Freshmen Pre-Advising Guide

Welcome to Cal State Channel Islands!

The Advising Center would like to take this opportunity to introduce our staff and to acquaint you with our advising services. Now that you have been admitted to CSUCI, you are probably waiting anxiously and wondering what comes next. This guide is designed to explain how advising and registration take place at CSUCI, and to answer some of your questions about what to expect in the next few months.

Academic Advisement: What will happen and when?

Your fi rst experience with CSUCI Professional Academic Advisors for the new semester will take place through group advisement workshops offered at Island View Orientation. All incoming freshmen are required to attend a two-day Island View Orientation. On day one of Island View Orientation you will attend a group advisement workshop. With the tools provided in the workshop, you are encouraged to work out a preliminary schedule to bring with you the second day of Orientation.

Opening Doors to the World

Your fi rst experience with CSUCI Professional

Academic Advisors for the new semester will

take place through group advisement workshops offered at Island View

Orientation

Opening Doors to the World begins at

Six easy steps

1. Apply to Channel Islands

2. Attend a Group Advisement Workshop on day one of Island View Orientation

3. Finalize Registration on day two of Island View Orientation

4. Attend classes

5. Make an appointment for a one-on-one advising session with a professional academic advisor in the Advising Center to clarify general education and graduation requirements

6. Make an appointment to meet with a faculty advisor to clarify major

New Student Advisement Workshops will:

• Explain the Advising Model developed for CSUCI• Explain CSUCI’s general education, graduation and major requirements• Help you to interpret the general catalog, schedule of classes and begin your first semester course

planning• Explain registration procedures and teach you ways to double count courses to maximize your

schedule • Provide important materials such as advising and registration guidelines, major checklists, the

course schedule, Island Compass (Academic Resource Guide), registration forms, a University catalog, and more...

Registration

Registration will take place on day two of Island View Orientation. There will be several dates available to attend Island View Orientation to accommodate your needs. Professional Academic Advisors will be available to review preliminary course selections and help you finalize your schedule. Keep in mind, advising during Island View Orientation is done in a large group format and although some individual attention is available, it is not designed for extensive counseling/advising. Once you are sure about your schedule, you will be assisted in registering for your courses on-line in one of our technology labs.

Once the semester begins

Group Advisement workshops and Island View Orientation are not designed to provide individualized counseling, nor take the place of one-on-one advising. These workshops are simply designed to give you the information and materials you need to choose your courses for your first semester at CSUCI. Once you are attending CSUCI, you should make an appointment to meet with an advisor for an individual advising session for a comprehensive look at your educational plan.

The Advising Center

The Advising Center is conveniently located on the first floor of the Bell Tower. Our current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Stop by the Advising Center check-in counter, room 1552 or call to schedule an appointment with one of our Professional Academic Advisors. Whenever possible you are encouraged to make an appointment for advising rather than dropping by. Remember, the first and last two weeks of each semester are the busiest for your advisor. Therefore, try to schedule longer advising sessions (to discuss issues such as exploring major options or full degree planning) during the middle part of the semester.

In addition to professional academic advisors, you will have access to faculty advisors in your major. Faculty advisors are available on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Each semester, office locations, hours and phone numbers are posted on the bulletin board outside the Advising Center.

CSUCI Advising

Center

Bell TowerRoom 1552

805.437.8571advisement@csuci.edu

At Island View Orientation you will:

• Purchase your parking permit• Have your student ID picture taken• Take a tour of the campus• Meet faculty, staff, and other CSUCI students• Listen to speakers on topics such as opportunities for close campus involvement, financial aid,

career counseling, personal counseling, and other student services • Register for classes

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know which courses to take? That’s exactly the question advisors will be addressing at the workshop on day one of Island View Orientation. You will learn which courses to take for your major, general education, and other graduation requirements. First year course suggestions specific to each major will be provided so that when you leave the workshop, you should be able to choose courses for your first schedule.

What can I expect at Island View Orientation? Island View Orientation is a two-day process and is mandatory for all freshmen. The first day of orientation will provide you with both the group advisement workshop and an overview of what services are available at CSUCI as well as introducing you to key people on campus. Orientation will provide you with an opportunity to take care of some key practical matters such as purchasing your parking permit and getting your student ID picture taken. The second day of orientation you will finalize your first semester course registration. During orientation you will meet with faculty advisors as well as professional academic advisors. We believe holding the advisement workshop on day one will provide you with the time you need to plan out a preliminary schedule to bring with you to day two of orientation. We believe the advising process at Island View Orientation is key to getting you on the right track for a successful first semester.

Does it matter which Island View Orientation I attend? No, it does not. However, because registration is conducted at Orientation, those attending earlier sessions will register earlier and therefore have a wider selection of course sections to choose from.

What if I do not attend an Island View Orientation? Island View Orientation is mandatory for all freshmen. If you are not able to attend orientation, you must contact the Coordinator of Student Leadership and Development at 437-8961 to discuss possible alternatives.

Will I have an assigned advisor in the Advising Center? No, we do not assign advisors in the Advising Center. All Professional Academic Advisors are cross-trained in all majors and any one of them can assist you.

How will I get information about what English course to take my first semester? At CSUCI, you have two choices for Freshman Composition: English 105 and the new Stretch Program, English 102/103. Which of these you will enter will be determined by the person who knows your writing best–you. Our Directed Self Placement Program is designed to give you the tools necessary for making a decision that will best serve your needs and goals. You will receive a brochure that describes the two choices for Freshman Composition in detail, and you will be asked to think seriously about how your background in writing fits the possibilities at CSUCI. We will encourage you to discuss the decision with family, friends, tutors, teachers and anyone else you think might be able to help you in making the decision, but the final decision is yours.

“Good advising is a team effort! Our advisors are here to unlock your potential at CSU Channel Islands. Together we will develope an educational plan just right for you.”