Advising Menu
| Office Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
| Saturday - Sunday | Closed |
Student Information
Advising FAQ
My Academic Plans (MAPs)
Probationary Students
Contact Us
-
Office Location:
Student Services Bldg.Phone:
575.439.3600eMail:
advisingNMSUA@nmsu.eduAcademic Advisors
Katie Parks
katParks@nmsu.eduRose Peña
roseP@nmsu.eduTim Wheeler
tWheeler@nmsu.edu
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Throughout the history of higher education in North America, academic advising has been an essential component of the educational process. Although it has appeared in many forms, transforming itself according to existing purposes of higher education, it has always sought to meet the needs of individual students within the contemporary context of their institutional cultures
(NACADA, 2006, p. 3)
The Mission of New Mexico State University Alamogordo is to provide quality learning opportunities for individuals in the diverse communities we serve.
The Mission of the Academic Advising office is to empower our diverse population to make informed choices for educational planning for life long enrichment.
The Vision of the Academic Advising and Career Services office is to provide a student-centered environment that provides accurate information, opportunities for academic and career success for students, by competent, well-informed staff.
Academic Advisors
advisingNMSUA@nmsu.edu
575.439.3600
| Name | eMail Address |
|---|---|
| Katie Parks | katParks@nmsu.edu |
| Tim Wheeler | tWheeler@nmsu.edu |
Welcome to NMSU Alamogordo and Academic Advising. To help you prepare for your visit with an academic advisor we recommend you read the information below.
Online & Distance Education students have direct access to Academic Advisors. Call or email an Academic Advisor for more information.
What are Advisor and Student Responsibilities?
Academic Advisor
- Are dedicated to the advising process and strive to be accessible to students.
- Encourage students in self-direction and understanding of personal responsibilities as advisees.
- Provide students with all the options available so that students can make the best possible decisions.
- Assist students in identifying, developing, and achieving academic, career, and personal goals.
- Monitoring progress and maintain records of student’s career interest, majors, goals and progress towards goals.
- Assist students in selecting courses and combinations of courses that reflect individual interests and abilities.
- Are familiar with graduation requirements and other institutional policies and procedures outlined in the New Mexico State University Alamogordo catalog.
- Discuss the linkage between academic preparation and the world of work.
- Identify special needs of the student.
- Refer students to other appropriate campus resources, matching students to available resources.
- Help students get the most out of their university experience.
Academic Advising is a partnership and shared responsibility between student and advisor. It helps students develop an educational plan that fits their abilities, interest, and career goals.
Student
- Recognize that advising is a shared responsibility, but also realize that they are ultimately responsible for making decisions regarding academic, career, and personal goals.
- Gather all relevant decision-making information.
- Clarify personal values and goals.
- Are responsible for preparing for and keeping appointments with their advisors.
- See their advisors at least once a semester.
- Develop plans for achieving academic, career, and personal goals.
- Maintaining update check sheets, STAR Audit reports, and develop plan for taking courses required for graduation.
- Are familiar with graduation requirements and other institutional policies and procedures outlined in the New Mexico State University Alamogordo catalog.
- Utilize the full range of campus resources.
- Contact their advisor as soon as they experience difficulty in a class or if they have concerns about their academic progress.
- Selecting an alternate advisor to meet their specific needs.
This Advising Process includes:
- Exploration of Life Goals
- Exploration of Career/Educational Goals
- Selection of Educational Program
- Selection of Courses
- Scheduling of Classes
Getting the Most out of Academic Advising
Who is my Academic Advisor?
- Few students are assigned an advisor. Most students can select an advisor whom they like to work with or see the first available advisor each visit.
Why should I see an Academic Advisor?
- To assist you in making academic and career choices or to receive more information about a particular major.
- To inform you of degree requirements.
- To assist you in developing strategies to improve your academic performance.
- To explain and refer you to campus resources.
How do I Contact my Advisor?
- By visiting the office during office hours.
- By email: advisingNMSUA@nmsu.edu
- By phone: 575.439.3600
What should I ask my Academic Advisor?
- How do I find out more about academic majors and career possibilities?
