Academic Advising

• What are my long-range career goals?
• Do I plan on transferring to another school after attending CSM? If so, which institutions am I considering?
• What program or career path do I want to pursue?
• Have I reviewed CSM’s programs of study?
• Will I be working while attending CSM? How many hours per week? Will that allow for full-time enrollment, or will it require part-time?
• How do I prefer to take courses? Face-to-face (traditional) or remotely (online)?
• When would I prefer to take courses? Courses are available for the full semester or in seven-week terms.
• Have I considered how I will pay for courses?
  • Tuition and fees
  • Tuition calculator
  • Financial assistance

If you’d like to register for your courses while you wait for your transcript evaluation process to wrap up:

Visiting Students

• Have an unofficial transcript ready with the needed prerequisite completed with a final grade.
• Have syllabi to submit to the academic department for review.
• To check for equivalencies use our Transcript Evaluation System (TES). 

Current Students

• Have an unofficial transcript and any needed syllabi while you wait for the completion of your transcript evaluation.

• Complete the Career Coach (60 question) assessment.
• Browse CSM’s Pathways and Programs
• Register for STU-1050 Career Decision Making (3 credits).
• Take elective courses in subjects you might be interested in within your first couple of semesters to explore those career paths.
• Talk with faculty within your subject or program of interest.
• Talk with other students pursuing subjects that interest you.
• Talk with friends and family members already employed in the career or area that interests you.
• Request to shadow someone you know who works in your field of interest.

You can expect your CSM academic advisor to:

• Be accessible to students through office hours, telephone, and email
• Understand college policies and procedures, programs of study, and graduation requirements and effectively communicate them
• Provide a safe space in which to share your thoughts, aspirations, interests, and concerns
• Assist you in understanding the purposes and goals of higher education and its effects on your life and personal goals
• Provide you with information about and strategies for utilizing the available resources and services on campus
• Encourage and guide you as you gain the skills to develop clear and attainable educational plans
• Monitor and accurately document your progress toward meeting your goals
• Assist you in gaining decision-making skills and skills in assuming responsibility for your educational plans and achievements
• Maintain confidentiality
• Document any pertinent information from your interaction

As a CSM student, your advisor expects you to:

• Schedule and keep regular appointments or make regular contact with an advisor for guidance on planning and goal-setting
• Come to each appointment prepared with questions or topics to discuss
• Gather any information through resources available to you to aid and facilitate in the advising discussion
• Accept responsibility for your decisions and actions
• Provide accurate information regarding your interests and abilities
• Ask questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern
• Become knowledgeable about college programs, policies and procedures, and opportunities as appropriate
• Be open to developing and clarifying your personal values and goals
• Complete all assignments and recommendations from your advisor
• Keep a personal record of your progress toward meeting your goals
• Organize official documents in a way that will enable you to find them when you need them
• Conduct yourself in accordance with the CSM Student Code of Conduct