BGSU Academic Advising

Quick jump to:

• Academic Advising
• Academic Policies
• Accessing Information
• Attendance Policies

ACADEMIC ADVISING

What is the difference between a faculty advisor and a college advisor?
Faculty advisors are assigned when you have declared your intended specialization/major. They are specialists in the discipline who advise you on career issues, course selection and specialization/major requirements. College advisors have more specific knowledge about university and college policies and requirements. College advisors are generalists, not specialists in your field. Typically, you should consult with a faculty advisor for questions related to your specialization and with a college advisor for more technical questions.

How do I find out who my advisor is?
The easiest way is to log on to MyBGSU. Look under the "My Services" area. There is a link to "My Academic Advisor." This link will take you to a page containing your advisor's contact information. You can even click on your advisor's email address and send a message directly from the "My Academic Advisor" page.

For more information about your college or program, click on the links below.

• Academic Enhancement
  • Pre-Major Advising
  • University Program for Academic Success (UPAS)
  • Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program/High School College Credit
• Arts and Sciences
  • School of Art
  • School of Communication Studies
• Business Administration
• Education and Human Development
  • School of Intervention Services
  • School of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies
  • School of Leadership and Policy Studies
• Firelands
• Graduate
• Health and Human Services
• Musical Arts
• Technology

What should I do if I want to change my advisor?
You need to first contact your college office to find out what the policy is regarding assignment of advisors. They will provide you with the names of other possible faculty advisors or will just give you the name of your new advisor.

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ACADEMIC POLICIES

Academic Load:

What is a normal academic load?
To be considered a full-time undergraduate student, you cannot take fewer than 12 credit hours. Normally, students will take 15-16 hours per semester. 18 credit hours is the maximum number of credit hours that a full-time student may take without special permission. If you want to enroll in more than 18 hours, you must get approval from the college office. For further information, refer to the undergraduate catalog.

Changing major or college:

How do I change my major?
If you wish to change your major within a college, you should notify the college office. At that time, a new faculty advisor will be assigned, if necessary. For complete information on changing your college or major, refer to the undergraduate catalog.

How do I change to another college?
To change to another college, you must have at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) and obtain approval from the college to which you are transferring. The college from which you are transferring must also officially record the transfer.

Before switching colleges, you need to look carefully at the requirements of the college to which you are transferring.

Grade Appeals:

What is the first step if I want to appeal a grade?
BGSU has a well-defined grade appeal process. For the proper steps to follow in appealing a grade, refer to the undergraduate catalog.

Retaking a Course:

If I retake a course, does that remove the original grade?
A student may only retake courses for which certain grades were received, but no grade is removed or erased from a transcript. For full details on course retakes, refer to the undergraduate catalog.

If I fail a class and retake it somewhere else, will it count at BGSU?
Yes, the course will count but the original F will still be figured in your GPA. A grade earned in a course at another institution does not compute into your GPA; only the hours are figured into the total hours that you have completed.

S/U Grading Option:

What does it mean to take a course S/U?
If you take a course with the S/U grade option, it means that you will not receive an actual letter grade for this course. The grade of "S" is interpreted as falling within the range of "A" to "C" and carries full credit. A grade of "U" is interpreted as "D" to "F" and carries no credit. S/U grades do not affect your accumulative grade point average (GPA).

How many courses may I take S/U?
You may select the S/U grading option for no more than 16 credit hours. Any S/U hours beyond this limit will not count toward graduation, unless they are in courses graded S/U only.

Can I take courses in my major S/U?
Many departments do not accept courses taken under the S/U option for credit in major or minor requirements. You should consult your departmental advisor before taking a course in your major S/U.

How long do I have to change the grade option for a class?
You have 7 calendar days for regular sessions, 3 calendar days for summer school. For complete details on grading options and policies, consult the undergraduate catalog.

Transferring Courses From Other Institutions:

When I transfer courses from another institution, does the grade transfer?
No, grades do not transfer but the credit hours will transfer. The exception to this is graduation with honors. All undergraduate grades are used to determine eligibility for graduation with Latin honors. This includes grades taken at institutions other than BGSU. It is important that you work with the Transfer Equivalency Office of Registration and Records to ensure that courses that you take elsewhere will apply toward your BGSU program.

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ACCESSING INFORMATION

General Campus Information:

What sources are best to consult for general information questions related to topics such as fees owed, enrollment status, or other important information?
Depending upon the type of information you are seeking, you can begin by consulting the undergraduate or graduate catalogs. You can also visit one of the administrative offices such as Registration and Records, Office of the Bursar, Student Financial Aid, or Admissions. If they can't answer your questions, they can assist you in finding a person who can answer your question(s).

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ATTENDANCE POLICIES

Class Attendance:

How will I know what the attendance policy is for each of my courses?
At the beginning of the semester, each faculty member will distribute a course syllabus. The course syllabus should include the attendance policy and what to do in case of an absence. It is your responsibility to contact the faculty member, if you miss class. If you are uncertain about any part of the information provided, you need to contact the faculty member.

Emergencies:

What do I do in case of an emergency that requires me to be gone from campus?
You should notify the Student Life Office. Someone from that office will, in turn, notify your college advising office. They will then notify faculty of your absence. You should contact individual faculty members as soon as possible regarding any absences.

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