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Advising Support, Student Success, & Retention

Advising Support & Registration

Faculty are central to to academic advising at TLU. All tenure-track faculty with one year of service assume academic advising responsibilities.

The faculty role in the advising system is supplemented and supported by the Office of the Vice President within Student Affairs.

The TLU academic advising system has as its guiding principle the belief that academic advising is a natural component and extension of faculty teaching and, as such, is integral to student learning.

The purpose of the academic advising program is to assist students in the development of meaningful educational goals that are consistent with personal interests, values and abilities.

Although many individuals on campus, including academic advisors, may assist the student in making decisions and accomplishing goals, the academic advisor is granted formal authority by the university to approve the student's academic program of study and assist the student in progressing toward the appropriate degree.

New Student Registration Form

All incoming students complete the New Student Registration Form.

The New Student Registration Form is used to capture your academic interests, strengths, and specific course requests. Alongside other admissions documents, the New Student Registration Form is used by a team of TLU faculty and staff to build a first semester class schedule tailored to your major and interests. Our goal is to build a schedule that sets all students up for success

Current students are required to meet with their faculty advisor to be approved for course registration.Advising and registration for the spring will occur in the middle of the fall semester. Advising and registration for the fall and summer sessions will occur approximately a month before the end of the spring semester. There are always opportunities for students to participate in late registration periods or register during the first week of classes if they miss scheduled registration.

Watch A Tutorial On How To Register For Classes

Advising Learning Outcomes

  • Clarify personal educational values and goals
  • Guide decision making
  • Learn how to gather needed information systematically
  • Reflect on strengths and weaknesses and how these affect student academic plans

Advisor & Advisee Responsibilities

Faculty advisor will...

Student advisee will...

Have a knowledge and understanding of General Education & major requirements

Encourage and support students as they gain the skills to develop clear and attainable educational plans

Provide students with information about and strategies for utilizing available resources and services on campus

Be involved in the advising process, be prepared to discuss plans, and bring materials

Accept responsibility for decisions and actions (or inactions) which affect your educational progress and goals

Ask questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern

Paw Print & Pathway Guides

Paw Print: The Paw Print module is required for all incoming students enrolled in the Exploring the Arts & Sciences (FREX 134) course. This module will focus on first-year students’ understanding of why they have decided to get a higher education degree, what they want to do with it to better their life and community, and how they are going to get it done (graduate). Students will discuss the concepts of liberal arts and vocation, will be introduced to Compass (TLU’s General Education Curriculum), and complete a comprehensive education plan for their upcoming college years.

Pathway Guides: Pathway Guides are student leaders cross trained in academic advising and career development and are responsible for supporting students in academic and career exploration regarding personal academic interests, strengths and majors; providing resources for academic and career planning; and serving as a resource for degree planning and course selection prior to registration periods. While Pathway Guide support first-year students through facilitating the Paw Print Reflective module, Pathway Guides are tasked with supporting the entire student body with any academic or career planning needs.

Bulldog Road Map To Graduation

Navigating college can be challenging, especially when you're trying to make sure you've completed specific requirements, earned enough course credit, or attended certain events. TLU's Bulldog Road Map To Graduation visually breaks down how students become engaged, find support, and are challenged throughout their time at TLU. There are four different roadmaps each aligning with the year a student is at TLU or based on a student’s credit hours. Downloadable PDFs are available on the MyTLU Student Life tab and printed copies are available in the Student Activities & Campus Programs Office or in your residence hall.

MyMajors Assessment

Choosing a college major can be a difficult decision. At Texas Lutheran University, we encourage you to explore possible majors, and the Texas Lutheran University MyMajors assessment is one tool to assist you with this process.

After completing the TLU MyMajors assessment, you will receive a list of recommended majors at Texas Lutheran University based on your academic aptitudes, interests and personality. Students complete the TLU MyMajors assessment in their first semester at TLU.

Pathway Pursuit

Pathways Pursuit is a program designed to help undecided and exploratory majors take a closer look at their academic and career path and goals! Through a series of workshops, coaching sessions, group activities and assessments, Pathway Pursuit will open the door for students to build a network of support with their peers as well as the Advising Support and Career Services departments at TLU.

Finding the Right Fit

There are a variety of resources on campus to support students as they determine whether a major is the right fit. Check out below who you can connect with on campus to talk about your major.

#15To Finish

  • Want to graduate on time?
  • Get better grades?
  • There’s a substantial amount of data that shows how taking 15 credits a semester (or 30 credits each school year) dramatically increases on-time graduation, leads to higher grade point averages (GPAs), and lower dropout rates!

Here a few reminders to help you stay on track to graduate on time:

  • Meet with your academic advisor if you have questions or need help navigating through your degree plan. Remember: you don’t have to wait until the advising and registration period to speak with their advisors. Students can simply email for an appointment.
  • Do not suffer in silence. There are so many benefits to speaking with your instructor or a staff member if you’re struggling inside or outside of the classroom.
  • Take care of yourself! If you need mental health support, our TLU counselor, Sarah Westerfield is here to help!
  • When it’s not an emergency but you need medical or mental tele-health support, you can visit anytime, from anywhere with TLU Care.

The Office of Student Success & Retention

The Office of Student Success & Retention provides support for all TLU students, houses the campus Collaborative Learning Assistance and Supplemental Instruction programs and provides campus-wide academic workshops, individual academic counseling, and support. The center is located in the Blumberg Memorial Library lower level east. The center has achieved certification Levels One and Two through the College Reading and Learning Association’s International Tutor Training Certification Program.

Academic Support

Important Dates & Reminders For Current TLU Students:

  • November 8-12 Faculty Advising
  • November 15-19 Registration For Spring 2022
  • December 8-9 Makeup Registration
  • January 11-18 Late Registration & Schedule Changes
  • January 12 Classes Begin
  • March 28-April 1 Faculty Advising
  • April 4-8 Registration for May, Summer, and Fall 2022 Terms
  • April 27-28 Make-Up Registration
Contact Us

Jessica Anderson

advising@tlu.edu

Contact Us

Sycora A. Wilson, Ed.D.

Do you have a question? Get in touch.