Advising

Advising Overview

Every student in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences is assigned an academic advisor.

Career goals, academic progress, and courses for the following semester are among the topics discussed during advising sessions. Advisors can also help students connect to valuable opportunities and resources on and off-campus.

While advising is only mandatory for certain students, all are encouraged to take advantage of this service.

Mandatory Advising

If you require mandatory advising, then you must meet with your advisor before you will be able to register for courses for the following semester. Students in the following categories have mandatory pre-registration advising:

1)    Students who are majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry
2)    Students with less than a 2.5 cumulative GPA
3)    All new freshmen and transfer students in their first semester at the University of Maryland
4)    Biological Sciences students who were recently moved from a College advisor (in Symons Hall) to a departmental advisor (faculty advisor).

If you are unsure if you need mandatory advising, please call the CLFS Student Services Office at 301-405-2080. Please note that the information regarding advising blocks on www.my.umd.edu in the “Academics and Testudo” tab is being updated, and may not accurately reflect if you require advising.

How to make an advising appointment (for pre-registration advising)

First check www.my.umd.edu under the “Academics and Testudo” tab to find your registration appointment. This is the earliest day and time you can register for classes for the upcoming Fall or Spring semester. You will be able to register online using www.my.umd.edu.

If you have mandatory advising you will need to schedule your pre-registration advising appointment before your registration appointment. In general, advisors typically want to see students 2-3 weeks BEFORE their registration appointment, so call a month in advance to set up an advising appointment. The process for setting up an advising appointment varies by major:

Biological Sciences majors

In most cases your advisor will send you an e-mail (in mid-October, or after Spring break) reminding you to set up an appointment. Use the contact information in the e-mail.

If you have not heard from your advisor, call the CLFS Student Services Office at (301) 405-2080 to verify who your advisor is and to set up an advising appointment.

Chemistry and Biochemistry majors

Contact the Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Programs Office at (301) 405-1791 to determine who is your advisor and to set up an advising appointment.

Environmental Science and Policy-Biodiversity and Conservation majors

Contact the Biology Undergraduate Office to set up an advising appointment (301) 405-6904.

Requesting a new advisor

You may request a new advisor using a form available in 1300 Symons Hall.

Advisor assignments

Advisors are assigned differently depending on your major.

Biological Sciences

A professional advisor from the CLFS Office of Student Services initially advises Biological Sciences students. Once these students complete foundational courses to their major, they are assigned a faculty advisor as follows:

•  Biology Department: ECEV and PHNB
•  Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics Department: CEBG, MICB and GENB (last name N-Z)
•  Entomology Department: GENB (last name A-M)

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Chemistry and Biochemistry majors are advised through the Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Office.

Environmental Science and Policy-Biodiversity and Conservation majors

Ms. Penny Koines and Dr. Jeff Jensen advise prospective and current ENSP-Biodiversity and Conservation students.
Students in the ENSP-BD program declare the major in their second semester.

Advisor changes

Your advisor may change for a variety of reasons:

1)    If you recently changed majors or specializations
2)    If you are not making satisfactory academic progress
3)    If you are a Biological Sciences major who has made satisfactory progress in certain courses in your lower-level coursework you will be assigned a faculty advisor.
4)    If you are a senior being advised in the Cell Biology Department you will receive a new faculty advisor to review plans for graduation and senior audits.