College of Business & Technology

What to Expect from Your Advising Experience

Students Are Responsible for...

  • Being courteous and planning ahead.
  • Schedule regular appointments early each semester and cancel or reschedule only if necessary.
  • Missing appointments without proper notification is unacceptable and does not increase your chances for success.
  • Prepare questions and/or topics to discuss for each appointment.
  • Actively seek information to choose a major and/or career path.
  • Learn how to interpret the catalog, WARD reports and Student Degree Plan as needed.
  • Utilize the STARS student record system.
  • Develop and clarify your personal interests, abilities, values and goals.
  • Research collegiate programs, policies, procedures and opportunities as appropriate.
  • Keep a record of your academic progress and goals.
  • Check your WIU email account daily.
  • Accept responsibility for your decisions and your actions (or inactions) that affect your educational progress and goals.

Advisors Can Help You Plan For Your Success...

  • Treat you with respect and as an adult.
  • Be accessible for meeting with you during office hours, by appointment, telephone or email.
  • Encourage and guide you to define and develop clear and realistic educational goals.
  • Provide a safe space in which to share your thoughts, aspirations, concerns and interests.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Listen carefully to your questions and concerns.
  • Understand and effectively communicate the curriculum, graduation requirements, and university and/or college policies and procedures through use of the catalog & WARD reports.
  • Monitor and accurately document your progress toward meeting your degree requirements.
  • Act as your accountability partner who will challenge, motivate, mentor, encourage and inspire you to achieve the most out of your educational experience.
  • Assist you in gaining decision-making skills.
  • Assist you in making course and major decisions.
  • Encourage you to work closely with your professors/instructors.
  • Provide educational resources and referrals when appropriate.
  • Encourage you to participate in extra-curricular activities and events.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes For The Academic Advising Experience

  • Be able to accurately read and effectively utilize a degree audit/WARD report and, when applicable, a student degree plan.
  • Learn to calculate a grade point average.
  • Develop an understanding of academic status and grade point average thresholds.
  • Acquire an understanding of the general education requirements.
  • Develop an educational plan for successfully achieving goals and select courses each semester to progress toward fulfilling that educational plan.
  • Utilize the resources and services on campus to assist in achieving academic, personal and career goals.
  • Investigate extra-curricular activities and events that will supplement the academic experience.
*Acceptance as a business major requires the completion of the following:
  • At least 60 semester hours earned
  • With a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.50
  • And the completion of ACCT 201 and 202, ECON 231 and 232, MATH 137, and STAT 171 (DS 203 is also acceptable for the statistics requirement, but does not count in General Education).
*Limit on Business Credits:
  • Students who are not fully declared as Bachelor of Business majors may enroll in a maximum of 29 total hours of coursework with the following prefixes: ACCT, BAT, B L, DS, FIN, HRM, MGT, MKTG, OM, and SCM.
  • Pre-business students who have earned 60 hours, but are otherwise ineligible to declare a business major, will not be allowed to register for Business coursework in excess of 29 hours.
  • Exceptions to this rule require the permission of the Dean of the College of Business and Technology.