Advising FAQs

Advising appointments are scheduled through Otter Navigate. You can schedule time with an Academic Advisor or a Success Advisor, depending on the type of support you need.

Visit the Advising Appointments page for instructions and the scheduling link.

Appointments are scheduled meetings that allow time for detailed conversations about academic planning and long-term goals.

Drop-ins are available for quick questions and same-day guidance, such as help with registration, navigating campus resources, or clarifying next steps.

Academic Advisors help you understand degree requirements, build or update learning plans, explore majors, and stay on track for graduation.

Success Advisors help you strengthen academic habits such as time management, goal setting, and connecting with campus resources. They also support students completing Otter Academic Success requirements.

Appointments are designed for deeper conversations about your academic goals and progress. Topics often include creating or updating a learning plan, choosing courses for upcoming semesters, understanding degree requirements, exploring majors, and connecting with campus resources.

If you have a quick question, drop-ins may be a faster option.

You may want to meet with an Advisor before registering for classes, when exploring or changing majors, when creating or updating your learning plan, or when you are unsure what courses to take next.

Advisors are available throughout the year to help you plan your next steps.

A learning plan is a semester-by-semester outline of the courses you plan to take in order to complete your degree requirements. The Academic Advisor for your major can help you create or update your learning plan to make sure you are progressing toward graduation.

You can review your Academic Requirements Report, your Learning Plan, and Degree Pathway to understand which requirements you have completed and what courses may be needed next.

If you are unsure how to interpret your progress or plan upcoming semesters, an Academic Advisor can help you review your options.

Yes. Advisors can help you explore options and understand how a major change may affect your academic plan.

Students interested in changing majors should meet with the Academic Advisor for the new major to discuss requirements before a major change request can be submitted.

To do this, you can either visit the new Advisor during their drop-ins or call the Front Desk at 831-582-3937 to schedule an appointment. 

Some students may have an advising hold that requires them to meet with an Advisor before registering. Even when it is not required, meeting with an Advisor can help confirm your course plan and make sure you are staying on track toward graduation.

We recommend meeting with an Academic Advisor as early as possible, as it can be very challenging to connect with one during Registration Week. 

If a class is full, you may be able to join the waitlist if one is available. If a seat opens and you are next on the waitlist, you may be automatically added to the class.

Waitlists are usually removed shortly before the semester begins. If the waitlist has been removed and you are still trying to enroll, attend the first class meeting and ask the instructor whether they will allow you to add the course.

If the instructor approves, you may need to request a permission number from the department or office that manages that particular subject. Visit the Permission Numbers page for more information.

If the class is full and has no waitlist, it will show as closed right away. You will need to check often to see if a spot opens up if someone drops the class.

In some cases, you may take courses at a community college to meet certain requirements. Before enrolling at another institution, review course equivalencies using ASSIST.org and consult with your Academic Advisor to ensure the course fits your learning plan.

Enrollment Holds can be placed by different campus offices for various reasons. In most cases, the office that placed the hold must remove it.

Advisors can help you understand what the hold means and guide you to the office that can resolve it.

Grades such as NC (No Credit), F, or WU (Withdrawal Unauthorized) indicate that credit was not earned for the course. These grades may also negatively affect your GPA and academic standing.

If you are concerned about how a grade may affect your progress, an Advisor can help you review your options and plan your next steps.

The majority of questions about financial aid eligibility, scholarships, and paying for classes are handled by the Financial Aid Office.

Make a quick 15-minute appointment with the Financial Aid Office for assistance with your specific situation.

The OtterCare Office helps students connect with support for basic needs, including food, housing, health care, and emergency financial assistance. OtterCare staff can meet with students one-on-one and help connect them with campus and community resources.

You can also submit an OtterCare Referral Form to request support or refer a student who may need assistance.

Visit the OtterCare website to learn more about available services and how to connect with their team.

The Personal Growth and Counseling Center (PGCC) provides confidential counseling and mental health support for students. If personal challenges are affecting your academic experience, PGCC can help you explore support options.

An Advisor can also help you think through academic options while you are navigating difficult situations.

Students who need academic accommodations or accessibility support should connect with the Student Disability and Accessibility Center (SDAC). SDAC works with students to review documentation and coordinate accommodations with instructors.

Visit the SDAC page to begin the accommodation request process.

Housing requirements, including minimum unit enrollment for students living on campus, are managed by Student Housing and Residential Life. Contact the Housing Office for the most current policies.

Student records are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). To authorize someone else to access your records, submit the “Authorize to Release” form in your OASIS Student Center.

You control who may receive information and for how long. Only the offices you select will be authorized to share your records.

To learn more about FERPA and how it protects student records, review these guides from the U.S. Department of Education:

• FERPA Guide for Students
• FERPA Guide for Parents and Guardians

You may invite a parent, guardian, or other trusted person to join an advising meeting if you choose.

However, Advisors can only discuss your academic record if you have completed the “Authorize to Release” form in your OASIS Student Center, allowing that person to receive information under FERPA.

To learn more about FERPA and how it protects student records, review these guides from the U.S. Department of Education:

• FERPA Guide for Students
• FERPA Guide for Parents and Guardians

College terminology can be confusing, especially when you are new to the university. Visit the Academic Advising Glossary to find simple explanations of common terms such as prerequisites, waitlists, catalog year, and degree audits.