Academic Advising at UCI

UCI students receive academic advising that is anchored by a group of highly qualified academic counselors.

These professionals are knowledgeable in matters of curriculum and degree requirements and are active participants in a unique counseling network distinguished by inter-school cooperation and communication. Moreover, students will encounter a counseling structure that is designed especially for their major and/or area of interest, involving faculty and committed to a student’s overall success. Academic counselors strive not only to give advice, but also to help students become more proactive, and to learn how to successfully take advantage of the many resources available at UCI.

Counseling Philosophy

As Carolyn Willmann, Director of the Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office, explains: “UCI students benefit from the unique support of an unusually experienced and coordinated professional staff. Many of the directors who oversee the counseling offices have worked at UCI for over 25 years. All of the academic counselors comprise the Committee of Academic Counselors that is dedicated to fostering effective communication and coordination among UCI’s schools. This benefits our students because counselors in the various academic disciplines do not operate in a vacuum; they know each other and assist one another in providing the best possible service to students. For example, if a student wants to change to another major, or to pursue a double major, the schools or programs involved share information and jointly assist the student. Students can be assured that they will be well taken care of at UCI.”

The Advantages

In addition to the cohesive network of counselors, UCI’s academic advising is specific to a major and/or area of interest, whether the student chooses a particular major or is “Undecided/Undeclared” when he/she enters this university. The advantage of this approach is that it provides the students with consistent and coherent advice as they advance toward graduation.

School-based academic counseling gives the academic counselors the opportunity to really get to know many of the students. Undergraduates will likely see the same faces from their first visit to their commencement ceremony because the counselors are responsible for all facets of students’ academic counseling. UCI counselors are much more closely connected to the faculty, and have a comprehensive understanding of a particular school’s curricular structure, requirements, and policies. This translates into a much more effective academic counseling experience for students.

UC Irvine Undergraduate Academic Counseling
web site

Resources

UCI Libraries

Learning Academic Resource Center

Freshman Seminar and Transfer Seminar Programs

Campuswide Honors Program

Scholarship Opportunities Program

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

Peer Academic Advising Program

First Year Integrated Program