Advising at WSU Vancouver is here to support you in developing responsible, intentional and confident decision-making skills. Our goal is to help you achieve success during your educational journey and beyond. While we are committed to ensuring you complete your degree requirements, our role extends far beyond that. Together with faculty and campus staff, we are dedicated to providing you with the tools and resources you need to succeed.
Every educational journey is unique, and we are here to help you shape yours. This advising handbook is designed to clarify your responsibilities, outline our expectations of you as a student, and provide an overview of the resources and information available to support you.
Download the 2025 Student Advising Handbook
How to make the most out of advising
Get familiar with the academic calendar and know when your enrollment period opens.
Review your degree requirements, the schedule of classes and bring your planned courses to your advisor meeting. Remember to bring questions or concerns to your advisor.
Check your WSU email frequently and respond professionally in a timely manner. This will be important during and after college.
Get familiar with where to find information on policies and procedures such as academic regulations, the Student Handbook and students’ and advisors’ responsibilities.
Advising and Course
Registration Timeline
| Meet in | For | Registration opens |
|---|---|---|
| October | Spring semester | November |
| February | Summer semester | March |
| March | Fall semester | April |
- 1. Log into myWSU.
- 2. Select the Academic Advising tile.
- 3. Select the Advisors menu item on the left-hand side. Your advisor's booking link will appear by their name.
Here are some things advisors do to support you
Guide your understanding of university policies, procedures and degree requirements.
Collaborate with you to identify solutions to challenges related to your academic experience.
Provide a safe place for you to discuss your questions, concerns, thoughts and academic plans.
Maintain a courteous, respectful and supportive advising environment.
Adhere to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act guidelines to ensure confidentiality.
Provide connections to resources on campus.
- Determine and set your short- and long-term educational, career and life goals.
- Meet with your advisor and share your goals to develop an actionable plan to achieve them and be willing to adjust.
- Communicate regularly with your advisor and instructors. Ask questions and reach out for help.
- Check your WSU email daily. Respond professionally.
- Familiarize yourself with resources on and off campus to aid in your success. Use them!
- Remain in good academic standing by earning a 2.0 GPA or better each semester to avoid academic deficiency.
- Join clubs or teams, attend events, make life-long friends.
- Practice and develop good time-management skills.
- Take responsibility for your actions and show accountability.
Academic Regulation 108: Student Responsibility for Graduation
The student has the ultimate responsibility for meeting all graduation requirements. The student plans the program of study each semester in consultation with the advisor. The degree requirements listed in the catalog and in the advisement report are binding. Colleges may substitute or waive college-level requirements for individual students. Departments may substitute or waive departmental requirements for individual students.
tips for meeting with faculty
No matter what you’re studying, meeting with faculty can help you get ahead academically and can be a great networking opportunity.
Why?
- To get clarification on class concepts for assignments
- To go over previous exams or assignments and discuss class performance
- To further discuss class topics or program of study
- To address any other concerns about the class
Why?
- Before exams and important assignments
- After exams and important assignments
- Anytime class material is challenging and you need clarification
How?
- Before or after class, if time allows and your question is quick
- During office hours—check your syllabus for times and location
- Request an appointment in a professional manner using email
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR ADVISOR
- What grades do I need to earn in my classes?
- Can I add a minor?
- How do I find UCORE classes?
- I’m struggling with _____________. What should I do?
- How and when should I look for an internship?
- Are there any clubs or organizations I should join?
- What are some notoriously challenging courses in my major?
- How can I best prepare?
- I need a break from school. What do I need to do?
- Where can I find job opportunities now and after college?
- If I’m interested in graduate school, what should I know?
Advice from students to students
- Keep calm and go to class.
- Use Outlook and check your email often.
- Use the tutoring centers. They can really help.
- Find people you can study with, then make a calendar for study groups. Show up.
- Be proactive in planning, make a calendar for your assignments and other work.
- Manage your time—do the hard stuff first, break big projects into smaller pieces.
- Ask for help if you need it. Your advisor, professors, TAs and classmates are all here to support you.
- Ask lots of questions and understand the requirements.
- Know what resources are available, and if you’re not sure, ask your advisor. Your advisor is like a campus GPS—they’ll point you in the right direction.
- If you need them, set up accommodations with the Access Center early and don’t wait until you are struggling.
- Take care of yourself! Get plenty of rest, eat well, exercise and take breaks when you need them.
EMAILS THAT GET RESULTS
It is important to:
- Use your WSU email account for all email correspondence with faculty and staff.
- Write in complete sentences and avoid acronyms, abbreviations or slang.
- Use standard punctuation, capitalization, spelling and grammar.
- Give the recipient time to respond (24 – 48 hours during the week, longer if on the weekend or a holiday).
