Welcome!

Academic Advising Services assists and supports students in exploring academic goals, university requirements, and progress toward degree completion. Services and resources offered to students, faculty, and staff include:

  • Academic Advising Resource Guides
  • Academic Counseling
  • Advisor Meeting Preparation
  • Change of Major Advising
  • One-on-One Advisor Training
  • Professional Development for Academic Advisors
  • Undecided Major Academic Advising

Please review the resources available on this webpage for answers to the most common questions about academic advising at DSU. If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Change of Major Advising

Already have a major, but thinking about changing to undecided? Before you decide, schedule a meeting with Academic Advising Services. We can help you to:

  • Decide which major to choose.
  • Explore different majors.
  • Answer general advisement questions.
  • Understand how your coursework fits into your new major.
  • Start the Change of Major process.
  • Rearrange your academic plan to fit your intended major.

Talking to an advisor before changing your major will help you make more informed academic decisions by exploring your options and understanding how changing your major can affect you academically. Change of Major Advising can help you navigate between majors, compare majors and program requirements, and prepare you for departmental advising appointments.

Exploring Your Major

Changing Your Major

If you want to declare or change your major, talk to your current advisor first. If you are undecided, you will work with the Coordinator of Academic Advising Services in Bailey 211. If you have a major, you will work with a faculty advisor in your department. Your academic advisor helps you in all areas of career exploration, including changing your major.

Change of Major Form

Change of Major Instructions

Advising Resources for Faculty

Searching for tips and suggestions to effectively advise your students? The Academic Advising Resource Guide is a one-stop online resource for faculty that includes tips, suggestions, frequently asked questions, and links to advising resources. Please use the sections of this Guide, along with the resources provided here, to help develop and streamline your academic advising process.

Academic Advising Resource Guide
Academic Advising At-A-Glance

Technology Access and Use

DSU academic advisors have access to a number of online tools to assist in the advising process. All systems can be accessed by going to www.deltastate.edu/portal.

  • Argos—Use to access data reports related to advisee information, including advisee lists, alternate PINs, mid-term grades, student schedules, and more. Access reports by following the instructions below.
  • Banner—Use to locate all general student information, including current GPA, academic standing, high school GPA, ACT scores, previous courses taken, and more. See below for a list of Banner codes commonly used by academic advisors.
  • DSU Online Services—Use to access registration information, including alternate PINs, course availability, student schedules, transcripts, and more. See section 3.4.A of the Academic Advising Resource Guide for step-by-step instructions for accessing alternate PINs and registering for classes.
    • For access information or general questions, contact OIT at 662-846-4760.
  • Outlook—Use as primary contact for communicating with advisees and to access features of Microsoft Office 365. E-mail can be accessed online via myDSU or by using the Microsoft Outlook desktop app.
    • For access information or general questions, contact OIT at 662-846-4760.
  • DSU CARES—Use to alert the appropriate offices and confidentially address academic, behavioral, health, or safety concerns. The DSU C.A.R.E.S. web page is designed to help individuals select the appropriate referral system, depending upon the situation.
    • For emergencies, contact University Police immediately at 662-846-4155.
    • For more information about supporting students with academic concerns, contact SOS Early Alert at 662-846-4897.
    • For more information about supporting students with behavioral, health, or safety issues, contact the Office of Student Affairs at 662-846-4150.

Academic Advising Forms and Links

Academic Advisor Training and Professional Development

Throughout the academic year, Academic Advising Services collaborates with the Gertrude C. Ford Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) to provide a number of training and professional development opportunities for DSU academic advisors. Workshops cover a broad range of academic advising topics, such as general advising strategies, using academic maps, and working with at-risk students. To see upcoming events, please see the FCTL web page.

NEW! The Academic Advising Resources Canvas shell is a one-stop advisor training and professional development portal for new and experienced academic advisors. Online training and professional development are offered as a convenient alternative to face-to-face workshops. This Canvas shell includes a direct link to the Academic Advising Resource Guide, as well as tips and forms for remote advising, a new advisor training module, and other advising topics. New modules are added each semester. To be added to the shell, email dpoole@deltastate.edu, or click the “Advising” icon in the Faculty Resources Portal in Canvas.

