What You Will Learn from Advising
Academic advising is integral to fulfilling the teaching and learning mission of UWM. Academic advising engages you beyond your own world views, while acknowledging your individual characteristics, values, and motivations as you enter, move through, and exit the institution. Academic advising has three components: curriculum (what advising deals with), pedagogy (how advising does what it does), and student learning outcomes (the result of academic advising). Your academic advisor views him or herself as a member of your teaching and learning team. As a teacher, your advisor's goal is to ensure that every contact results in some sort of learning.

The learning outcomes of academic advising are guided by our mission, goals, curriculum and co-curriculum. These outcomes, defined in an advising curriculum, articulate what you will demonstrate, know, value, and do as a result of participating in academic advising. Your academic advisor offers a number of venues for learning including one-on-one advising, group advising, workshops, e-mail and Web site information.

What your should learn during each year of your college career:
First Year (23 or less credits)
  • Learn to navigate PAWS including:
    • Accessing PAWS
    • Registering for classes
    • Adding, dropping, and swapping classes
    • Accessing and interpreting your transcript

  • Understand key university policies and procedures including:
    • Student rights and responsibilities
    • FERPA
    • Student conduct
    • Academic appeals

  • Locate and utilize campus resources as needed including:
    • Financial aid services
    • Scholarship opportunities
    • Student Accessibility Center
    • Education Resource Center
    • Writing Center
    • Tutoring
    • SWEA

  • Know how to access online resources including:
    • The Undergraduate Catalog
    • The Schedule of Classes
    • General Education Requirements
    • School of Education information
    • CURRINS advising information
    • School of Education admission information

  • Explore career and life goals

  • Know the teacher certification program available at UWM

  • Declare a major/minor program

  • Understand the various components of your desired program including:
    • The multiple components of a degree program (GERs, profession education courses, electives)
    • The General Education Requirements

  • Know the program and graduation requirements for your desired program

  • Understand the meaning of your GPA

  • Know how and when to register for the PRAXIS I

  • Know how and when to apply for an immersion experience (World Languages Program only)

  • Choose courses to fulfill program requirements
  • Demonstrate behaviors that contribute to academic success such as:
    • Regular class attendance
    • Completing assignments
    • Preparing for exams
    • Managing time effectively
    • Good study habits
    • Good communication skills
    • Maintaining mental and physical health and safety
 Second Year (25 - 57 credits)
  • Affirm career and life goals by:
    • Understanding the connection between your major and career and life goals
    • Understanding and beginning a plan for career and life goals
    • Declaring a major to fit career and life goals

  • Access co-curricular opportunities to enhance classroom experience including:
    • Internships
    • Career opportunities
    • Academic research opportunities
    • Volunteer opportunities

  • Understand key deadlines and criteria for:
    • Admission to the School of Education
    • Applying and becoming approved to student teach
    • Immersion experiences (World Languages Program only)

  • Choose courses to fulfill program requirements

  • Monitor progress toward graduation by:
    • Utilizing and correctly interpreting the academic advisement report
    • Knowing how to request a exception, substitution or waiver of program requirements
    • Understanding variable credit courses and registering for the correct number of credits
Third Year (25 - 57 credits)
  • Finalizing plans for career and life goals by being admitted to a Teacher Certification Program in the School of Education

  • Choose courses to fulfill program requirements

  • Understand key deadlines and criteria for:
    • Registering for and successfully passing the PRAXIS II
    • Applying for and being approved to student teaching
    • Completing the Language Proficiency test (World Language Program only)

  • Become actively involved in professional organizations that connect you to teaching.

Fourth Year (86 credits or more)

  • Understand key deadlines and criteria:
    • Applying for graduation
    • Applying for your teaching license

  • Become aware of opportunities for continued professional development including:
    • Reading Teacher certification
    • Add-on certification
    • Exceptional Education certification
    • Graduate programs
 

 
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