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Academic Advising Center

Frequently Asked Questions 
for Academic Advising Center

How are academic advisors assigned?
How do I declare a major?
When do I meet with my assigned advisor to schedule classes?
How often should I meet with my academic advisor?
How do I drop, add, or withdraw from a class?
Is there someone I can see if my advisor is not available?
Are there any restrictions imposed on students who are on academic probation?
Can I be suspended from the university for lack of academic progress?
If I get suspended for academic reasons, what conditions must I satisfy to return to the university?
Should I repeat a course I failed?
Is there a program to help students on academic probation?
In the event I get sick during the semester or have to leave school for some reason or other what should I do?
What GPA must I earn to graduate from college and to qualify for graduate or professional school?
What are the names of these professional tests?
When do I have to take these tests and how do I prepare for them?
If I am a transfer student, do I receive credit for all courses I took at the previous college or university?
As a transfer student, can I declare my major upon admission?

18.

 If I am a student with disabilities, is there someone I can consult with concerning special accommodations?
19. I am a veteran, are there special services for veterans?


Question: 1. How are academic advisors assigned?

Answer: Students are assigned to faculty advisors in the department of their major if they indicate interest in a particular major on the admissions application. If they do not indicate a particular interest, they are considered to be undecided and are assigned to pre-major advisors coming under the Advising Center. The pre-major advisor will assist the student with making an informed decision about choice of major. Students are urged to declare a major in their first year if they have satisfied the conditions for declaring.

Question: 2. How do I declare a major?

Answer: Although students are assigned to an advisor in the department of the major they indicate an interest in on the admissions application, they must complete a Major Application to be considered "officially" declared in that major. You will need to have your current advisor sign this application, then take the form to the chair of the department for your major. The chair will sign the form and assign you to a departmental advisor if you do not already have one. You must then take the signed form to the Registrar's  Office for final processing. Students who indicated "undecided" on their admissions application are assigned to pre-major advisors under the Academic Advising Center who will assist them in the process of coming to an informed decision about selecting a major. Once they have come to a decision about their major they will be instructed to complete the Major application. Some departments have specific requirements that must be fulfilled in order to declare their majors; therefore, students planning to go into majors offered by the departments of Education, HPR (Health, Physical Education and Recreation), and Mass Communications will be assigned to pre-major advisors in that department, but will not be "officially" declared until they have met all the requirements.

Major Applications are available in your record folder for use by your advisor. The Application can also be downloaded from the Registrar's Website

Major Applications are available in the Academic Advising Center located in 222 Dickey Hall, Suite 235 or in the Registrar's office located on the 2nd Floor of Lincoln Hall. The Application can also be downloaded from the Registrar’s Website. Students should take this Application to their assigned advisor to begin the process for officially declaring a major.

Question: 3. When do I meet with my assigned advisor to schedule classes?

Answer: All freshman and transfer students are scheduled for an appointment with their assigned advisor during Freshman Transition Week to complete their schedule.  However, after students are admitted they may not register until they pay their admissions deposit and moved to student status in the system. Although advisors will schedule students for their first semester classes in WebAdvisor; thereafter, students will be required to register their classes on-line in WebAdvisor during the mandatory registration period. However, they must meet with their advisor to have their schedule approved before the advisor can remove the hold in WebAdvisor to permit them to schedule on-line.

The Registrar's office will notify students of the dates and procedures for mandatory registration each semester. Students register according to class status: seniors and priority students are first, juniors are second, sophomores are third, and freshmen are last. Transfer students' status is based on the number of credits transferred in as well as those taken at Lincoln. Athletes and band members are "priority" students, so they are in the first group. Students are advised to make sure they do not have any other holds, such as financial, health, admissions, health or judicial, which will prevent them from registering. Check "My Restrictions" in the Student Menu in WebAdvisor so you can get any holds removed before you try to register.

Students are advised to register as soon as they are eligible in order to secure the classes they need. Popular classes fill up quickly. Registration will remain open until the end of the Add/Drop period of the next semester, but you will need to contact your advisor to get the Advisor hold removed.

Instructions for WebAdvisor are available on the Advising Center and Registrar's websites. Through WebAdvisor students can access the schedule of classes ("Search for Sections") and other critical academic information such as their student profile, mid-term grades, unofficial transcript, placement scores ("Test Summary"), and a full degree audit ("Program Evaluation") that shows which requirements have been fulfilled for both the Core and the Major curriculum.

