Center for Academic Advising FAQs

All students have at least one academic advisor. Advisors are assigned based on their declared major/minor/degree and the number of credits they have completed. Advisor assignments are found in E-Hive in your Student Center at the bottom of the right column. The first advisor listed is your primary advisor, and the individuals listed after are secondary advisors, minor advisors, Student Support Services advisors, or athletic coaches. Only your primary advisor can lift your advisor hold each term. If you need help accessing this information, you can contact the Center for Academic Advising. 

• Days 1-5 of the semester: Classes may be added or dropped in E-Hive without instructor’s permission
• Days 6-10 of the semester: Classes may be dropped through E-Hive and added with permission from the instructor using either a permission number or an add form
• After Day 10 of the semester: Any dropped course will show up as a “W” on your transcript and you will be charged a $20 drop fee.

If you have earned credit for a course at another institution or at UW-Superior and you believe the course could meet a requirement in your major, minor, or a general education requirement, you may request a course substitution. The process for this request is as follows:

1. Obtain a course syllabus and/or course description from the institution where you earned the course
2. Consult with your advisor and the department chair from the granting department
3. If it is agreed that the course can be used in substitution, fill out the Course Substitution/Course-Equivalent Form
4. Obtain your advisor’s signature and the signature of the department chair for the department that will be granting the substitution
5. Submit the form to the Registrar’s Office for processing

Your advisor can assist you in completing these steps and answer any questions that you may have about the process.

Students should allow 24-48 hours for an advisor to respond to any email or phone contact. Receiving a response may take longer at high demand times such as during registration periods. If your advisor has not responded to you within a reasonable time frame and you have not been able to reach them, please contact the Center for Academic Advising and our staff will assist you in connecting with your advisor.

Your Advising Report is found in the drop-down bar in the Academics section of E-Hive. It outlines your major, minor and general education requirements and shows the options of courses you can take to fulfill each of those areas.

If your major or minor is listed inaccurately in your Advising Report, please contact the Advising Office.

If your appointment is to discuss registration, be sure to visit your E-Hive and review your Advising Report ahead of time, and make a “wish list” of courses that you are interested in taking in the next semester. Also, be sure to write down and bring any questions that you have.

During the appointment, be prepared to discuss the following: 

• your educational interests and goals
• your educational plan, including course selection
• any academic concerns or questions when appropriate

Once the placement test has been taken, the course you have been placed into will be listed at the end of your unofficial transcript for UW-Superior.

1. Log into E-Hive
2. Click on “My Student Center”, located in the top of the middle section of your E-Hive home page
3. Under “Academics”, in the left margin, you will see a drop down box. Select “Transcript: view unofficial” and click on the arrow to the right of the box. 
4. In the drop down box titled “Report Type”, select Unofficial Transcript” and click “go”.
5. Scroll to the bottom of your unofficial transcript and you will see English class, Math class(es), and/or Foreign Language class that you are allowed to enroll in based on the results of your placement exam(s) or your ACT English score.

If you are having difficulty locating these locations, your advisor will be able to assist you in locating your placement and directing you to the appropriate courses.

Academic advising is a collaboration between you and your advisor. In order to get the most out of your experience, students are expected to take an active role in the process. This includes:

• Scheduling regular appointments or making regular contacts with their advisor during each semester
• Coming prepared to each appointment with questions or material for discussion
• Being an active learner by participating fully in the advising experience
• Asking questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern
• Keeping a personal record of your progress toward meeting your goals
• Organizing official documents in a way that enables you to access them when needed
• Completing all assignments or recommendations from your advisor
• Gathering all relevant decision-making information
• Clarifying personal values and goals and provide advisor with accurate information regarding your interests and abilities
• Becoming knowledgeable about college programs, policies, and procedures
• Accepting responsibility for decisions

Your academic advisor is your best point of contact to connect you to the many resources that are offered to students at UW-Superior. They are able to help with:

• Goal Setting
• Course Selection
• Policy Clarification
• Resources – both campus and community
• Staying on track
• Major Exploration
• Development
• Input and Feedback

You should always see your advisor ASAP for:

• Course troubles
• Dropping courses or withdrawing
• Changing/declaring a major or minor

While students are required to meet with their academic advisor each semester for registration, your advisor is a resource throughout the entire academic year.

Your instructor is your best first contact if you are having challenges in a course. The instructor’s office hours and contact information are listed on the syllabus for the course. You should also contact your advisor as soon as possible – they will be able to connect you to resources that will assist you in getting back on track and being successful in your courses.

Class year is determined by the number of credits you have completed successfully:

0 – 27 earned credits = freshman
28 – 55 earned credits = sophomore
56 – 83 earned credits = junior
84+ earned credits = senior

In the Undergraduate Catalog, you can find your program and university graduation requirements, course descriptions, and detailed information regarding all University academic policies. This document is your guide to completing your academic requirements. You are responsible for the requirements in your catalog of entry (Note: students in programs requiring licensure may be held to changes based on licensing requirements, and changes in academic policy and procedures apply to all students). Students are able to submit a request to change their catalog to a more recent year if they feel that changes made in a newer catalog are more beneficial to their educational and career goals.

The goals of the General Education Program at the University of Wisconsin-Superior are to foster the growth of the following skills and habits of mind:

• Communication: Students demonstrate effective communication skills in writing, speaking, reading and listening.
• Critical Thinking: Students engage in critical thinking based on multiple forms of evidence.
• Creative Expression: Students develop skills in creative expression, including abstract thinking.
• Diversity and Global Citizenship: Students demonstrate empathetic and ethical thinking based on knowledge of the diversity of human experience.
• Interdisciplinary Connections: Students connect knowledge and methods from a variety of disciplines through courses across the general education curriculum.

General education courses are great ways for students to support their chosen major by selecting classes that complement learning and concepts in their chosen discipline; explore potential majors if undeclared; or build skills and knowledge in areas that the student feels will help them to attain career and life goals.

Your academic advisor can assist you in exploring general education course options that fit with your academic goals.

Your advisor has set expectations in the advising process. You can expect your advisor to:

• Understand and effectively communicate the curriculum, graduation requirements, and university policies and procedures.
• Encourage and guide you to define and develop realistic goals.
• Provide you with information and strategies for utilizing the available resources and services on campus.
• Assist you in understanding the purposes and goals of higher education and its effect on your life and personal goals.
• Monitor and accurately document your progress toward meeting your goals.
• Be accessible for meeting with you via office hours for advising, telephone, e-mail, or web access.
• Assist you to develop skills in decision-making so that you may assume responsibility for your educational plans and achievements.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Assist you in working closely with your instructors.

Change of major, minor, degree, advisor, and catalog year forms can be found on the Center for Academic Advising Forms page. There is also a link to advising forms at the bottom of the right column in your E-Hive Student Center portal. The electronic form must be completed and submitted. Once received by the Center for Academic Advising staff, your request will be processed in 24-48 hours and you will receive an email confirmation of the change. Check your University email regularly until you receive confirmation, as the Center for Academic Advising staff will also email with any questions they may have regarding your request.

Students are assigned advisors based on their declared major/minor/degree and the number of credits they have completed. Advisor assignments are found in E-Hive in your Student Center at the bottom of the right column. The first advisor listed is your primary advisor, and the individuals listed after are secondary advisors, minor advisors, or athletic coaches. Only your primary advisor can lift your advisor hold each term.