- Valdosta State University
- University Advising & Student Transitions
- How Advising Works at VSU
How Advising Works at VSU
At Valdosta State, you will be advised by a success team, including your professional advisor, your faculty mentor, and team members from Career Opportunities, the Academic Success Center, and Financial Aid. Your professional advisor, located in your college’s advising center, is your partner in planning your progression through your major towards a timely graduation.
Ultimately, advisors provide guidance and support to advance our students both personally and academically. At VSU, advising is a collaborative, mandatory process designed to help students:
- Succeed academically,
- Develop an appropriate educational plan leading to graduation,
- Focus on their life beyond the university, and
- Play a responsible and proactive role in their own education.
Who Advises?
At VSU, you have professionally trained advisors who are motivated and passionate about advising and helping students succeed. Within your college, faculty advisors are experts in their discipline, connecting routinely with our students; in the classroom, the studio, on the stage, in a lab, and beyond. Students can find out who their advisor is by logging into MyVSU.
Why do Students Come to Advising?
Your advisor can help connect you with information on:
- Acceptance/admission questions
- Registration questions
- Financial Aid questions
- Change of major
- Program of Study Questions
- Course withdrawals
- Academic Difficulty and Support Resources
- Answering the question: How do I ___?
- Academic Standing
- Career exploration
- Professional mentorship & more!
Do students have to be advised?
Yes! The VSU Undergraduate Catalog states that all undergraduate and graduate students must meet with their advisor each semester before being allowed to access the registration system and register for classes.
What do Advisors do?
Advisors encourage students to:
- Explore academic interests and determine an appropriate major
- Design a program of study meeting individual interests and needs
- Map out a schedule and prepare for registration
- Monitor student's academic progress
- Find activities and opportunities to enhance the academic experience
- Seek mentorship and career path development
- Connect with campus support services, such as:
What is the Student’s Role in Advising?
Our goal is for you take an active role in your academic and social success. As a student, you should:
- Initiate and maintain regular contact with your assigned advisor
- Schedule and keep advising appointments
- Monitor current academic progress
- Read and use VSU's Undergraduate Catalog
- Know the requirements of the degreed academic program of interest
- Ask questions, be proactive and engaged!
How to Schedule an Advising Appointment
We have recently moved to a new Academic Advising Appointment Scheduler. To view directions on how to register an appointment, click on this link.
Where Should Students Go for Advising?
Depending on your major, you will be advised through one of seven advising centers. For more information on how the advising process works in each center, please click a center below.
College of the Arts Advising Center
The College of the Arts (COA) Advising Center advises students with majors in the departments of:
- Art and Design,
- Music, and
- Communication Arts, which includes
- Theatre,
- Dance,
- Mass Media, and
- Communication.
Students in COA majors are advised by the COA Advising Center staff. Please visit the Advising Center in the University Center, room 1200.
- See the majors and minors advised in the COA Advising Center
- See specific forms for COA students
- See programs of study and check sheets for COA programs
- See COA Advising Center staff
For more information, visit the College of Arts Advising Center website.
Langdale College of Business Administration Advising Center
The Langdale College of Business Administration (COBA) Advising Center advises students with majors in the departments of:
- Accounting,
- Economics and Finance,
- Management and Healthcare Administration, and
- Marketing & International Business.
Students in COBA majors are advised by the COBA Advising Center staff. Please visit the Advising Center on the third floor of Thaxton Hall any time after the fourth week of the semester. An appointment is not necessary.
- See the majors and minors advised in the COBA Advising Center
- See specific forms for COBA students
- See programs of study and check sheets for COBA programs
- See COBA Advising Center staff
For more information, visit the Langdale College of Business Administration Advising Center website.
Dewar College of Education and Human Services Advising Center
The Dewar College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) Advising Center advises students with majors in the departments of:
- Adult and Career Education,
- Communication Sciences & Disorders and Special Education,
- Elementary Education,
- Kinesiology and Physical Education,
- Middle Grades, Secondary, Reading, and Deaf Education, and
- Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy.
Students in COEHS majors are advised by the COEHS Advising Center staff. Please visit the Advising Center in Room 1020 of the Education Center in October (Spring and Summer registration) and March (Fall Registration). You may also make an appointment any time to discuss your academic plan, identify resources, or discuss your advising partnership.
- See the majors and minors advised in the COEHS Advising Center
- See specific forms for COEHS students
- See programs of study and check sheets for COEHS programs
- See COEHS Advising Center staff
For more information, visit the Dewar College of Education and Human Services Advising Center website.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences Advising Center
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Advising Center advises students with majors in the departments of:
- English,
- Modern and Classical Languages,
- Philosophy and Religious Studies,
- History,
- Political Science,
- Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice,
and advises students in these programs and minors:
- Interdisciplinary Studies,
- African American Studies,
- Women and Gender Studies
- Native American Studies.
Your assigned advisor will depend on your major and your class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior). Please contact the CHSS Advising Center to determine who your assigned advisor is. You can visit the Advising Center in Ashley Hall, room 1001.
- See the majors and minors advised in the CHSS Advising Center
- See specific forms for CHSS students
- See programs of study and check sheets for CHSS programs
- See CHSS Advising Center staff
For more information, visit the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Advising Center website.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences Advising Center
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CONHS) Advising Center advises students with majors in the areas of:
- Exercise Physiology,
- Dental Hygiene,
- Athletic Training,
- Health Sciences, and
- Nursing.
Students in CONHS majors are advised by the CONHS Advising Center staff. Please visit the Advising Center in room 4002C of the Health Sciences and Business Administration Building (North Campus). For information on appointments and walk-in hours, please visit the appointments page on the CONHS Advising Center website.
- See the majors and minors advised in the CONHS Advising Center
- See specific forms for CONHS students
- See programs of study and check sheets for CONHS programs
- See CONHS Advising Center staff
For more information, visit the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Advising Center website.
College of Science and Mathematics Advising Center
The College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) Advising Center advises students with majors in the areas of:
- Biology,
- Chemistry,
- Computer Science,
- Mathematics,
- Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences
- Air Force ROTC and Aerospace Studies, and
- Engineering Studies.
Your assigned advisor will depend on your major and your class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior). Please contact the CSM Advising Center to determine who your assigned advisor is. You can visit the Advising Center in the University Center, room 1200.
- See the majors and minors advised in the CSM Advising Center
- See specific forms for CSM students
- See programs of study and check sheets for CSM programs
- See CSM Advising Center staff
For more information, visit the College of Science and Mathematics Advising Center website.