Advising Staff

Swenson College Professional Advisors and Staff

NEW Summer Hours
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Montague Hall 107
[email protected] or 218-726-7585

Swenson College's professional advising staff assists with your questions from orientation to graduation. Advising is an important part of academic success. It allows you to build a relationship with an adviser and get answers to your questions about courses, majors, minors, careers, internships, study abroad programs, student activities, and anything else you may need to know. Visit our  Advising and Registration Guide  for registration and academic planning information.

Advising is Ongoing

Professional advisors in SCSE are ready to meet with you starting your first day at UMD, through graduation. 

• By appointment
• Drop-in meeting in person
• Virtual appointment via Zoom 

Appointments and Drop-ins

When is a drop-in visit adequate?
Drop-ins are 5-10 minute meetings with an SCSE professional advisor to discuss topics such as:

• Questions about liberal education requirements
• Questions about adding or dropping a course
• Reviewing your APAS report/making a correction to your APAS report
• Connecting with campus resources
• Questions about academic policies or forms

When is an appointment necessary?
Schedule a 30-minute appointment with an advisor to discuss any of the following:

• Classes for next semester and getting your registration hold moved
• Academic progress
• Academic standing (eg. progation, suspension, readmission, return from leave of absence)
• Significant changes to your academic plan
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal
• Discussing unique circumstances

You are assigned either a professional academic advisor within the SCSE Advising Office or a faculty advisor within the department of your major. You can check the top of your APAS report or MyU > Academics tab to see who your assigned advisor is.

Drop-ins

Currently, drop-ins are availabe in person the following days and times:

• Monday 10am - 12pm (must be checked in by 11:45am)
• Tuesday 10am - 12pm (must be checked in by 11:45am)
• Wednesday 1pm - 3 pm (must be checked in by 2:45pm)
• Thursday 1pm - 3pm (must be checked in by 2:45pm)

*Hours subject to change due to official campus holidays or events.

Stop by 107 Montague Hall between the hours above to meet with an advisor. Drop-ins are staffed by our advisors on a rotating basis. The advising office is closed M-F from 12 to 1pm.

Appointments

You may schedule an in person or virtual appointment with your advisor by using the links below or by calling the SCSE Advising Office at 218-726-7585.

Grady Gaston:  Advises all SCSE majors, minors or students interested in SCSE programs
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John Hest:   Advises all SCSE majors, minors or students interested in SCSE programs
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Miranda Miller: Advises all SCSE majors, minors, or students interested in SCSE programs
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Before your advising appointment:

• Review your degree plan and APAS report to determine what courses you plan to take next semester. Pay special attention to pre-requisite courses and co-requisite courses.
• Compile any questions you may have for your advisor.
• Be prepared to discuss how your current classes are going.
• Bring ideas and questions you may have related to co-curricular opportunities (eg. internships, co-ops, research, learning abroad, student groups, etc.)

Faculty Advised SCSE students:

Your advisor is listed in APAS or MyU. You can look up their contact information in their department's faculty directory. For links to each department, visit the SCSE homepage or the Departments and Programs tab in the menu.

New first-year students and transfer students not yet assigned a faculty advisor should set a time to meet with an SCSE professional advisor. Please use the links above.