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policies & procedures

When does a student need to see an Advisor?

  1. To initiate a change of major

    A student who would like to change his/her major to one that is offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences may file a General Petition. The student may complete section A on the petition and check line #8 in section B to indicate which major they intend to declare.

    A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required to change the major/minor. The change of major is not official until it has been approved by the department advisor for the major and the college dean’s office through the Academic Affairs Center.

    Students who have completed 60 hours without declaring a major will have an enrollment stop placed on their records which will make them ineligible to enroll for further coursework until a major is declared. If a student has completed 60 hours with a GPA below 2.0, he/she will be required to enter into a "contract" with the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
  2. To file a major degree plan

    A major degree plan should be filed with the college that offers the major. Students who wish to pursue a major offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences should see the departmental advisor to file the major degree plan. A degree plan is not official in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences until it has been signed by the student, departmental advisor and a representative of the Dean’s office. A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required to file for a major degree plan.
  3. To file a minor degree plan

    A minor degree plan should be filed with the college that offers the minor. Students who wish to pursue a minor offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences should see the departmental advisor to file the minor degree plan. A degree plan is not official in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences until it has been signed by the student, departmental advisor and a representative of the Dean’s office. A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required to file for a minor degree plan
  4. To process Veteran’s Administration paperwork

    College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences majors who are eligible for Veteran’s benefits must have a departmental advisor sign their VA enrollment certification form. Students need to make an appointment to have their VA papers signed by contacting their departmental advisor.
  5. To process financial aid appeals

    Students who require a departmental advisor’s signature on financial aid appeals need only to bring the appropriate form to the departmental advisor. An appointment may be necessary to have a departmental advisor sign the financial aid appeal form.
  6. To enter into an academic "contract" with the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

    A contract is for students who are on probation and have not declared a major. Please see CONTRACTS for more information.
  7. To apply for graduation

    While students are not required to see a departmental advisor when they submit the application for graduation, students are encouraged to meet with an advisor before the semester of their anticipated graduation. During this meeting, the advisor can review the student’s degree plan and confirm that all degree requirements will be satisfied upon the successful completion of the final semester course work. (see additional information in the Graduation section)
  8. To assist with the processing of international student forms

    International students who require a signature to verify enrollment may bring the appropriate forms to their departmental advisor. An appointment to see the departmental advisor may be required or the advisor may be available during walk-in periods. International students who require verification of progress toward a degree will need to make an appointment with a departmental advisor.
    Departmental advisors can assist with the processing of international student forms (i.e. provide signatures). However, these forms are distributed by the International Student Services Office and must be processed according to their guidelines.
  9. To review conditions for readmission from academic suspension

    Students must submit their applications for readmission from suspension to their departmental advisor with an appointment. After a student meets with their advisor, they must make an appointment with one of the advisors in the Academic Affairs Center, room 315, Agnes Arnold Hall. Students from suspension will not be eligible to enroll for classes until they have met with an advisor from the Academic Affairs Center.
  10. Special situations

    When special situations arise, the Academic Affairs Center can provide direct assistance or refer students to the university office that can resolve issues of concern to our students. There are certain issues that must be handled by a university office, staff member or department representative other than the Academic Affairs Center. Students should take note of the following situations that need resolution elsewhere.
    • Grade Changes: Only the instructor for the course in question can authorize a grade change.
    • Applications for admission: Undergraduate students should not submit application materials to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. All application materials, including transcripts, should be submitted to the University of Houston Office of Admissions.
    • Degree requirement exceptions/substitutions: Departmental advisors cannot approve exceptions or substitutions to degree requirements. Any change to a requirement on a student’s degree plan must be petitioned and approved by the department chair for the major, the college dean and, in some cases, the university provost.
    • Closed classes: Departmental advisors cannot enroll students into "closed" sections of a class without written approval (a signed add/drop form) from the instructor. This must be done before the published deadline dates.
    • Financial Aid: Other than signing financial aid appeal forms, departmental advisors cannot resolve problems related to financial aid distributed through the University of Houston Office of Financial Aid.
    • Course Content: Departmental advisors can provide general information about the courses required for a student’s degree. However, specific questions related to course content or course requirements should be addressed to the Major Program Director or to the instructor for the course.
    • Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) Compliance: Issues related to a student’s TASP compliance must be resolved with a University Studies Division advisor. The student should go to Room 320 in the Student Services Center
  11. Career Counseling

    Advisors can provide general information about the career opportunities that exist for the various majors within the college. However, students should consult the CLASS Career Services Center for access to job search databases, comprehensive career counseling, resume building and internship opportunities.

Priority Advising Week

The week prior to each semester registration period has been designated as Priority Advising Week for graduating seniors, students with disabilities, Honors students, Scholars Community students, student athletes, and student leaders. All the groups above, except for the graduating seniors, (unless the graduating seniors are a part of the above groups), have permission to register the Friday before the registration period begins. Students who fall in the above categories are strongly encouraged to make appointments with departmental advisors to ensure that the student is taking the correct courses. Student athletes must make appointments with their departmental advisors to ensure that their course selections meet all NCAA eligibility requirements.

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