They're there to help

By Priscilla Gutierrez
Special to Summer Forty-Niner

Engineering major Chethiya Ranaweera came to Cal State Long Beach from Sri Lanka in search of a better education and, ultimately, a better life.

Ranaweera did not attend student orientation, advising-registration program and was left confused and unsure about where to start and what courses he needed to complete.  He found himself looking through a thick catalog, not positive what he needed to do.

It was not until his second semester that Ranaweera was introduced to the Academic Advising Center for a mandatory session that all freshmen must attend. The academic advising helped him to plan a schedule and made the general-education courses and requirements for graduation clear and understandable.

Now a junior, Ranaweera said he regularly returns to the Academic Advising Center for any additional information he may need regarding class registration. He has gone at least once each year and has made sure that he is on the right track for graduation.

Like Ranaweera, many freshmen and transfer students are unaware of the Academic Advising Center, but once discovered it becomes a fundamental source in one's academic planning.

According to Marilee Samuelson, director of the Academic Advising Center, it had 56,000 student contacts during last year alone.

"We want especially for entering students to take advantage of the center because we feel they'll finish more quickly and more efficiently," Samuelson said.

The main goal of the Academic Advising Center is to provide general-education advising to all undergraduate students by qualified advisers, Samuelson said.

Graduating seniors must remember to file a request to graduate one year before their expected graduation, Samuelson said.

The Academic Advising Center will explain specific requirements for each individual student as well as other areas of concern, Samuelson said. It offers information on university polices and documents, and how to go about filing academic appeals.

For students on academic probation, the Academic Advising Center offers workshops, remediation strategies and procedures on repeat/delete courses. It also has an adult re-entry retention program to answer the questions of returning adult students and a summer-orientation program for the parents of incoming students.

If a student is still having trouble deciding on what major to choose, the center can provide special services and guidelines to assist.

The Academic Advising Center is the "home-base" for all undeclared students, Samuelson said.

The Academic Advising Center is located in the Library East, Room 125.  The advisors are available on an appointment basis for 30-minute sessions, five days a week.

The center welcomes students to drop by and set up an appointment or call (562) 985-4837. Transfer students should bring a copy of their transcripts in to determine which courses are transferable.

Undergraduate students, especially freshmen, are highly encouraged to use the Academic Advising Center when planning their schedules. Students should come at least once a year, according to Samuelson.

"When I first came here I had no clue what the Academic Advising Center was," Ranaweera said. "Now I at least know that I'm on the right track."