At Mott Community College, academic advising is a team effort between you and your assigned advisor. It’s an ongoing process designed to help you make informed decisions about your education, stay on track with your goals, and connect with the right resources for success.
Your assigned advisor is here to guide you through every step of your academic journey. They will help you:
Whether you’re planning to transfer to a four-year university, start a new career, or build new skills, your advisor is here to support you. Make the most of your time at Mott by scheduling regular advising appointments and taking an active role in your education!
Your academic advisor can help you understand your program requirements, choose courses that fit your degree or certificate, monitor your progress, and connect with helpful campus resources. The most complete advising support usually happens in an in-person or Zoom appointment because you and your advisor can review your academic record, degree requirements, and course options together.
Phone appointments, express walk-in advising, and self-service course review are also available. The right option depends on what kind of help you need and how much planning is involved.
Important consideration: Before choosing an appointment type, think about your goal: Do you need help building a full academic plan, or do you only need a quick course adjustment or course review? Choosing the right option helps you get the best support in the least amount of time.
Students may schedule an advising appointment in one of three ways:
When scheduling, be prepared to share your name, MCC student ID number if available, your preferred appointment type, and the main reason for your appointment.
| Option | Best For | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person Appointment with Your Assigned Advisor | Comprehensive advising, degree or certificate planning, course selection, program changes, transfer planning, graduation planning, academic success planning, and situations where you feel unsure about what to take next. | You and your advisor can review your academic record, program requirements, course options, and next steps together. This is one of the strongest options when you need detailed guidance. |
| Zoom Appointment with Your Assigned Advisor | Students who want comprehensive advising but prefer a virtual option. | Zoom appointments allow your advisor to guide you through your academic record and planning tools using screen share. This is usually as thorough as an in-person appointment when you have a reliable internet connection and can log into MCC systems. |
| Phone Appointment with Your Assigned Advisor | Students who need a flexible option and may not be able to attend in person or by Zoom. | Phone appointments are helpful, but they are more conversation-based. Because your advisor cannot easily guide you through what they are seeing on screen, you should review the advisor notes in the Notes tab after the appointment. |
| Express Walk-In Advising | Quick questions, course adjustments, or brief help with the current or upcoming semester after you have already met with your assigned advisor. | Express advising is first-come, first-served with the next available advisor. Express advising is not designed for long-term planning, transfer planning, academic success planning, or complex questions. |
| Academic Advising Self-Service Course Review | Students who already know which courses they want reviewed and only need advisor review or approval. | Use MyBackpack to add courses to your timeline, write a note to your advisor, and click Request Review. This option is primarily note-driven and is best for course approvals rather than full advising conversations. Allow up to 72 hours for review. |
A prepared student gets more value from an advising appointment. Before your appointment, please:
Use this option when you already know which courses you want reviewed and you do not need a full advising conversation.
Hello, I added [course names or course numbers] to my timeline for [semester]. My program is [program of study]. Please review whether these courses meet my degree/certificate requirements. Thank you.
Your advisor can help you understand your program requirements and approve courses that fit your academic plan. After courses are approved, students are responsible for registering for courses in My Backpack or requesting registration assistance with the Enrollment Center staff. It is also important to ensure your method of payment is in place prior to the semester payment deadline.
Planning for University Transfer can be a multi-step process and requires transferring students to explore transfer opportunities, resources and planning steps. Comprised below are important transfer links and resources, but we encourage students who are considering a transfer to meet with their assigned advisor for a thorough transfer planning and building a roadmap to university transfer.
Comprised below are brief How-To guides on many resources and tools available to our students:
Academic Advising at MCC has adopted the Core Values of NACADA has a framework for academic advising and student success. The overarching adoption Academic Advisings include:
Through academic advising, students learn to become members of their higher education community, to think critically about their roles and responsibilities as students, and to prepare to be educated citizens of a democratic society and a global community. Academic advising engages students beyond their own world views, while acknowledging their individual characteristics, values, and motivations as they enter, move through, and exit the institution.
Academic Advising is build upon pedagogy, which includes:
Academic advising, as a teaching and learning process, requires a pedagogy that incorporates the preparation, facilitation, documentation, and assessment of advising interactions. Although the specific methods, strategies, and techniques may vary, the relationship between advisors and students is fundamental and is characterized by mutual respect, trust, and ethical behavior.
NACADA Core Values PDFNACADA Core Competencies PDF