- What options do I have if I do not like my major? What courses complete my degree requirements?
- How do I enhance my study skills?
- What is an elective course?
- How many credits should I take?
- What do you think about this tentative course schedule?
- What can I do if I am having trouble in a course?
- Should I drop or add a course?
When Should I Visit my Advisor?
- Before registration begins
- Mid-semester to discuss next semester
- Whenever you have a question or problem which might affect your academic success
Tips about Obtaining Help
- Do not be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. No one is perfect, nobody knows all the answers, and everyone needs help at one time or another.
- Be responsible and balanced in your activities and goals. Set goals according to what you are capable of doing and have a balance between study and social activities. Too much or too little is not healthy.
- Seek help ONLY from a person best qualified to give it. Close friends or relatives are usually full of “good advice” but often lack the recent experience of college to offer you the best advice.
- Do not put off asking for help until it’s too late. Go for help with a problem when you first realize that you may need assistance.
- Be open-minded. Accept information and advice from qualified persons with an open mind and heart.
- Learn from your mistakes. Instead of taking offense and /or blaming others for your failures or mistakes, look at how your attitude, your choices, your performance contributed to the situation.
- Show respect and consideration for the person trying to help you. See an advisor during regular office hours or your regular appointment time. Be punctual. Do not miss appointments.
How is College Different from High School ?
| Following the Rules in High School | Choosing Responsibly in College |
|---|---|
| High school is mandatory and usually free. | College is voluntary and can be expensive. |
| Your time is structured by others. | You manage your own time. |
| You need permission to participate in extracurricular activities. | You must decide whether to participate in extracurricular activities. |
| You can count on parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and to guide you in setting priorities. | You must balance your responsibilities and set priorities. You will face moral and ethical decisions you have never faced before. |
| Each day you proceed from one class directly to another, spending 6 hours each – 30 hours a week – in class. | You often have hours between classes; class times vary throughout the day and evening and you spend on 12 to 16 hours in week in class if you are a full-time student. |
| Most of your classes are arranged for you. | You arrange your own schedule of courses in consultation with your academic advisor. Schedules tend to look lighter than they really are. |
| You are not responsible for knowing what it takes to graduate. | You are responsible to ensure you have met degree requirements and to apply for graduation. |
| Guiding principle: You will usually be told what to do and corrected if your behavior is out of time. | Guiding Principle: You are expected to take responsibility for what you do and don’t do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions. |
| Going to High School Classes | Succeeding in College Classes |
|---|---|
| The school year is approximately 36 weeks long; some classes extend over both semesters and some don’t. | The academic year is divided into two separate 16-week sessions (Fall and Spring); 10-week Summer Sessions are also offered. |
| You may study outside class as little as 0 to 2 hours a week, and this may be mostly last-minute test preparation. | You need to spend at least 2 to 3 hours outside of class for study for each hour you are in class. |
| You seldom need to read anything more than once, and sometimes listening in class is enough. | You need to read assigned readings before class, and you need to review class notes and text material regularly. |
| You are expected to read short assignments that are then discussed, and often re-taught, in class. | You are assigned substantial amounts of reading and writing which may not be directly addressed in class. |
| Guiding principle: You will usually be told in class what you need to learn from assigned readings. | Guiding principle: It’s up to you to read and understand the assigned material; lectures and assignments proceed from the assumption that you’ve already done so. |
| High School Teachers | College Instructors/Professors |
|---|---|
| Teachers check your completed homework. | Instructors/Professors may not always check completed homework, but they will assume you can perform the same tasks on test. |
| Teachers may remind you of your incomplete work. | Instructors/Professors may not remind you of assignments that are due, late, or incomplete. |
| Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance. | Instructors/Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance. |
| Teachers are often available for conversation before, during, or after class. | Instructors/Professors expect you, and want you, to attend their scheduled office hours. |
