USI » Office of the Registrar » Academic Advising

Academic Advising

Faculty Academic Advising. Students who have decided on and declared a major are assigned a faculty advisor from the academic college which houses that major. Undecided students, as well as those who are conditionally admitted, are assigned an advisor from University Division. University Division advisors will help students choose a major, usually during the first four semesters. Bachelor of General Studies majors are advised through Outreach and Engagement.

The University of Southern Indiana recognizes academic advising to be a critical component of the educational experience of its students. Through individual, collaborative relationships with academic advisors, students are best able to define and implement sound educational and vocational plans that are consistent with their personal values, goals and career plans. Academic advisors represent and interpret University policies and procedures to the student and help the student navigate the academic and organizational paths of the institution. The University acknowledges its obligation to provide students with accurate and timely academic advising, delivered through its academic departments and colleges, as well as through additional units and offices devoted to specific student populations such as undecided and conditionally admitted students.

Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS). DARS is a computer program that was implemented to assist in the advising function. A degree audit (also called degree evaluation) outlines a student�s specific degree requirements and tracks their progress toward the fulfillment of those requirements. It incorporates a student's USI classes as well as an evaluation of any transfer coursework, and also indicates whether categories in the program are satisfied ( + and OK ) or unsatisfied ( - and NO ). Unsatisfied categories list the acceptable courses from which to select. Students can run and view their degree audit online through myUSI (the Degree Evaluation link on the Student Records menu). A degree audit can either be run for the student's currently declared major/program, or as a �what-if� audit for another major the student might be interested in. Students should routinely run and review their audit (before/after registering for classes, after any schedule revision, if changing programs, and at the end of the semester when grades are official). Academic advisors can also access their advisee�s degree audit and can recommend the most appropriate courses. Click here for details about how to run an audit and how to read an audit.

Student Participation in Program Planning. Students enrolled in the University are expected to read carefully and to understand the contents of the USI Bulletin. This includes awareness of the University's general policies and regulations for academic achievement necessary for continued enrollment, as well as social and campus conduct. Students also are responsible for knowing the requirements of the University Core Curriculum and any requirements special to their chosen program, enabling the student to qualify for graduation.

Students should assume the initiative for preparing a semester schedule of classes. The academic advisor is available to offer suggestions and to verify the accuracy of course choice in meeting curricular patterns, but the primary responsibility for knowing the requirements of the academic program and proceeding to satisfy those requirements in an orderly and sequential manner remains with the student.

Click here for additional academic advising resources

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600