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WSU Vancouver

Undergraduate Advising

Academic departments and the Engaged Learning and Career Action Center for Students (ELCA) offer advising to undergraduate students at WSU Vancouver. Students are required to meet with an academic advisor before registering for each term. During this meeting, students and advisors plan courses and discuss educational goals. Students may be advised by an academic coordinator or they may be assigned to a faculty advisor.

Academic Advising is a developmental and collaborative process in which students seek and receive guidance in the development and achievement of meaningful academic and career goals that are consistent with their interests, values and abilities. While the ultimate responsibility rests with the individual student, academic advisors guide students as they think critically, seek out resources, and develop action steps in an atmosphere of mutual respect and learning.

Students, advisors, and the institution’s administration all play a role in achieving this vision of academic advising. Responsibilities of each group are described below.

Academic Advising Vision

Academic Advising is a developmental and collaborative process in which students seek and receive guidance in the development and achievement of meaningful academic and career goals that are consistent with their interests, values and abilities. While the ultimate responsibility rests with the individual student, academic advisors guide students as they think critically, seek out resources, and develop action steps in an atmosphere of mutual respect and learning.

Students, advisors, and the institution’s administration all play a role in achieving this vision of academic advising. Responsibilities of each group are described below.

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Students

To ensure a successful academic journey, students are expected to take an active and reflective role in their own development. This begins with a thorough assessment of how their academic goals align with their personal interests, values, and inherent abilities, alongside a consistent evaluation of their progress toward these milestones. Engagement is a cornerstone of this process; students must participate meaningfully in all advising meetings and complete any necessary follow-up activities to stay on track. By leveraging available digital and institutional tools, students can effectively develop and execute their educational plans. Furthermore, seeking out and accessing campus services and resources is essential for overcoming challenges and fostering long-term academic excellence.
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Advisors

Advisors serve as essential partners in the educational journey by establishing personal, meaningful connections and maintaining respectful interactions with every student. Their role extends beyond simple scheduling; they actively facilitate the development of critical problem-solving, decision-making, and evaluation skills, while assisting students in clarifying their long-term educational and career aspirations. By diligently monitoring academic progress, advisors provide tailored guidance on course selection and extracurricular experiences that align with a student’s specific goals. They strive to strike a deliberate balance between efficient degree completion and the broader cultivation of intellectual interests. Finally, advisors ensure students are never without support by providing accurate and timely referrals to the full spectrum of campus and community resources.
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Institutional administration

The institutional administration provides the structural foundation necessary to realize the campus advising vision, ensuring that the system is both robust and effective. By maintaining and promoting a navigable developmental advising model, leadership creates a clear pathway for both students and advisors to collaborate. This support extends to the investment in innovative tools that empower students to take ownership of their educational decisions and long-term planning. Furthermore, administration prioritizes the growth of its staff by facilitating ongoing professional development, training, and support for advisors. To ensure long-term success, the administration consistently assesses the effectiveness of these advising initiatives, utilizing data and feedback to drive a culture of continuous improvement.

University Common Requirements

The University Common Requirements (UCORE) is the center of the undergraduate curriculum. While the majority of students’ courses and credits are completed within the major, the UCORE curriculum provides courses that are the foundation of the Seven Learning Goals (i.e, basic skills that all WSU students must develop no matter their major, and that every major draws on). The UCORE curriculum is designed to be flexible enough to work for all majors. The program offers a wide variety of course choices and provides many individual pathways through the curriculum.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need an advisor?
Advisors help students develop plans for majors, match personal strengths with University opportunities, and navigate administrative issues to develop a sense of purpose in their education.

Who is and how do I meet my advisor?
Freshmen start advising at ROAR and are typically managed by the ELCA Center. Transfer students are assigned a coordinator in the ELCA or their major department. Engineering and Computer Science students meet with departmental coordinators immediately. Check the Who is My Advisor tool for specifics.

How do I choose a major?
Self-assessment of values and interests is key. WSU Vancouver offers career counseling through Career Services to assist in this decision.

How do I earn a bachelor’s degree?

  • Credits: Minimum 120 semester hours with a GPA of 2.0 or better.
  • Upper-Division: Minimum 40 semester hours at the 300-400 level.
  • Writing Portfolio: Required after earning 60 credits. Includes three submitted papers and a Timed Writing Exam.
  • Writing in the Major [M]: Two [M] courses must be included in departmental requirements.
  • UCORE: Fulfill WSU’s University Common Requirements.

What is a degree audit?
An automated record in myWSU (under Student Center > Academic Requirements) that tracks progress toward your degree. “What If” reports allow you to explore different majors.

What can I do if I’m having trouble?

  • Academic Success Workshops: Free skills development.
  • Tutoring Program: $10/hr individual sessions (vouchers may be available).
  • Writing Center: Assistance with assignments and feedback.
  • Quantitative Skills Center (QSC): Free drop-in Math and Science tutoring.

How do I get a tutor?
Request a tutor via the ELCA Center.

How do I add or drop a class?
Classes can be added through the 5th day and dropped without record through the 30th day of the semester via myWSU. After these deadlines, instructor permission or service fees (for withdrawals) apply.

What is the difference between dropping and withdrawing?
Dropping (before the 30th day) leaves no record. Withdrawing (weeks 5–9) results in a “W” grade and a fee. Undergraduates have a lifetime limit of 4 or 6 withdrawals depending on their entry year.

What if the class is full?
Instructors may be able to add students above the limit; contact the specific department to request an override.

Repeating Courses: You may repeat courses with a C- or below. Only the last grade contributes to the GPA, but all attempts remain on the record. Post-graduation repeats cannot change the pre-degree transcript.

Pass/Fail: UCORE courses cannot be taken pass/fail. You are limited to two pass/fail courses per semester.

Transcripts: Print unofficial copies in myWSU. Order official copies at transcripts.wsu.edu.

What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects student records. WSU cannot discuss specific academic progress with parents without the student’s written consent, regardless of who pays the tuition.

How can I track progress?
We encourage open communication between students and parents. Students are viewed as autonomous adults; for specific access, the student must grant permission via myWSU.