| Teachers have been trained in teaching methods to assist in imparting knowledge to students. | Instructors/Professors have been trained as experts in their particular subject areas. |
| Teachers provide you with information you missed when you were absent. | Instructors/Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed. |
| Teachers present material to help you understand the material in the textbook. | Instructors/Professors may not follow the textbook. Instead, to amplify the text, they may give illustrations, provide background information, or discuss research about the topic you are studying. Or they may expect you to relate the classes to the textbook readings. |
| Teachers often write information the board to be copied in your notes. | Instructors/Professors may lecture nonstop, expecting you to identify the important points in your notes. When professors write on the board, it may be to amplify the lecture, not summarize it. Keep up with readings, take notes, and review regularly. |
| Teachers impart knowledge and facts, sometime drawing direct connections and leading you through the thinking process. | Instructors/Professors expect you to think about and synthesize seemingly unrelated topics. |
| Teachers often take time to remind you of assignments and due dates. | Instructors/Professors expect you to read, save, and consult the course syllabus (outline); the syllabus spells out exactly what is expected of you, when it is due, and how you will be graded. |
| Teachers carefully monitor class attendance. | Instructors/Professors may not formally take roll, but they are still likely to know whether or not you attended. |
| Guiding Principles: High schools is a teaching environment in which you acquire facts and skills. | Guiding Principle: College is a learning environment in which you take responsibility for thinking through and applying what you have learned. |
| Tests in High School | Tests in College |
|---|---|
| Testing is frequent and covers small amounts of material. | Testing is usually infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material. You, not the instructor/professor, need to organize the material to prepare for the test. A particular course may have only 2 or 3 tests in a semester. |
| Makeup tests are often available. | Makeup tests are seldom an option; if they are, you need to request them. |
| Teachers frequently rearrange test dates to avoid conflict with school events. | Instructors/Professors in different courses usually schedule tests without regard to the demands of other courses or outside activities. |
| Teachers frequently conduct review sessions, pointing out the most important concepts. | Instructors/Professors rarely offer review sessions, and when they do, they expect you to be an active participant, one who comes prepared with questions. |
| Guiding Principle: Mastery is usually seen as the ability to reproduce what you were taught in the form in which it was presented to you, or to solve the kinds of problems you were shown how to solve. | Guiding Principle: Mastery is often seen as the ability to apply what you learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems. |
| Grades in High School | Grades in College |
|---|---|
| Grades are given for most assigned work. | Grades will be provided for all assigned work. Consult with your instructor/professor for more information. |
| Consistently good homework grades may raise your overall grades when test grades are low. | Grades on tests and major papers usually provide most of the course grade. Consult with your instructor/professor for more information. |
| Extra credit projects are often available to help you raise your grade. | Extra credit projects are at the discretion of the instructor/professor. Consult with your instructor/professor for more information. |
| Initial test grades, especially when they are low, may not have an adverse effect on your final grade. | Consult with your instructor/professor for more information for how test grades will affect your final course grade. |
| You may graduate as long as you have passed all required courses with a grade of D or higher. | You may graduate only if your average in classes meets the departmental standard – typically a 2.0 or C. |
| Guiding Principles: Effort counts. Courses are usually structured to reward a “good-faith effort.” | Guiding Principle: Results count. Though “good-faith effort” is important in regard to the professor’s willingness to help you achieve good results, it will not substitute for results in the grading process. |
Additional information for how college is different from high school
- Take control of your own education; think of yourself as a scholar.
- Get to know your professors – they are your single greatest resource.
- Be assertive. Create your own support system, and seek help when you realize you may need it.
- Plan ahead to satisfy academic obligations and make room for everything else.
- Make thoughtful decisions regarding your degree plan and course schedule.
- Apply the material you cover in class to your own life when possible.
- Work hard at assignments and study for exams.
- Stay organized, manage your time, and prioritize.
- Think beyond the moment – set goals for the semester, year, and your academic career.
How Many Classes Should I take?
