Biology Academic Advising

To follow best public health practices, all Biology major advising will be virtual through email or through videoconference for this semester. When possible, first reach out to your advisor through email or post your question to the Biology Majors Piazza site to see if your question or concern can be handled without requiring videoconference. Details for scheduling advising meetings are below. Please be aware that remote advising will make it difficult to ensure privacy for FERPA protections.  We recommend that students join the videoconference from a private location to minimize the amount of information which could be overheard by others. By agreeing to videoconference-advising, students are confirming they understand this situation.

You will be able to schedule a virtual meeting with your advisor using Advisor Link. When scheduling, be sure to select your specific advisor. If you do not see any meeting times posted, you can email your advisor for help with appointment scheduling. Do not join the advising meeting early, as your advisor may be meeting with another student at that time.

We recognize that providing advising support for our undergraduates helps students succeed in effective course selection and career planning, which includes finding on-campus and summer research and internship opportunities, establishing a timeline for career planning, and exploring the range of options you have with a B.S. in Biology. We advise by last name for Biology majors and Biology minors so that you always meet with the same academic advisor; this advising structure allows us to build better individual relationships and fosters more personalized advising. All Physiology minors work with Dr. Adam Decker.

Required Advising Meetings

To help you succeed in effective course selection and career planning, Biology majors are required to attend a 15 minute advising meeting once each year. Each semester Biology majors will receive an email according to your academic standing, freshmen and sophomores in the Spring and juniors and seniors in the Fall. The email will give the scheduling deadline and detail what you need to bring to your advising appointment.  

This appointment is a chance to work one-on-one with your advisor to devise an optimal pathway to achieve your academic and career goals. Before your annual advising meeting with your advisor, be sure to print and fill out the required form:

• First/Second/ year advising form (Spring semesters only): complete and bring to your annual advising appointment in the Spring (note this form can be completed electronically) 
• Junior/Senior advising form (Fall semesters only): complete and bring to your annual advising appointment in the Fall (note this form can be completed electronically)
• Midterm U advising form: complete and bring to your meeting to discuss any midterm Us
• General advising form: complete and bring this form to any other advising meeting that isn't specifically for Annual Advising or Midterm U advising (for example, Registration Advising, Change/Addition of Minor, Change/Addition of Major)

Schedule an advising appointment