Question: 4. How often should I meet with my academic advisor?

Answer: Students are required to meet with their advisors for their initial course scheduling session. They are also required to see their advisor to discuss mid-term progress and to have them approve their schedule before pre-registering for classes during the mandatory registration period each semester. It is absolutely okay to see your advisor when need dictates in that they are concerned about your progress and are here to assist you with planning your academic curriculum and meeting the requirements for graduation. Advisors’ typically post their Office Hours in their department. Students should check with the advisor or the department secretary to establish what the procedure is for making an appointment and for scheduling during mandatory registration..

Question: 5. How do I drop, add, or withdraw from a class?

Answer: You can only drop and add during the scheduled time to adjust your schedule each semester. This is referred to as the free add/ drop period. You cannot drop or add after the last day allowed for adding and dropping.  Thereafter, you can withdraw from a class and a grade W will appear on your transcript and the credits will count as "attempted" credits. The W grade will not be used in calculation of your GPA; however, the credits do not count as "completed" or "earned" credits. The university Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy requires that students complete at least 75% of attempted credits after they have completed two semesters or attempted 29 credits.  

To add a class within the add/drop period, you go to "Search and Register" in your Student menu and follow the same procedure as for registration. (See WebAdvisor instructions.)

We strongly recommend that you do not drop or withdraw from a class without discussing it with your advisor. In order to drop, or withdraw from a course, go to "Refister and Drop Sections" in your Student menu in WebAdvisor. This will bring up a list of the classes for which you are currently registered. To drop or withdraw, you click in the "Drop" box to the left of the class you wish to drop, then click "Submit."

Question: 6. Is there someone I can see if my advisor is not available?

Answer: Yes, you can come to the Academic Advising Center. Our office hours are from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The center provides walk-in advising services to students who have an academic concern or emergency. The Academic Advising Center also provides supplemental assistance to pre-major and faculty advisors. Students are welcome to come to the Academic Advising Center to inquire about the university's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and other  academic policies and procedures; to obtain information about majors offered at Lincoln, to obtain a major application or to discuss selection or change of major, and to inquire about taking classes off campus.

Question: 7. Are there any restrictions imposed on students who are on academic probation?

Answer: Students earning a GPA below 2.00 (C) are placed on Academic Probation. Students cannot take more than 13 credits if they are on academic probation. Also, they are not allowed to participate in sports or hold any university office until they come off probation.

Question: 8. Can I be suspended from the university for lack of academic progress?

Answer: Yes, failure to comply with our SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy) can result in academic suspension. Basically, you must earn a minimum GPA of 1.75 when you have completed 24 - 29 credits, a GPA of 1.90 when you complete 30 - 59 credits and a GPA of 2.0 when you have completed 60 or more credits. Also, you must complete 75% of the credits you attempt. After you have completed two semesters, failure to satisfy either one of these requirements can result in academic suspension.

Question: 9. If I get suspended for academic reasons, what conditions must I satisfy to return to the university?

Answer: If you are suspended from the University for not meeting our SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) requirements, you can appeal your suspension. An Appeal of Suspension form (also available on the Registrar’s website) will be enclosed in the suspension letter the Registrar’s office sends you. You should mail the completed appeal back to the Registrar by the required deadline. Thereafter the Academic Standing Committee will read your appeal and if the Committee considers your reasons for lack of academic progress is/were due to extenuating circumstance, they may decide to overturn or revoke your suspension.

If your suspension is overturned, you will be allowed to return but will be placed on progress probation. As a condition of progress probation, you will need to do an Academic Improvement Plan with your advisor and submit it to the registrar's office before your restriction can be removed in WebAdvisor to allow you to schedule classes. The Academic Improvement Plan is available for downloading from the registrar's webpage. Also, you will be required to participate in the EMAP (Early Monitoring Alert Program), a program developed to help students improve their academic performance and raise their GPA's to the required level. If your suspension is upheld, you will not be permitted to return to campus until you satisfy conditions stipulated by the Academic Standing Committee.

Question: 10. Should I repeat a course I failed?

Answer: Yes, particularly if the course is a basic course, a core requirement, or a required course in your major. The sooner you complete your basic courses, the sooner you will be able to begin taking courses in your major. Also, repeating and passing a course in which you got an F is the easiest way to raise your GPA, because the higher grade will then be used in calculating your GPA; the F will no longer be included in the calculation.