Achieving balance in all areas of life is important. You need to balance work, family, personal time, and school to achieve success in your academic and career goals. Use this worksheet to help yourself balance your obligations and make choices that will lead to your academic and career success.
| Paid Work Hours per Week | Semester Credit Hours per Week | Course Prep Per Week* | Total Commitment Hours per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 15 | 30 | 57 |
| 18 | 12 | 24 | 54 |
| 25 | 10 | 20 | 55 |
| 30 | 8 | 16 | 54 |
| 40 | 6 | 12 | 58 |
| *Students should plan (at least) two hours of study and class prep for each hour in class. | |||
Tips for First Year Students
- Tip #1: GO TO CLASS
New students often hear that, in college, “you can go to class anytime you want.” NOT TRUE. Some classes may seem less interesting than others, but college is not for entertainment. Experienced students often say that the more time they spend in class, the less time they need to study outside of class. - Tip #2: Know The University Has Academic Rules
Academic policies and Social Code of Conduct Policies are found in the Student Handbook (https://nmsua.edu/student-handbook/ ). Do not become one of those who says, “But nobody told me…” - Tip #3: Check Out Rumors
Rumors of all types fly across a campus. While almost all do have a particle of truth, most rumors are largely fiction. Check rumors with an academic advisor before changing anything related to class preparation or scheduling. - Tip #4: Budget Time
We all have a life outside the campus. Plan your study time properly. Do not begin to study for a test or write a paper the night before either is due. Read syllabi early for dates and note them on a calendar. Remember, sleep is also necessary, so budget for that as well. - Tip #5: Accept Constructive Criticism
Keep in mind that when a professor critiques your work, he or she is doing you a favor. This is not personal; any work can be improved. The more “red lines” you see on a paper, the more time that the professor took to point out ways for you to improve. It is very frustrating to see a grade assigned to a paper or test and no comments or feedback as to how that grade was determined or how you can do better next time. - Tip #6: Realize That Being a Student Can Be a Full-Time Job
You can’t work hard only one day a week and earn acceptable grades. Look at collegiate life as a full-time career for the present. Focus on good academic habits, social skills, and balancing priorities. Now is the time to develop skills that will be expected after graduation in your selected career. - Tip #7: Develop An Appreciation for the Mastery Of Language
No matter what your major or discipline of interest, the single most important skill for life success is communication. Understand what language is acceptable and in what situations. How you communicate your skills and thoughts demonstrates the depth of your education. Even if your grades in technical courses get you that first job, it is your communication skills–usually in writing–that get you your promotion. - Tip #8: Become Part Of University Life
Becoming part of the campus community is just as important as going to class, writing papers, and taking exams. Don’t join every group, but be selective and participate in activities that will offer balance to your life. Take advantage of the variety of campus/college experiences. - Tip #9: Get To Know Your Professors before You Graduate
Begin by targeting some faculty that you think are worth knowing before you graduate. Who are you likely to have for more than one course? These are the professors who will evaluate your work, supply references for future career options or graduate school, and help guide your intellectual development. Most faculty are very approachable; don’t let titles of “professor” or “doctor”‘ frighten you. Those titles are their achievement, and these are the people who will help you attain the goals you have set for yourself. - Tip #10: Have The Courage of Your Confusions
In high school, a good student is supposed to know all the answers and get everything right. But in college, you take on more difficult challenges and more demanding material. It is no longer possible to have “all the answers.” Beyond college, that kind of high school perfection isn’t even remotely possible. Learn to be patient with others and with yourself. Learn to function well in situations where 100% success isn’t possible; seek out and value the big questions which are more important than answers. - Tip #11: Be Patient with Yourself
You will make errors or mistakes during your collegiate career. Please be assured that you are not DOOMED. When you realize, or even think, you have goofed, set out to correct it. - Tip #12: Make Your Own Decisions
Seeking advice is always nice. Trying to play it safe and avoid making decisions can lead to as many problems as making uninformed or risky choices. Weigh options and gather as much information as possible. Accept responsibility for your decisions. - Tip #13: You Are in School for Your Education, Not Someone Else’s
If you enter college just to please everyone else, or even ANYONE else, you will end up pleasing no one. If you let others decide what you are going to study, where you attend college, and what you are going to be, you have ignored your responsibility to yourself. - Tip #14: Know Your Academic Situation Before The Withdraw Period
