Idaho State University continuing its Be Advised, Declare Your Major programs for students

Idaho State University Central Academic Advising is continuing its "Be Advised" campaign with the additional recommendation for students to participate in the "Declare Your Major" campaign before Spring 2013 registration.

Deciding on a major and taking action to officially declare it is important not only for students but for major departments as well. Students who have officially committed to a major tend to persist in college and graduate. However, students should avoid choosing a major without knowing if it is a proper "fit" or without understanding the related employment opportunities and job characteristics. 

"The 'Declare Your Major' campaign should encourage students to declare their major only after spending a proper amount of time gathering information about themselves, evaluating the range of majors available at ISU and the academic requirements of each, and understanding the career opportunities related to their major," said JoAnn Hertz, director of ISU Central Academic Advising.

Academic advising by a faculty or departmental advisor in a student’s major department or, if undecided as to their major, by a professional or knowledgeable peer advisor in Central Academic Advising, is strongly recommended for every student before registering for each semester.

"Advising is the cornerstone of a successful experience at Idaho State University," said Hertz. "Interaction with departmental faculty who are experts in their field provides an advantage to any student who seeks it." 

Both campaigns are led by Central Academic Advising, a unit of the Student Success Center, and direct students to pursue the information they need to progress towards attaining their chosen degree program.

The benefits of advising are many and include:

• direct student contact with faculty from their chosen discipline;

• access to up-to-date information from the department;

 • assistance with long-range degree completion planning;

 • opportunity to expand discipline knowledge on an informal basis;

 • understand what is needed to stay on track to graduation; and

 • referrals and invitations to relevant learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

"With proper advising students also will benefit by developing a professional relationship with a professor who can write recommendation letters for research or internship opportunities or serve as a scholarship reference," Hertz said. "Faculty advisors can also help with career questions and graduate school applications."

Advisors and advisees have a shared responsibility when it comes to the advising relationship. Students can expect advisors to provide information, be accessible, encourage educational engagement and assist with attaining educational goals.

Advisors can expect students to meet with them each semester, read the catalog or website information, be prepared for the advising session, bring questions to the advising session, and to assume final responsibility for course scheduling, program planning, and the successful completion of graduation requirements. Registration assistance is available during regular business hours in the Office of the Registrar and Central Academic Advising locations in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Meridian, and Twin Falls.

The registration schedule for spring semester 2013 is as follows. Online registration begins at 12:01 am for each Class Level:

• Senior, Graduate, and Post Baccalaureate (90+ credits), Monday, Nov. 12;

• Junior (58-89 credits), Wednesday, Nov. 14;

 • Sophomore (26-57 credits), Friday, Nov. 16; and

 • Freshman (25 or fewer), Monday, Nov. 19.

For more information, contact ISU Central Academic Advising at (208) 282-3277 or advinfo@isu.edu.

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