- Help ensure the conversation is efficient and productive; for example, if requesting a meeting, suggest a few times you are available.
Optimize your time as a WSU Vancouver student. This is the perfect time to learn!
Time Management SKILLS
Start with small goals
Set small goals and achieve them step by step.
Prioritize your tasks
Evaluate your tasks and decide which ones require the most time and effort. Then, organize your studying process. Start with the most challenging assignments first while your brain is still fresh.
Plan enough time for each task
Make sure that you have enough time to complete each assignment properly. Evaluate your skills and decide how much time you need to overcome the workload successfully.
Break big tasks into smaller ones
A huge task can seem overwhelming. Try dividing it into small chunks. It won’t stress you so much, leading to an easier study process.
Keep your weaknesses in mind
Every student has their strong and weak sides. Don’t ignore them! If you know that you are bad at essay writing, set out more time on this task.
Remove distractions
Make sure you have a quiet, comfortable study area. Put your phone on silent mode and turn off all the unnecessary apps on your laptop. Try studying with soothing music to avoid other noises.
Try to be flexible
We cannot anticipate all the obstacles or unexpected circumstances. Be ready to adjust your plans, and don’t panic if something goes wrong. Organize your thoughts and get back on track as soon as possible.
During your education, you may experience at least one change in academic advisor. This is particularly common for students who begin at WSU Vancouver as first-year students directly from high school without prior college credits. These students are initially guided by success coaches from the Engaged Learning and Career Action Center for Students during their first year. These coaches help new students adapt to college life and connect with valuable campus resources and opportunities. After your first year, you will transition to an advisor within your chosen academic department.
Advisor changes may also occur if you switch majors. Department advisors typically specialize in majors within their department. If you are pursuing a double major or a minor, you may need to communicate with multiple advisors to ensure comprehensive guidance throughout your academic journey.
Campus Resources
| Service | Description | Location & Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Access Center | Learning accommodations, auxiliary aids, services for students with disabilities | Classroom Building, Room 110 van.access.center@wsu.edu 360-546-9739 |
| Career Action Center | Career coaching, networking, resume and cover letter tips, career and internship fairs | Engaged Learning and Career Action Center for Students Student Services Center, lower level van.career@wsu.edu 360-546-9155 |
| Center for Intercultural Learning and Affirmation | Inclusive community building, intercultural learning and co-curricular programming for historically underserved students | Firstenburg Student Commons, Room 104 van.studentdiversity@wsu.edu 360-546-9182 |
| Child Care on Campus | Operated by Innovative Services NW; discounts available for students’ children | McClaskey Building enrollmentWSU@innovativeservicesnw.org 360-546-9069 |
| Cougar Center | Information regarding financial aid, admissions, student accounts, CougarCard | Cougar Center Student Services Center, upper level van.studentaffairs@wsu.edu 360-546-9779 |
| Cougar Food Pantry | Choose from a selection of nonperishable food; fresh food events are offered regularly | Library Building, Room 240 van.foodpantry@wsu.edu 360-546-9779 |
| Fundamental Needs | Connections to resources regarding housing, food, technology, child care and transportation | Basic Needs Navigator, Library Building, Room 240 van.fundamentalneeds@wsu.edu 360-546-9013 |
| Library | Find research resources, Ask A Librarian, reserve group study space, laptop checkouts | Library Building van.library@wsu.edu 360-546-9680 |
| Math and Science Skills Center | Free tutoring for math and science classes | Library Building, Room 210 van.mssc@wsu.edu 360-546-9114 |
| Office of Student Involvement | Student government, clubs, fitness center, getting involved on campus | Firstenburg Student Commons van.osi@wsu.edu 360-546-9163 |
| Student Financial Services | Financial aid, scholarships, student accounts | Cougar Center, Student Services Center, upper level van.finaid@wsu.edu 360-546-9559 |
| Student Wellness Center | Free counseling, same-day crisis counseling, workshops and basic health care services | Classroom Building, Room 160 van.counseling@wsu.edu or van.health@wsu.edu 360-546-9238 |
| Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student Services | VA educational benefits, resources for veterans, veterans affairs coordinator | Student Services Center van.veterans@wsu.edu 360-546-9570 |
| Writing Center | Tutors provide one-on-one support with assignments in any discipline | Library Building, Room 203 writingcenter@wsu.edu 360-546-9650 |
| Month | Event |
|---|---|
| August | Fall semester begins |
| October | Spring schedule is released |
| November | Enrollment opens for spring semester |
| December | Purchase spring parking permit |
| January |
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| February | Summer schedule is released |
| March |
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| April |
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| May |
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| July | Purchase fall or annual parking permit |