WILDER SCHOOL UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING
The Wilder School Undergraduate Advising Office schedules advising appointments from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday-through-Friday, in Scherer Hall, Room 407. It is also possible to arrange advising appointments at other times if the student's work schedule prohibits meeting during regular work hours. The Office is not open on weekends. Walk-in advising is discouraged because it takes time to prepare each student's worksheet and we prefer to have them evaluated and ready to use in advance of the advising appointment. However, in some cases when the advising load is light, we will try to assist walk-ins. With nearly 1800 student in 6 different majors, walk-ins are difficult to accommodate and thus we prefer that you schedule your advising appointment in advance by calling the office at 804-827-0790 or 804-827-0789.
We want to emphasize that according to university policy, it is ultimately the student's responsibility "...for understanding all university and college requirements needed to earn a degree and for seeking academic advising on a regular basis. The academic advisers provide assistance with interpreting policies, requirements and regulations, maximizing academic success and enriching the overall undergraduate educational experience." (2008-09 VCU Undergraduate Bulletin, p. 19. Our philosophy is to create an atmosphere that fosters mutual kindness and respect between academic advisors and students while providing accurate and timely advice. Confidentiality in advising is strictly maintained and students over the age of 18 who wish to involve parents and guardians in the advising process must give written consent.
Advising is divided into two categories: 1.) General Course Requirements: (i.e. the "nuts and bolts" involving what courses students must take, the sequence in which they should be taken, as well as keeping on track for graduation) and 2.) Career Advising. The first is done by the Wilder School Advising Office located on the fourth floor of Scherer Hall in room 407; (804-827-0790 or 804-827-0789). This type of advising is done by graduate students who have been through the process themselves, and who have been trained to track carefully all requirements and monitor students' progress in achieving them. Graduate Student Advisors have also been trained to process graduation applications; Student Academic Progress (SAP) Appeals for financial aid; and Academic Regulations Appeals Committee (ARAC) issues. But it is important that students make appointments in advance when asking for assistance with SAP and ARAC petitions.
Career advising is the second type of advising and it is done by faculty members who have been designated Program Directors for each of the five separate Majors in the Wilder School. They advise students with regard to employment in the major field of study, career paths and opportunities, and graduate and professional school admissions processes. Program Directors also evaluate transfer credits that specifically apply to the major. (All other transfer credits are evaluated at the Office of the Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences). Program Directors meet with students during their office hours or by appointment. Current Undergraduate Program Directors are:
ECON (Economics General Education advising is done by Wilder School Advisors, but specific Advising in the ECON Major is done at the VCU School of Business. Call Ms. Tracey Jolley at 828-7347; tajolley@vcu.edu)
