry cannot be satisfactorily addressed within 15 minutes.
    • Walk-in advising is available on selected days/times (see advising hours on our website).
    • During peak times-the first week of the quarter, registration periods- wait times can be considerable.

Topics and Milestones

As you advance through your degree program, there will be decisions you will have to make about your goals and objectives.  Keep in mind that you may need to make some adjustments to your initial plans as you progress through your degree. For some students, those decisions and adjustments come early in the college career, but most students need time to gain perspective and to figure things out. Similarly, it is important to recognize that different students may reach these milestones at different points in their academic career. When you want to talk through your evolving academic plans, your advisor is here to help.

Advising Outcomes for Students

Personal growth: Develop communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills

  • Define your short-term and long-term goals after reflecting on your values, interests,
  • strengths, and challenges
  • Articulate your goals during advising sessions
  • Describe the connection between your goals and your values, interests, strengths, and challenges
  • Discuss problems you face by assessing what caused them, what can be done to resolve them, and how to avoid them in the future
  • Understand how to achieve balance in; academics, family, work, recreation and social
  • activities
  • Use advising and other sources of information to make meaningful changes in your life

Resource identification: Develop skills in locating and effectively using information and resources that help you achieve your goals

  • Identify websites, campus offices, and faculty or staff you can consult with questions
  • Use information from university resources to assess progress towards achieving goals (e.g., degree check sheets, degree audit reports, information from faculty and staff)
  • Knowledge of departmental and university processes and policies

Curriculum integration: Understand the relationship between your classroom experiences and your academic, career, and personal goals

  • Understand how your classes can help you explore and select alternate majors
  • Explain how your major curriculum helps you achieve your goals
  • Describe how educational requirements help you achieve your goals
  • Schedule courses so you graduate in a timely manner based on your educational plan
  • Connect your educational plan to your long term goals
  • Know what you can do with a chosen major
  • Articulate personal strengths and weaknesses and be prepared for life after college

Experiential learning: Understand the importance of including experiences outside of the classroom in your educational plan

  • Introduce yourself and have a conversation with at least one faculty member each quarter you are enrolled
  • Participate in undergraduate research, off-campus volunteering, study abroad, and/or community service
  • Discuss how participating in these activities helps you achieve your goals

Relational Development: Understand the importance of starting and continuing personal, collegial, and professional relationships is important to your development

  • Clarification of the advising relationship – expectations of advisors and advisees
  • Awareness of yourself within your educational experiences
  • Practice reflective and introspective thought to enhance your college experience
  • Seek and value regular and continued advising
  • Understand your expectations of college

Recommended Readings and Resources