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Academic Advising & Transfer Center
Student Union Building I, Room 3500, MS 2E6
Phone: 703-993-2470
Fax: 703-993-2478
Web: advising.gmu.edu
E-mail: advisor@gmu.edu
The mission of academic advising at Mason parallels the university’s mission by providing resources and programs to mentor, teach, and guide students in their decision making as they develop their educational and career goals. Admitted undergraduate students should meet regularly with an academic advisor to discuss academic programs, educational goals, and career plans. With their advisors, students plan academic programs to meet the general university degree requirements and specific requirements within their major fields. It is the student’s responsibility to read the catalog and know and fulfill the requirements of a specific baccalaureate degree. To assist in the advising process, Mason provides a computerized degree evaluation. Students should access their individualized reports through Patriot Web.
Individual departments establish their own advising processes; students should check with their departments for the appropriate procedures. An advisor locator is available at advising.gmu.edu/current-students/advisor-locator. During their freshman and sophomore years, students in the Honors College plan their schedules with honors advisors. Every department coordinates advising of its honors students through the Honors College.
Some departments require that students be advised prior to registration each semester.
The Academic Advising and Transfer Center assists students making the transition to Mason, including those who have not yet declared a major or are considering a change of major. Students are encouraged to make an appointment for information about general education requirements, programs, policies, procedures, and other academic concerns. The Center also provides information and guidance for students who are interested in pre-professional programs in the health fields and to newly admitted transfer students who need assistance transitioning to Mason. Advising is available by appointment; consult the website, advising.gmu.edu for hours of operation.
Student Academic Affairs, Advising & Retention
Student Union Building I, Room 3500, MS 2E6
Phone: 703-993-2470
Fax: 703-993-2478
Web: saa.gmu.edu
Student Academic Affairs, Advising & Retention is the umbrella unit for the Transition Resource Center, the Academic Advising and Transfer Center and pre-health advising. This unit rules on all academic actions submitted by undergraduate undeclared and nondegree students.
The unit also manages campus wide retention activities.
Health Professions Advising and the Medical Sciences Advisory Committee
Student Union Building I, Room 3500, MS 2E6
Phone: 703-993-9305
Fax: 703-993-2478
Web: prehealth.gmu.edu
Health Professions Advising is committed to providing students with the tools that will help them to achieve success. It provides the primary contact for undergraduate students and alumni interested in pursuing postgraduate work in a medical field (allopathic and osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistant, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and veterinary medicine) and comprehensive developmental advising.
In addition to advising, the Health Professions Advisor coordinates the activity of the Medical Sciences Advisory Committee that assists in developing a composite letter of evaluation for qualified students who are applying to relevant programs. The committee is composed of university faculty and administrative faculty.
Advising upon Entrance into Upper Division (Junior Standing)
Upon entrance into the upper division, every student should meet with an advisor to adopt a program of study. This meeting should cover the following:
- Review of requirements for the degree and major the student has chosen
- Review of the student’s record including any deficiencies which must be corrected
- Discussion of career or graduate study options open to the student enrolled in such a program
- Opportunities for departmental faculty to evaluate the student’s suitability to major in the chosen discipline.
This advising session occurs in the semester in which the student will have completed 60 or more acceptable credits. The results are a matter of record, with any approved modifications being entered into the student’s computerized degree plan.
Although an upper-division student who has filed an approved program of study is usually not required to consult again with an academic advisor, it is good practice to seek periodic academic and career advising. It remains the student’s responsibility to seek approval for any program change so that the computerized degree plan may be kept current. In particular, once a student has completed 60 credits, a change of major requires an extended session with an advisor in the new major and approval of a new program of study before the change is complete.
A student in lower-division status may change majors by filing a Change/Declaration of Academic Program Form with the Office of the University Registrar. These are minimal advising procedures to be followed in all undergraduate segments of the university; individual units may require additional advising sessions. |
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