Advising Overview

Getting advised:

• WHY: Academic advising is mandatory within the College of Chemical and Life Sciences.
• WHEN: Students may see their academic advisor at any time during the school year. Students must meet with their advisor at least once per fall and spring semester for mandatory pre-registration advising.
• HOW: Students can set up an advising appointment or contact their advisor by e-mail or phone if they have questions that don’t require setting up an advising appointment.
• WHAT IF I FORGET? Reminders to setup mandatory advising appointments come through LIFELINK (late October for the Fall semester or by the end of spring break for the Spring semester).

Who will my advisor be?

Biological Sciences majors

Advisor assignments:

• Incoming students are assigned an advisor through the CLFS Student Services Office.
• Students are later assigned faculty advisors when they complete foundation courses.
• The foundation courses are: BSCI 105,106, CHEM 131,132, 231, 232 and a 200-level biology course.
• Faculty advisors are assigned based on Biological Science specializations.

• Biology Department: ECEV and PHNB
• Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics Department: CEBG, MICB and GENB (last name N-Z)
• Entomology Department: GENB (last name A-M)

Identifying your advisor:

Your advisor's name appears in the Academics and Testudo section of www.my.umd.edu.
If you don’t have an assigned advisor:

• Contact the CLFS Student Services Office (301) 405-2080.
• If you received an e-mail identifying you as being ready for a faculty advisor contact the Coordinating Advisor for your specialization area instead of the Student Services Office.

Advisor changes:

In most cases, advising assignments will be unchanged from last semester.

Advising assignments may change for:

1. Students who recently changed majors or specializations
2. Students with unsatisfactory academic progress
3. Students who complete foundation courses and are assigned a faculty advisor.
4. Seniors advised by faculty advisors in the Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics Department. They will receive a new faculty advisor to review plans for graduation and senior audits.

Chemistry and Biochemistry majors

• Chemistry and Biochemistry majors are advised through the Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Office.
• Often no advisor name appears in the Academics and Testudo section of www.my.umd.edu.
• You will have an advisor after you call to set up an advising appointment.
• Contact the Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Program Office if you have questions, 2102 Chemistry Building, (301) 405-1791.

Environmental Science and Policy-Biodiversity and Conservation majors