First-Year Advising + Seminar

Welcome, Instructors!

Welcome to the First-Year Advising's Resource Hub for instructors! Here, we aim to strengthen the partnership between FYA and US 1100 course instructors. Whether you're a seasoned instructor or this is your first time teaching the course, you play a crucial role in guiding our new students through the start of their academic journey. This page is dedicated to supporting you in that mission.

Student smiling while meeting with First-Year Advisor

How First-Year Advising Supports Our Students

As partners in the shared mission of guiding our newest students through their foundational year, First-Year Advising is eager to offer an extended arm of support for your sections. Here's how we can enrich the first-year students in your US 1100 experience together:

Expand FAQ List

  • At the core of First-Year Advising is a commitment to understanding each student's unique academic journey. Our guidance seeks to ensure their academic aspirations and current coursework walk hand-in-hand.

    Services:

    • Planning Sessions: Tailored discussions, diving deep into students' academic aspirations.
    • Interventions: Targeted strategies for students grappling with academic challenges.

    Tips for Instructors:

    • Encourage dialogue about long-term goals.
    • Direct students to our Academic Planning page to learn about the multitude of ways they can engage in academic planning. 
    • Alert FYA about students showing signs of academic struggle.

    Help Us Help Students: When referring students to make an appointment, instead, refer them to our Academic Planning webpage, which contains all their options for academic planning. 

  • Choosing a major is more than just picking a subject—it's about aligning your interests, strengths, and goals. FYA is here to shed light on this pivotal decision.

    Services:

    • MyMajors: A tool crafted to map students' interests, strengths, and goals to our majors.
    • Guided Major Exploration Webpage: A site on FYA's page that provides students with resources, walkthroughs, and self-reflection help in choosing a major. 
    • Major Exploration Workshops (Coming Soon): Detailed workshops providing insights into various academic pathways.

    Tips for Instructors:

    • Highlight the importance of choosing a major that resonates with a student's true self.
    • Encourage students to take the MyMajors assessment and connect with us if they have questions. 

  • Effective course registration is key to students staying on track for timely graduation. FYA supports students to embark on a balanced and fulfilling academic semester.

    Services:

    • Planning Sessions: Tailored discussions, diving deep into students' academic aspirations.
    • Registration Walkthroughs (Coming Soon): Demystifying the registration process with step-by-step guidance.

    Tips for Instructors:

    • Stress the importance of early registration.
    • Suggest students seek assistance if they're overwhelmed by course choices.
    • Direct students to our Academic Planning page to learn about the multitude of ways they can engage in academic planning. 

  • What is the First-Year Quick Help Desk, and how can it support my students?

    The First-Year Quick Help Desk serves as a centralized point of assistance for first-year students, addressing their questions and concerns, both big and small. It is designed to make the transition into university smoother by guiding students through their immediate queries.

    Key Features:

    • Modes of Contact: Students can reach out in person, via phone call, or through email, ensuring they always have a means to connect that suits their preferences and the nature of their queries.
    • Assistance Range: The desk aids in course and system navigation (like adjusting schedules and troubleshooting tech issues), documentation and verification processes (like forms and hold clarifications), and general guidance (covering campus resources and university life nuances).
    • Operational Hours: It operates primarily on weekdays, with hours varying between days and potential changes during university breaks.

    Encourage your students to utilize this resource early and often to ensure they have the best possible start to their university experience.

First-Year

We're Here To Help Your Student's Experience

Connect your students to First-Year Advising for guidance, resources, and support to succeed academically.

Referring Students for Academic Planning

Academic planning is a cornerstone of a successful college experience, particularly for first-year students navigating a new educational environment. Effective academic planning helps students:

  • Set Clear Goals: It aids in defining their academic and career objectives.
  • Understand Degree Requirements: Ensures students know what courses they need to fulfill their major and general education requirements.
  • Manage Time Effectively: Helps in balancing coursework with other activities.
  • Reduce Feeling of Being Overwhelmed: By having a plan, students can focus on their immediate coursework and responsibilities, reducing anxiety about the unknown.
  • Stay on Track for Graduation: Proper planning helps avoid unnecessary courses and semesters, saving time and resources.

OPTIONS FOR ACADEMIC PLANNING IN SPRING 2024

Registration for summer and fall 2024 opens on April 1, 2024. First-year students can engage in academic planning through several avenues:

  1. Personalized Planning: Dedicated 30 minutes with a First-Year Advisor to discuss academic and career goals.
  2. Drop-In Planning: Spend 15-20 minutes with a First-Year Advisor to get course recommendations for the next semester.
  3. CatTracks: Take charge with our self-guided degree planning process, designed to give you long-term planning skills.

You can find information on how students can schedule and participate in these options on our Academic Planning webpage. This page will also show how we help students select the best option for their needs.

Important Academic Dates - Spring 2024

DATEIMPORTANT ACADEMIC Date/DEADLINEImportance + Potential Action Steps
January 16Classes BeginCheck with students to determine if they've made all necessary modifications to their schedule, including ensuring they are enrolled in the appropriate amount of hours for any scholarship or aid, that they are not in a course that does not count towards their degree, and that they are utilizing the TXST app (not a picture) to review their schedule.
January 24 at 3:45 p.m.Last Day to Add a Course (Full Term)Students cannot add a full-term course to their spring schedule after this date.
January 31 at 11:59 p.m.Last Day to Drop a Course with no Record on Transcript (Full Term)After this date, students will receive a W for each dropped course, and no refund.
March 26 at 11:59 p.m.Last Day to Drop a Course with an Automatic W Grade (Full Term)After this date, students will not be able to drop a full-term course.
April 1Registration opens for summer and fall 2024Help students find their assigned time tickets to ensure they are ready to register when it opens.
April 18 at 11:59 p.m.Last Day to Withdraw from the UniversityThis is the last day to withdraw from all courses

Academic Recovery

Information on our Bobcats Bounce Back program for first-year first-time on academic probation students.

Module A module on registration and academic planning

First-Year Advising is excited to help your students prepare for the upcoming summer/fall registration cycle.

Need other support?

Complete the form below to send a message to First-Year Advising, and we can advise you on supporting a student experiencing academic challenges.