If you have a question or concern about how you are doing in a class, go to the professor and discuss it. Keep yourself informed and record all grades received for each assignment. Read each syllabus carefully, and pay attention to the weight of all assignments as they determine the final grade in each course. Keep all grades updated. - Tip #15: Learn To Communicate In the Classroom
There are no dumb questions concerning subject matter. If you don’t know or don’t understand something, chances are several of your classmates don’t either. Learning to ask questions is a skill. Develop it! - Tip #16: Safeguard Your Physical and Mental Well-Being
When exhausted, rest. Eat proper food and know when to relax. Plan exercise into your schedule. No one is going to thank you for working yourself into a frazzle or getting ill, let alone for staying up all night. It is amazing how many students demand their independence and simply do not know how to take care of themselves. - Tip #17: Accept Responsibility for Yourself and Your Behavior
If what you say and do is prompted by others, or if nothing is ever your fault because others “pushed” you, you cannot claim to be an adult, just an immature follower. - Tip #18: It Does Not Help To Blame Others For Your Academic Problems
If you are not doing well academically, get help. Very few students get through college without some assistance. If it takes you longer to learn material or even to graduate, so what? Remove distractions when studying. Go to review sessions and use tutoring services. GO TO CLASS and participate. Get the help of your professors, instructors and tutors to eliminate the problems. - Tip #19: Locate and Use All University Services
The University DOES want you to succeed and will help you by means of all its services. These range from math and writing skills centers to referrals for personal counseling. Let the college serve you. After all, it is your school. You are paying for these services anyway, in the form of tuition and fees.
College Terms You Need to Know
For more specific information, go to the catalog or visit with an Academic Advisor
- Accreditation. Colleges and universities are evaluated by accrediting teams who judge schools on their faculty, degrees offered (including online), and physical facilities such as laboratories, library and student center. NMSU is accredited by the Higher Commission of the North Central Associate of Schools and Colleges. Credits from schools not regionally accredited may not transfer. In addition, individual programs within the college may be accredited by another entity. I.e., this program is accredited by this program.
- Admission (Admit). The process through which students gain entry into a university/college.
- Apply. When a student officially submits an application for Admission.
- Associate Degree. Also called a “two-year degree” (which is the shortest time you could complete a degree if you carried 16-17 credits per semester and did not attend summer term). At NMSU-A, a minimum of 60 credit hours is required for any associate degree. NMSU-A offers terminal associate degrees (vocational-technical program) that allows you to find employee with that degree, as well as associate degrees that lead into bachelor degree programs at NMSU.
- Bachelor’s Degree. Often called a “four-year degree” (which is the shortest time you could complete the degree if you carried 16-17 credits per semester and did not attend summer term). A minimum of 120 credit hours is required, not including developmental courses (depending on the major field). The freshman/sophomore years include General Education Requirements and beginning courses in the major; the junior/senior years include primarily courses within the major field.
- Catalog. The online document lists university policies and procedures, degree plans and requirements, course descriptions and prerequisites for all courses offered at the university. (Not all courses are offered every semester.)
- Course Registration Form. A form used by the Admissions and Academic offices to register students for classes if the student is unable to register him/herself.
- Class Standing. Class standing is based on the number of credit hours students have earned. At NMSU the following standards apply:
Class Standing Class Hours Freshman 0-27 Sophomore 28-61 Junior 62-93 Senior 94 or more - CLEP (College Level Examination Program). Students can earn credit for college courses by achieving a pre-determined score on these test. CLEP tests are not given on the Alamogordo campus.
- Commencement (Graduation). At NMSU-A, a commencement ceremony is held in May for students who complete degree requirements during the previous academic year. Students may complete an application for degree at the beginning of the semester they will complete requirements. Applying for degree is free until the deadline, at which time a late fee will be assessed.
- Community College. A two-year school which awards certificates and associate degrees and only 100- and 200-level courses are offered.
- Comprehensive Examination – aka Final exam. Usually includes questions on material taught over the entire semester.
- Co-requisite. A course that is required to be taken in conjunction with another course.
