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Advising Help Desk – Undergraduate Advising

General Information

What is the Letters and Science Office of Undergraduate Advising?

The Office of Undergraduate Advising provides advising and referrals for undergraduates. College Advisers help students plan their academic programs, check progress towards their degree, suggest enrichment opportunities, and explain academic policies and requirements. Advisers have access to students' academic records and connect students with other campus services for special assistance.  Advisers also act as the dean's representative on certain student requests that are exceptions to established policy.

General Information

What do departmental advisers do?

L&S academic departmental advisers are responsible for everything related to the major and to students declared in the major, including:

  • Advising intended majors and declared students
  • Overseeing the major declaration process
  • Processing petitions for declared students (within certain guidelines)
  • Determining fulfillment of major requirements
  • Certifying major completion

General Information

How can I, as a staff person, get help from the L&S advising office?

  • Call or email your liaison.  Each major adviser is assigned an advising liaison within the L&S advising office to contact for assistance.  If you don't know who your liaison is, contact Mark Gotvald at 642-0728.
  • Call the main advising office at 642-1483.  This phone line is always staffed by a professional adviser. 
  • Contact the Director of Advising, Roseanne Fong, at 642-3847.
  • Email the office at kpasalns@berkeley.edu.
  • Look up information on the L&S Advising website.

 

Advising Appointments

When should I refer a student to L&S Advising?

An L&S adviser is available for scheduled or drop-in appointments when students:

  • Need help choosing a major or want information about double majors
  • Want assistance planning their schedules or selecting classes
  • Have academic registration blocks
  • Are in academic difficulty
  • Want to discuss academic options after the deadlines to add, drop, change grading option and change units
  • Wish to withdraw or cancel their registration
  • Want to check progress towards their L&S requirements
  • Need a form or petition
  • Want to do long-term planning
  • Are interested in learning about enrichment opportunities.

In addition, all actions that need a dean's approval go through the L&S Advising Office.

Please use the Campus Referral Form when referring students to L&S Advising and other campus offices.

Advising Appointments

How do students schedule an appointment with an L&S adviser?

Office hours and information about scheduling appointments are available on the L&S Advising website.  Appointments fill quickly so students should call the office at 642-1483 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to schedule appointments for the following week.  The busiest times of the year are the first two weeks of each semester and during the Tele-BEARS enrollment periods.

Advising Appointments

How do students schedule an appointment with an L&S dean?

Appointments with deans are made only for certain specific matters (e.g., exceptions to policy, preparing for readmission after dismissal, concurrent enrollment approval).  Appointments can be scheduled or cancelled by calling (510) 642-1483.

Accessing the Office

What are some other ways students can get help from the L&S advising office?

Referrals

  • You are encouraged to refer students to L&S using the Campus Referral Form, currently available on bSpace in the "UMA Shared Resources" folder.  This form will help students know why you are referring them to the L&S advising office and what to ask when they arrive.
  • Contact Anne Aaboe at 643-7473 for access to the "UMA Shared Resources" folder.

 

L&S Advising Website

  • The L&S Advising Website is full of useful information on schedule planning, choosing a major, requirements, graduation, and much, much more.

 

Peer Advisers

  • L&S peer advisers are students who have completed an extensive training period and are qualified to answer quick questions. They are available at the front desk in 206 Evans throughout the week at various times, and every Wednesday from 10-1.  Their blue peer carts are stationed around campus throughout the semester (weather permitting). Peer advisers are also available at the residence halls during the dinner hour to answer quick questions. They have on-line access to class availability to help students find open classes and can answer Tele-BEARS and Bear Facts questions.

 

Satellite Advising

  • During the fall and spring semesters, L&S advisers are available in the Chávez Center and the office of the Disabled Students' Program.  Contact L&S at (510) 642-1483 for advising hours.

 

Finding Your Way

  • The Finding Your Way program is designed for new freshmen and transfer students. Teams of L&S professional and peer advisers are assigned to groups of students based on their residential or commuting status. Advisers are available to meet with students in their residence hall for scheduled appointments and drop-in advising. To schedule an appointment, call 642-1483. 

 

Email Advising

  • Students can send quick questions to L&S at kpasalns@berkeley.edu and receive a response within two working days. Students cannot make appointments or conduct any business that involves their student records (no personal or confidential information will be divulged over email), but they can get lots of general advice.

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