Remember, however, that the credits for the F will still be considered "attempted" credits.

Question: 11. Is there a program to help students on academic probation?

Answer: 

Yes, as indicated in question #9, this program is called EMAP (Early Monitoring Alert Program). It is offered by the Office of Student Services located at Vail Hall Modular (temporarily). Students will be notified and told they must participate in the program if they are on academic probation or have been allowed back on a progress probation after being suspended for academic reasons. The Academic Standing Committee is notified when the student does not fulfill his/her obligation to participate in the program and can result in the student being denied another progress probation.

More information about Student Support Services is available at: www.lincoln.edu/studentservices/index.html

Question: 12. In the event I get sick during the semester or have to leave school
for some reason or other what should I do?

Answer: If you have to leave school and intend to return to complete your studies then you need to notify your instructors so that they do not assume you are absent from class. Also, it is recommended that you do this before leaving campus so that you can arrange to complete any missed assignments or tests. If it is not possible to see your instructors before you leave, then you should contact your advisor so that he/she can notify your instuctors. Also, it may be possible to appeal for I’s (incomplete grades), or W’s (withdrawals) if your departure occurs at the end of the semester. If you have no intent of returning to complete your studies, then you should contact the Registrar’s Office to officially withdraw for the semester. If you choose to not return to the university all together, then you should also complete a withdrawal form. By taking this approach, you can avoid getting F grades for all your courses.

Question: 13. What GPA must I earn to graduate from college and to qualify for graduate or professional school?

Answer: Most graduate and professional schools require a minimum 3.00 GPA to be considered for admission into their graduate programs. If you are planning to go to graduate school to earn a masters or higher degree, or if you are planning to go to a professional school (law, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, etc.) it is important that you check to see what the minimum GPA requirement is for admission for the schools you are thinking of applying to. It varies from school to school In addition to earning a high GPA, you will need to take a standardized test and earn a qualifying score to be considered for admission.

Question: 14. What are the names of these professional tests?

Answer: They include but are not limited to the following:

For graduate schools:

GRE = Graduate Record Exam
GMAT = Graduate Management Admissions Test
MAT = Millers Analogies Test

For more information about graduate schools and programs go to: www.graduateschools.com or www.petersons.com/graduate-schools.aspx

For professional schools:

DAT = Dental Admissions Test
LSAT = Law School Admission Test
MCAT = Medical College Admission Test
OAT = Optometry Admissions Test
PCAT = Pharmacy College Admission Test
VCAT = Veterinary College Admissions Test

To get information on these tests and how to study for them go to: www.studyguidezone.com 

Also, if you are planning to go to graduate or professional school please follow the four-year Academic Planning for Career Success 

 

Question: 15. When do I have to take these tests and how do I prepare for them?

Answer: Typically, students take these tests in their junior year. If you do not earn a qualifying score on the test, you can take them over.

Specific guidelines on content and preparation for these tests are available in the Career Services Center, located at 241 Dickey Hall. Also, information on coaching programs for boosting you score is available.

Also, go to www.studyguidezone.com for free resources for students and beginning professionals, and anyone else who wants to improve his or her score on a standardized test.

Question: 16. If I am a transfer student, do I receive credit for all courses I took at the previous college or university?

Answer: No, only courses you earned a C or higher grade in will transfer. Your courses will be evaluated for equivalency; and if they do not transfer in for equivalent credit, they usually transfer in as electives. Your advisor will assist you with the process for completing the Transfer Equivalencies form.

Question: 17. As a transfer student, can I declare my major upon admission?

Answer: Yes, you can declare your major upon admission as long as you have satisfied the conditions for declaration.

Question: 18. If I am a student with disabilities, is there someone I can consult with concerning special accommodations?

Answer: Yes, Student Support Services make provisions for students with disabilities. Please go to the Student Support Services website for more information.

Question: 19. I am a veteran, are there special services for veterans?

Answer: Yes, Student Support Services also provides those services. Please go to the Student Support Services website for more information.

For answers to your other questions please review the table of contents in The Freshman Guide to Course Selection on this website and the Academic Section of the college bulletin located on the Registrar’s website. Also, please read the Fall and Spring editions of the Academic Advising Center Newsletter or email or call us. We look forward to serving you, and helping you have a good academic experience at Lincoln University.

 

 


Lincoln University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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