What is advising, and why do you need it?

Advising is an umbrella term we use to describe the academic guidance you seek and receive as you complete your degree program at BSU. Even if you are a very confident student with lots of support from your family and friends, there are aspects of advising that you will find helpful (and some are necessary for your success).

Topics to cover in your advising meetings

• Check in about how are things going
  • Share your story, your “why?” for being at BSU, and your goals
  • Personal/mental wellness and stress check
  • Living, commuting and basic needs check
  • Share concerns, doubts, difficulties
  • Cover specific course issues, get referrals for tutoring or peer support

• Registration planning and receiving your registration access code.
  • Program progression (academic plan)
  • Semester credit load pros and cons
  • Planned graduation date (having a date in mind clarifies the goal)
  • Understand which courses will be offered (course rotation and frequency)
• Academic planning
  • Degree Audit Report (DAR) interpretation and understanding
  • Review transfer courses and credits
  • Request substitutions or transfer course equivalencies
  • Change or add a major, minor or certificate to your plan
  • Get advice about dropping, withdrawing or repeating courses
  • Check dates and deadlines, processes to follow like grad plan submission
  • Get assistance with creating and submitting academic/financial aid petitions

• Learn about your faculty advisor and how they can help connect you
  • Career development, grad school and internship possibilities

• Extracurricular options and social integration
  • Beaver Link events, clubs/organizations, intramural sports
    

Changing your advisor

To request a change to your faculty advisor, send an email to advising@bemidjistate.edu with your StarID, and the name of the faculty advisor you wish to select. Note that we will do our best to honor your request, but there may be times when a different faculty advisor will be assigned to you.

Changing your major

To change or add a major or minor area of study, complete and submit the Student Personal Data form to the BSU Records office.

If you change your major, you don’t need to specify a particular faculty member from your new major. In that case, we will assign you an advisor from your new major’s department.