Pre-Registration

Current DSU students are given an opportunity to engage in early registration for the upcoming semester, typically the first weeks in April/November. During this one week Pre-Registration period, students are able to meet with their advisors to register for classes. While some advisors choose to meet with students for course advisement the week before Pre-Registration begins, others prefer to meet the week of Pre-Registration. Make sure you know your advisor’s preference, and schedule accordingly. Regardless of when the registration advising session is held, you must register on the day that your class/group is eligible for registration during Pre-Registration week:

  • Monday: Graduate Students, Seniors, Honor Students, Student-Athletes
  • Tuesday: Juniors
  • Wednesday: Sophomores
  • Thursday: Freshmen
  • Friday: All Students

PRE-REGISTRATION IS THE FIRST WEEKS IN APRIL & NOVEMBER

Each semester, campus-wide Pre-Registration awareness efforts aim to canvas the campus in orange so everyone is aware that it is Pre-Registration week. These promotions include the use of orange yard signs, banners, flyers, e-mail reminders, and a sweepstakes in which pre-registered students are able to submit completed schedules for a chance to win prizes. Once promotions begin, contact your advisor proactively to set an appointment. Consider completing the Pre-Advising Worksheet below before meeting with your advisor.

  Pre-Advising Worksheet

Advising Resources for Students

All students are assigned an academic advisor who can be very helpful in your course selection and career planning. If you are undecided, you are assigned to the Coordinator of Academic Advising Services, located in the Student Success Center, 2nd floor of Bailey Hall. If you have a major, you are assigned to a faculty advisor in your department. To find out who your advisor is, call Academic Advising Services at 662-846-4577 or contact your academic department chair.

While your advisor is responsible for helping you navigate degree requirements and other aspects of academic progress, you are in the driver’s seat. This means that the ultimate responsibility for understanding and completing degree and graduation requirements lies with you, not your advisor. Your advisor helps you plan your course schedules and gives you advice to assist you toward timely graduation, but it is important that you take the time to track your own degree progress.

There are a number of resources available to help you track your degree progress, including Academic Maps and the Undergraduate Catalog. Academic Maps are structured, semester-by-semester schedules that show when each course should be taken throughout an academic program and can be used when you are making decisions about which classes to take. The Undergraduate Catalog includes more detailed information about degree requirements, pre-requisites, and more. For a list of these and other useful resources, see the menu below.

Tracking Your Progress

Undecided Academic Advising

Unsure of what major you want to pursue and courses to take? No problem! We are here to assist you with course scheduling and advisement, giving you time to explore and find the degree that best suits you. DSU requires you to take certain basic courses (General Education) regardless of your major. Undecided Academic Advising allows you to complete those requirements while exploring your options.

The Coordinator of Academic Advising Services serves as the academic advisor for undecided majors and assists in choosing a major. As an undecided student, you are required to participate in early and active exploration of your major and take advantage of opportunities that will help you choose a major. This includes attending career fairs, speaking with department faculty, and meeting with your advisor. By the end of your freshman year, you are expected to declare a major. For more information about advisor meetings and other expectations of undecided students, please contact Mary Claire Rackley, Coordinator of Academic Advising Services, at mrackley@deltastate.edu, or call 662-846-4577).

Exploring Your Major

To learn more about all the majors that DSU offers and their requirements, check out our Academic Maps and Academic Pathways:

Academic Maps

Academic Maps are structured, semester-by-semester schedules that show when each course should be taken throughout an academic program. The Map can be used when you are making decisions about which classes to take.

 

 

 

Academic Pathways

Similar to an Academic Map, an academic pathway is a three-semester course of study that focuses on common General Education classes across a group of majors. All undecided students are required to select an academic pathway, which allows you to stay on track by taking courses that count for multiple degree areas before choosing a major.

CONTACT

Mary Claire Rackley
Coordinator
Bailey 211; DSU Box 3204
Cleveland, MS 38733
P: 662.846.4577

S.O.S. (Stay Okra Strong) Early Alert system helps identify and assist at-risk students through organized outreach.