Who Is My Advisor?

All Southern students have an Assigned Major Advisor and the ability to meet with a Professional Advisor

"How do I look up my Assigned Advisor?"

You can find the name and contact info of your Assigned Advisor in on your Banner Student profile:

  • Sign into your MySCSU
  • Select "Banner Student"
  • Select "Records and Registration"
  • You will find your Assigned Advisor listed under the "Advisors" section of your profile page.

"How is my Assigned Advisor decided?"

Your Assigned Advisor is based on where you are in your academic journey. See the options below for more details.

DURING YOUR FIRST SEMESTER:

You will be assigned to a Professional Advisor from the Department of Academic Advising. They are assigned to you based on your section of INQ 101. This means that you and your INQ 101 classmates will all have the same academic advisor for the first term! This advisor will help you navigate your first semester at Southern, advise you regarding your choice of major, and meet with you to discuss courses for your second semester.

Your advisor will visit your INQ 101 course during the first week of the semester for a quick introduction. They will let you know how you can schedule meetings with them and will also send you an email with their contact information. 

DURING YOUR SECOND SEMESTER:

  • If you have a declared major, you will have two advisors during your second semester:
    • Professional Advisor: You will continue working with the same Professional Advisor you worked with during your first semester. This is a familiar face who will stay with you through the end of your first year to help you navigate Southern. You will be required to meet with them at least once during the semester.

    • Assigned Major Advisor: You will also be assigned to a faculty member who teaches classes in your major. This will be your go-to person for all things within your major area of study. You will need to meet with this person in order to receive your PIN for class registration.

  • If you are an Exploratory student, you will continue working with the same Professional Advisor you worked with during your first semester. Once you declare a major, you will also be given an Assigned Major Advisor (see above).

You will be assigned/continue to work with your Assigned Major Advisor. This is a faculty member who teaches classes in your major. This is your go-to person for all things within your major area of study. You will need to meet with this person in order to receive your PIN for class registration.

At this point, you will no longer be assigned to a Professional Advisor, but you are encouraged to utilize the general services offered by the Professional Advisors in the Department of Academic Advising.

***If you do not see an advisor listed in Banner Student or are having trouble getting in touch with your advisor, please contact the Department Chair of your major department. 

You will be assigned to/continue to work with your Professional Advisor who is trained in major exploration. This advisor will support you through your major exploration process and help you choose the appropriate courses to keep you on track to earn your degree.

Once you declare a major, you will also be given an Assigned Major Advisor (see above).

***If you do not see an advisor listed in Banner Student or are having trouble getting in touch with your advisor, please contact the Department of Academic Advising. 

Professional Advisor

In addition to the support you'll receive from your assigned advisor, Professional Advisors offer a full range of services, including but not limited to support for students who are experiencing challenges that are impacting their academic success, struggling in current major(s) and/or exploring majors, and who need help navigating University curriculum, policy and/or procedure. An Advising Specialist is not your main advisor (unless you are Exploratory), but they're here to help you with the tricky things that might come up from time to time.