- Credit Hour. The credit, or semester, hour is equivalent to one hour of lecture per week in a sixteen week semester (or a minimum of two hours of practice or laboratory per week). For every hour in class per week, plan an additional two hours of study per week. I.e., a student enrolled in 6 credit hours (two classes) should plan 12 hours of study time per week for a total commitment of 18 hours class/study time per week.
- Developmental Courses. Preparatory courses in math, English, and reading that students must take to “develop” college level skills to be successful in math, English, and reading comprehension. Designated with an “N”.
- Drop. Students are allowed to “drop” one or more courses by a predetermined deadline after the start of the semester, via the drop/add screen in the myNMSU account. Drop dates are located on the Academic Calendar.
- Elective. Courses a student can “elect” to take from a number of optional subjects/courses in a curriculum, to complete degree requirements.
- Enroll. The process of initiating attendance to a school.
- Financial Aid. Any grant or scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student meet his/her college expenses. Such aid is usually provided by various sources such as federal and state agencies, colleges, high schools, foundations, and corporations. FAFSA is the most popular.
- Full time student. A student who takes between 12 and 18 credit hours during a 16-week semester for registration, tuition, and financial aid purposes.
- General Education Requirements. Required courses usually taken during the freshman & sophomore years, and include subjects such as math, English, humanities, social sciences, and science; the educational foundation of skills, knowledge, habits of mind, and values that prepares students for success in their majors and in their personal & professional lives after graduation.
- Grade-Point Average (GPA). A number representing the average value of the accumulated final grades earned in courses over time, calculated by Grade points x # of credits / total credits = GPA.
- Graduate Student. A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a university who is studying or doing research at a more advanced level, or Master’s Degree.
- Graduation. See “Commencement.”
- Hours. See “Credit Hour”.
- Incomplete. A grade of I is given for passable work that could not be completed due to circumstances beyond the student’s control.
- Lower Division. 100- (Freshman) and 200-level (Sophomore) courses.
- Major. The field of study in which a student focuses during the course of his/her degree.
- Minor. A second concentration of courses that often complement a Major.
- Overload. More than 18 credits for a regular semester and more than 12 credits for the summer term. Written permission is required to register for an overload.
- Placement Assessment – Required prior to registration for all new degree-seeking students or those students who plan to take any math or English course unless the student has passed the required prerequisite with a C- or better.
- Prerequisite. An enforceable entry requirement for a particular course; must be successfully completed before enrolling in the subsequent course.
- Probation. A warning that the student’s academic performance falls below the institution’s requirement for good academic standing.
- RR Grade (Re-register). Given in developmental courses (such as CCDM or CCDE) in which the student has attended classes, made substantial progress, but may not have achieved the skill level required for a grade. RR grade indicates the student has not met the prerequisite requirement for the follow-on course and must repeat the course.
- Register. The process of adding classes.
- Repeat Option. Students who have earned a “D” or “F” in a course may repeat the course; the new grade will be substituted for the failing grade when figuring GPA. The failing grade will remain on the transcript.
- Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grade (S/U). An alternative course-specific grading scheme that lets undergraduate students take courses outside their areas of specialization. Not included in GPA calculations.
- Schedule of Classes. A document that contains the time and days for courses offered in a specific semester.
- Student Handbook. Contains policies and procedures for academic and disciplinary issues.
- Suspension. The temporary removal of a student from his/her regular educational setting for a violation of school policies or rules. Also occurs after student has worked through Academic Probation and both semester and cumulative GPA is below 2.0
- Transcript. A documentation of a student’s academic record, which usually means all courses taken, all grades and honors received, and degrees conferred to a student.
- Transfer Credit. Course credits awarded for equivalent credit from previously completed courses earned at another university or college. Must be in “degree seeking” status before prior credit from a regionally accredited college will be evaluated.
- Undergraduate Student. Students taking courses toward associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees.
- Upper Division. Courses are those taken at the junior and senior level and are number 300 and 400 respectively.
- Withdrawal. To officially leave a class or the university after the deadline to “drop”, resulting in a “W” appearing on the student’s transcript. The “W” grade has no effect on the student’s GPA.
