Academic Planning & Advising

Preparation is key to making the most of your advising appointment and ensuring a smooth registration process.

Before meeting with your advisor, you should:

• Schedule an appointment. Contact your academic advisor in advance of registration each semester to discuss your academic progress, goals, and course selections.
• Review your Degree Audit. Log in to MyIWU to access your Degree Audit and review your progress toward degree requirements, including general education and major requirements. Identify any unmet requirements or questions you would like to discuss.
• Review the IWU Catalog. Become familiar with university and departmental requirements for your degree and identify courses of interest.
• Review the Schedule of Classes. Determine which courses are offered for the upcoming term.
• Draft a course schedule. Use the Course Plans feature in Banner, if available, to develop a preliminary schedule. Check for scheduling conflicts and identify alternative courses in case your preferred classes are unavailable.
• Prepare your questions. Write down questions about your Degree Audit, course selections, academic goals, or concerns about your progress.
• Complete a draft of the Course Selection Form, if applicable. This can help organize your course preferences and guide your advising conversation.

Bring your Degree Audit, proposed schedule, questions, and any other relevant academic materials to your appointment.

Your advising appointment is an opportunity to discuss your goals, make informed academic decisions, and develop a plan for completing your degree.

During your appointment, you should:

• Discuss your academic and career goals. Share your interests, plans, and any concerns that may affect your academic progress.
• Plan for graduation. Work with your advisor to establish a target graduation date and develop a plan for completing your degree requirements.
• Review your course plan. Discuss your proposed schedule and map out courses for the next two to three semesters, when possible.
• Ask questions. Your advisor can provide the best guidance when you communicate openly about your goals, questions, and concerns.
• Keep notes. Record important information, recommendations, and next steps from your advising meeting so you can refer to them later.

Academic advising is an ongoing process. To stay on track toward graduation, you should:

• Follow through on recommendations. Complete agreed-upon next steps and follow up on referrals or resources suggested by your advisor.
• Stay in communication. Contact your advisor when questions arise or your academic plans change.
• Monitor your progress. Review your Degree Audit regularly and take responsibility for understanding your degree requirements and progress toward graduation.
• Explore campus resources. Become familiar with the academic and personal support services available at IWU.
• Seek additional guidance when needed. Contact the Office of Academic Advising if you have general advising questions, are undecided about your major, or want to explore your academic options. The office can help you navigate university processes and connect with appropriate resources.

Use the resources below to prepare for your advising appointment and plan your courses.

Registration and Academic Planning

• Registration Procedures — Registration information from the Office of the Registrar.
• How to Locate Your Registration Time — Instructions for finding your assigned registration time.
• Course Plan Links — Tools and information to help you plan your coursework.
• IWU Catalog — University and departmental degree requirements.
• Schedule of Classes — Courses offered for the upcoming term.

Planning Worksheets and Forms

• Fillable Course Selection Form — An editable form to organize your course selections.
• Printable Course Selection Form — A printable version of the course selection form.
• Weekly Schedule Worksheet — A worksheet to organize your weekly class schedule.
• Semester-by-Semester Planning Worksheet — A tool for mapping out courses across future semesters.
• Online Academic Planning Spreadsheet — Use this spreadsheet to organize your planned coursework through graduation and support your academic planning. 

Plan ahead, stay in communication with your advisor, and review your degree requirements regularly to make informed academic decisions and stay on track toward graduation.