Structure of Advising

Advising in the college starts with the college meeting during the First-year Testing Counseling and Advising Program (FTCAP). The college meeting is attended by nearly all students enrolled in the ECoS and their families. During this meeting, students and their families learn about the overall academic structure of the college, the college's programs and majors, the academic enrichment opportunities within the college, and strategies for maximizing academic success. In addition, they learn how to interpret their mathematics and chemistry placement scores, and use these results to schedule their first semester mathematics and chemistry courses. During the college meeting students are also requested to indicate their intended choice of major within the college.

Following the college meeting, students and their families attend the department meeting for their intended choice of major. During this meeting students and their families learn about the specific requirements of their intended major. Students are also provided curriculum guides, Web resources, and in certain departments, advising handbooks. In addition, students plan and schedule their first semester courses in consultation with faculty and/or professional advisers.

ORIENTATION

The Eberly College of Science offers many orientation programs for first-year students, change-of-assignment, and advanced standing transfer students. Orientation programs are held for students new to University Park for the summer, fall, and spring semesters. All of these programs focus on providing information to help students to make a successful transition to University Park from high school or another Penn State Campus.

For incoming first-year students, change-of assignment students, and advanced standing transfer students there are five programs.

1. Course Scheduling and Registration Information Session: for students not registered for the semester.
2. Department Course Registration Meetings: schedule planning for students not registered for the semester.
3. College of Science Meeting: introduction to the Associate Dean and general college and university academic policies.
4. Strategies for Academic Success: introduction to a model and strategies for academic success and discussion of successful strategies used by students.
5. Department Meetings: introduction to departmental academic guidelines and policies.  

DURING THE SEMESTER

Once the semester starts, students are assigned faculty advisers from the departments that offer their intended major. The BIOL , SC , and PM students are exceptions to this procedure.

Students who are pre-major SC-BS are advised by professional advisers in the college's Academic Advising Center.

Both pre-major PM students and students in the PM major with a fourth semester standing or lower are advised by a professional health sciences academic adviser, who resides in the college's Academic Advising Center.

Both pre-major BIOL students and students in the BIOL major with a fourth semester standing or lower are advised by a professional academic adviser, who resides in the biology department's academic advising center. Students in the BIOL major who are fifth semester standing or higher are assigned a biology faculty adviser.

Each department and program within the college has an assigned faculty member who serves as the Undergraduate Program Officer . In addition to other responsibilities, this designated person oversees and coordinates the department's undergraduate advising and FTCAP program.