Canisius College

The Student Advisement Center takes a holistic approach to the freshman advisement process, therefore, the freshman academic advisor takes on many roles. This person is an academic role model, mentor, and friend who guides the first year student through the academic transition from high school to college. In some cases, the advisor will also be one of the student’s first year professors.

FAQs

When will my son/daughter meet with his/her freshman advisor?
Your son/daughter will receive his/her advisor's contact information in the mail prior to the start of his/her first semester.  All new students will be strongly encouraged to meet with their advisors during the first three weeks of the semester. Following this initial meeting, freshmen are required to meet with their advisors an additional two times each semester. One of these appointments will be to discuss mid-semester progress reports from instructors, and one will be to discuss registration for the following semester. Students are encouraged to contact their academic advisors at any time during the year should academic concerns or other difficulties arise.

Who will advise my son/daughter after the freshman year?
After their first year, students who have declared a major are assigned to a faculty member in the department of their declared major. Students who have not declared a major, or are uncertain about the major they were considering, must visit the Student Advisement Center to discuss their options and to make schedules. Undeclared students should also visit a career advisor in the Career Center, located in Old Main 013, to discuss potential careers.

Will my son/daughter get into the classes needed to graduate? What if courses are closed?
With careful planning, including working closely with his/her advisor, a student will get into the courses that are required for graduation. In the case of Area Studies courses, a student may be closed out of a particular course that was desired, but other appropriate courses in the same Area may be used to fulfill the requirement. If a course required for a student’s major is closed, the student must discuss this with his/her advisor to plan to take the course in a different semester prior to graduation. Like the old song says, "You can't always get what you want, but you’ll get what you need!"

What are these developmental courses my son/daughter needs to take? Are they credit-bearing? Do they "count" towards graduation?
Your son/daughter may be placed in prepatory courses based upon a thorough evaluation of his/her high school academic record and SAT/ACT scores.  Developmental course work is just one way that Canisius College supports its students academically to ensure that each student is offered the help and support needed to ensure a successful college career. The outcomes of these courses insure that your son/daughter will have the skills and preparation necessary to be successful in college core and major requirements.