USF 2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 34
USF seeks to guide all students in selecting programs and courses best suited to their personal abilities, educational interests, and career objectives. Students who have been admitted to the University and their major area of study may visit their designated academic advising office housed in each of the six colleges offering baccalaureate degrees. Others who have not yet declared a major or students taking lower-level coursework in a limited access program should visit the Center for Academic Advising. This Center for Academic Advising also serves as an initial point of contact for non-admitted, prospective, and/or non-degree seeking students who need information about the University’s academic structure.
All students are encouraged to establish an advising relationship with a college or the Center for Academic Advising and periodically visit their advisors to keep abreast of any policy, procedural, or curriculum changes that may affect them. In fact, some colleges require advisor approval of student programs each semester. It is important for students to keep in mind that although the University provides advising services to assist students with academic planning, it is each student’s responsibility to see that all graduation requirements are met.
It is necessary that all students attend the University-mandated Orientation Program. The purpose of this initial contact is to assign an academic advisor and to provide the advising unit with routine information to assist it in collecting and maintaining the necessary records to assure the student’s proper progress toward education goals. Transfer students should bring an unofficial or student copy of their transcript(s) at the time of orientation.
Students are cautioned that admission to the University does not imply admission to all the programs and courses offered by the individual colleges; this is especially true with respect to colleges with limited access programs. Colleges such as Business, Education, Engineering, and Nursing have been designated as limited access colleges and require completion of certain prerequisites before a student may declare a major in one of them. It is important that students check the college sections of the catalog for advising and admission requirements. Students planning to enter a limited access program should be aware that their admission by the college may be denied or delayed and should be prepared with alternative plans of action. Students seeking admission to limited access programs must demonstrate successful academic progress toward meeting the limited access requirements in order to remain undeclared beyond 45 semester hours of credit.
Lower-level transfer students (entering the University with fewer than 60 semester hours) and upper-level transfer students (entering with 60 or more semester hours) who do not meet the requirements of a limited access major are assigned initially to the Center for Academic Advising. Upper-level transfer students (entering the University with 60 semester hours or more) who meet the admission requirements of a major are assigned to the college of that major for advising.
In the case of non-limited access colleges, students may declare a major by completing a form in the appropriate college advising office, usually during one of the orientations required by the University. Students who do not wish to declare a major or who cannot meet the necessary prerequisites of a limited access major are advised by the Center for Academic Advising. Upper-level transfer students (entering the University with 60 semester hours or more) who meet the admission requirements of a major are assigned to the college of that major for advising.
Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webcat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2006
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0607/acaadv.htm