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Academic Advising | Bismarck State College

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Academic Advising

Academic advising is a collaborative educational process between you and your advisor designed to support your academic success.

Shared responsibility is the basis for the advisor-advisee relationship.  As a student, you are ultimately responsible for the choices you make in college.  However, BSC realizes that, in order to make informed choices, students need mentoring and advice from academic advisors and other professional staff in the BSC community.  Your academic advisor is your primary source regarding academic issues, programs and opportunities.

A relationship with an academic advisor provides you the opportunity to:
  • Explore the academic options available to you, including program of study.
  • Develop an educational plan that fits your life goals and objectives.
  • Learn about the resources and student services available at BSC.
  • Select appropriate classes for your program of study each semester

Who is My Advisor?

An academic advisor is assigned to each student enrolled at BSC based on their program of study. This advisor may either be a faculty member or a professional staff member.

To find your academic advisor, log on to the Campus Connection portal. Your advisor’s name and phone number will be listed under Student Center. Click on “details” to email your advisor. Other contact information for your advisor may be found in the BSC Employee Directory located on the BSC website.

Preparing for Your Advising Appointment

Log in to CampusConnection to view your earliest day and time to register.  
  • Each student is assigned an earliest day and time to register for Fall and Spring classes.  You can view this information in your CampusConnection Student Center.

Schedule your advising appointment in advance.  
  • At busy times of the year, your advisor may not be able to see you at a moment's notice.

Plan ahead to arrive on time.  
  • It is always good to arrive early.  If you are late, you may have to reschedule your advising appointment.

Make sure you have your log in information for CampusConnection.  
  • You will need this information if you plan to register for your classes or make changes to your class schedule with your advisor.

Check for Holds and To Do's.  
  • To check for holds and to do's, log in to your CampusConnection Student Center.  Certain holds and to-do's may prevent you from registering for your classes.  Check with the office listed for more information.

Bring your Academic Requirements Report.  
  • Also known as your degree audit, you can print a copy of the requirements you have remaining for your degree in your CampusConnection Student Center.

Familiarize yourself with the degree requirements for the school you plan on transferring to.  
  • If you have a catalog or program information from your transfer school, bring it with to your advising appointment.

Review your degree plan 
  • Visit your program of study on the Academics site

Prepare a trial schedule of classes.  
  • Include those that you would like to take or think that you may need for your BSC degree or transfer school.

Bring a list of questions. 
  • Get the most out of your appointment by having all your questions answered at once!

Questions to Ask Your Academic Advisor

  • What can an academic advisor help me with?
  • How often should I see an academic advisor?
  • How do I choose a program of study? Or change my program of study?
  • Where can I find information about the classes I should be taking for my program of study?
  • What general education classes does my degree require?
  • How do I determine the number of credits/classes I should take each semester?
  • What is the difference between an Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS) and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree?
  • How do I access my academic requirements report (degree audit) in CampusConnection?
  • How do I drop or withdraw from classes?
  • Can I repeat a class that I have already taken?
  • What are some of the differences between on-campus and online classes?

How Do I Change My Advisor?

If you wish to change your advisor or go into a different program, you must fill out the Program/Advisor Change Form.