When a student is assigned to a new advisor, he/she should be given the opportunity to meet individually his/her advisor.
During this meeting, the academic advisor should cover the following topics:
After the visit, the advisor should document topics covered, pertinent information gathered, and unusual circumstances/events by using the "notes" section of DegreeWorks. Additionally, advisors might want to keep paper or electronic files for their personal advising notes.
When significant time is not available during the initial meeting with the advisee, the advisor should schedule a follow-up appointment with the advisee. Since a follow-up meeting is a great opportunity to see how the student is adjusting to DSC, this type of appointment is recommended for all new students. During this meeting, the advisor can proactively address any potential issues like attendance, academic difficulty, low grades, and involvement on campus. For this reason, a follow-up appointment with all new students is recommended.
Topics to address with students during a follow-up visit could include:
When advising students for future terms, always:
After the visit, the advisor should document topics covered, pertinent information gathered, and unusual circumstances/events.
For this type of appointment, please refer to the Major Change option from the drop down selection under the Advisement tab on this libGuide. This section includes information on deadline dates, the Major Change Process, Choosing a New Major, and the Implications of Changing the Major.
After the visit, the advisor should document topics covered, pertinent information gathered, and unusual circumstances/events.
After registering for classes, students often find that they need to make schedule adjustments. The process to drop or add classes is very similar to the one used for registration. If the student's permit is still on and web Banner is open, the student should be able to make these changes independently. If the permit has been removed or web Banner is down, the student will need assistance from his/her advisor or Enrollment Services to make the changes.
Helping a student determine whether he/she should drop a class can be complicated. In most cases, the student comes to this decision from an emotional thought process. The motivation to drop may stem from fear, frustration, and/or anger. The advisor's role is to help the student evaluate the situation in a rational manner to determine if dropping the class is in his/her best interest. Ultimately, the final decision will rest with the student. After the visit, the advisor should document the situation, referrals made, and outcome.
The following information should help the student make the decision:
Actions Students Should Take Before Dropping A Class
1) The student should speak to the instructor to see if he/she can still earn the preferred grade and to determine what resources are available to assist him/her
2) The student should speak to his/her advisor to determine how the dropped class could impact the time line to graduation and/or the sequencing of classes for future terms
3) The student should speak with a financial aid representative to determine the consequences on current and future aid
Things Students Should consider before dropping a class:
1) Dropping a class will impact the student's Financial Aid Course Completion Rate and the Max Timeframe
2) Dropping a class will cost the student time and money already invested
3) Dropping a class may set the student back in terms of graduation date
4) Multiple drops give employers and graduate school admission committees the impression that the student bails or quits when classes get difficult
When Should a student Drop a Class?
1) If there is no way for the student to earn the points to pass the class
2) If the student has missed or will miss more than the maximum number of days required to pass
3) If the student cannot earn a grade high enough to meet the degree requirement or keep his/her educational funding (HOPE, PELL, or Student Loans)
Note: The processes for dropping one or more classes and completely withdrawing from Dalton State College are located on the drop down menu under the Advisement tab in this libGuide.
For this type of appointment, please refer to the Financial Aid option under the Advisement Tab drop down menu on this LibGuide. This page covers general Financial Aid information, Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress, and the SAP Appeal Process,
Note: Always direct students to the Office of Financial Aid for any questions regarding financial aid, HOPE, or scholarships.
For more information on this type of appointment, please refer to the following drop down options under the Advisement tab:
Academic Progress - Covers Satisfactory Academic Progress, Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, and Readmission after Suspension
Student with Low Grades - Covers different situations where low grades occur and offers suggestions for improvement
Before a student may graduate from Dalton State College, he/she must
| Graduation Term | Application deadline | Ceremony |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | October 30th | May |
| Summer/Fall | April 1st | December |
Each student should meet with his/her advisor or Department Chair to ensure requirements for graduation have been met. After this meeting, the advisor/chair should document the meeting in Degree Works and note any issues that should be resolved to meet graduation requirements.
The student will submit the graduation application through dynamics forms for approval of the advisor/Chair. In reviewing the graduation application:
Students will pay the graduation app fee online.
Please refer to the Transferring to Another Institution on the drop down menu of the Advisement tab for this libGuide.