Advising Resources for Students

Ready, Set Register for Next Semester

Your assigned advisor is trying to contact you! Check your BearMail every day and follow the instructions they send to schedule your registration support and advising sessions.

We want you to get the most out of your academic advising session and be Registration Ready each semester.

Top Things Every Bear Should Know

As a student, you have a lot of information, policies, departments, and people to know: we have a list of the 12 things many Bears forget, don't realize, or haven't heard of before. 

• You have three options for Written Communication in the LAC.

  The Liberal Arts Curriculum requires you to pass 6 credit hours in Written Communication. You have three options for Writing:

  Option A: Introductory Writing (plus Bonus Support) & Intermediate Writing

  • • First, you will take ENG 122 and the one-credit ENG 132. This option gives you more attention and support with your ENG 122 instructor, and students tend to earn higher grades. Your advisor might recommend this course based on your Placement Survey (the DSP), SAT/ACT Test Scores, or high school GPA.
    • After completing your ENG 122 with 132 (in the same semester), you choose one class from these Intermediate Writing Courses.

  Option B: Introductory Writing & Intermediate Writing

  • • You will take ENG 122 by itself (no Bonus Support) first.
    • After you complete your ENG 122, you choose one class from these Intermediate Writing Courses.

  Option C: Intermediate Writing & Advanced Writing

  • • Based on your ACT or SAT scores, you could choose one class from these Intermediate Writing Courses. You need an SAT Verbal with a minimum score of 630 or ACT English with a minimum score of 30 or SAT Reading Test with a minimum score of 34.
    • Then you will take ENG 323 as the advanced course.

  If you have any questions, please contact the Writing Program Administrator, Dr. Tara Wood: writingprogram@unco.edu.

• ALEKS (the math assessment) might be the reason you can't register for a Math class.

  The University of Northern Colorado requires that students complete an assessment to determine readiness for mathematics and statistics courses called the ALEKS. However, some students are exempt from this requirement. You may have taken ALEKS in preparation for New Student Registration the summer before your first semester or during your first advising session as a transfer student. 

  Students wishing to register for the following courses need to take the ALEKS placement exam: MATH 120, MATH 124, MATH 127, MATH 131, MATH 171 and STAT 150.  The placement exam is (1) required to be completed and (2) in the URSA system BEFORE you can register for the course.  Please be aware, it can take several days for ALEKS and URSA to sync, so be sure to take the test several days prior to registering for your course.  Some math classes need specific scores on ALEKS before you can register for them--and you can retake ALEKS after practicing for a higher score.

  If you are being told you need a code to retake the ALEKS, you will need to spend time in the Prep and Learning Module to review some of the concepts missed in your previous attempt. After this, the assessment can be retaken.

  Visit the Math Placement website for further information.

• You need at least 120 Credits to graduate from UNC with a Bachelor's.

  You need to complete four requirements to earn your Bachelor's Degree, and the first requirement is earning a minimum of 120 credit hours.

  You may have completed all your LAC courses and all your major requirements but are short of the 120 rule. When you create your graduation plans with your advisor, ask about minors or double-majors that fit your degree plan and end-game goals. If you need a few more classes, you can consider the University-Wide electives.

  If you complete more than one major AND earn at least 150 credits, you would graduate with a double degree instead of a double major.

• We have many policies related to Course Grades like probation, appeals, and replacements.

  UNC operates on a 4.00 +/- grade point system, utilizing both letter grades and S/U grades, determining your academic standing. You need to be in Good Academic Standing to graduate. The Academic Standing Policy is different from the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

  As a Bear, get familiar with the policies related to Grades and Standing:

  • Academic Probation and Suspension
  • Course Repeats vs. Grade Replacements
  • Incompletes, to finish the class within a year
  • Academic Appeals, a process that begins with your professor and moves up
  • Academic Misconduct, for cheating and academic dishonesty
  • Academic Conflicts, when things interfere with your safe, respectful learning environment
• Your GPA depends on what grades you earn and how many courses you complete.

  Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is a math equation based on Quality Points you earn for each class and the GPA Hours you have taken at UNC. You have two types of GPA on your transcript:

  1. Term GPA each Semester = Semester Quality Points/Semester GPA Hours

  • Your term GPA is listed under each semester on your transcript.

  1. Cumulative GPA = Total Quality Points/Total GPA Hours

  • Your cumulative GPA is listed near the end of your transcript. Your cumulative GPA doesn't include non-UNC grades (like the B you earned at a community college over the summer).

  Your term GPA is probably different from your cumulative GPA unless this is your first semester!

  The Quality Points you earn are based on the grade for the class. Only standard letter grades (A-F) have quality points, while S+, S, U, W, and I are excluded from your GPA equation.

  GPA Example: Klawz took five classes and earned 32 Quality Points divided by 11 GPA Credits so far. Klawz has a GPA of 2.9.

  Grade	Credit	Points	GPA
  A = 4.000	3	12.000
  B- = 2.667	5	13.335
  C+ = 2.334	3	7.002
  S = N/A	N/A	N/A
  I = N/A	N/A	N/A
  Total	11	32.337	= 2.939 GPA

  When Klawz finishes the Incomplete and earns a grade, the total Points and Credits will change the GPA. Klawz' "S" will not change.

• You may need to hit targets to maintain your Financial Aid like being a full-time student and making SAP.

  The Office of Financial Aid in Bear Central has resources to help you find, understand, and keep money towards your degree. You need to talk with this office and review your award offers before making changes to your course schedule.

  Generally (again, review your financial aid package to confirm), you need to stay enrolled in at least 12 Credits each full semester for aid. If you withdraw or don't attend your classes, you may need to repay some aid.

  Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the standard to remain eligible for your financial aid. If you use financial aid, review the SAP Policy each semester: set a reminder for the first week of classes.

• Registering for the next semester is more than picking out classes: we have deadlines and steps to follow.

  Registering for the classes you need and want is critical for your graduation plan. You should complete steps 1-4 of Ready, Set Register at least one week before your registration date for the best selection for courses.

  On your registration date, open these three pages in another window for quick answers to common errors:

  • Holds and Error Messages (Explanations and Resources)
  • Registration Assistance (Steps and Screenshots)
  • Using the Waitlist (FAQS on the Process)

  Every semester (including summer and interim sessions), you have 3 deadlines to add to your calendars:

  1. The Add Deadline is the date you can register for classes through URSA without additional paperwork and approvals.
  2. The Drop Deadline is the date you can remove yourself from a course through URSA, and it won't appear on your transcript or charge you tuition. 
  3. The Withdraw Deadline is when you can exit a course without a grade (you will see a "W" on your transcript).

  You can appeal if you miss a deadline based on situations beyond your control.

• You can find money throughout your college career from scholarships to jobs to community assistance.

  Scholarships are available throughout your graduation timeline! You should seek out and apply for scholarships every semester until you graduate.

  The Office of Financial Aid curates a list of UNC scholarships to check out, and the deadlines span the year. You can get help and feedback on your essays from the Writing Center or a mentor, like your advisor.

  • The UNC Foundation Scholarships open on November 1 with an application through URSA. Set a reminder to apply each Fall.
  • The Reisher Scholars Program offers funding and recognition to Colorado residents. 
  • The Stryker Institute provides funding and leadership development to women from under-represented groups.
  • The CHE Program provides funding and community support to first-generation students.
  • Your college or major might have scholarships too! Ask your department about opportunities.
  • And you can find community scholarships like Weld County Bright Futures or the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado.

  For job opportunities, you should visit the Center for Career Readiness to give your resume a boost. Then head over to Handshake through URSA to find campus and community job posts.

  If you experience other financial hardships, because life happens, Call 211 for local financial support options like United Way, Women2Women, and more.

• You are in charge of decisions about your classes: we have tools and support to help you with those choices.

  Often the difference between a dream and an accomplishment is in the planning. UNC has several tools to help you turn your graduation dream into the moment you walk across the stage. Use these tools to prepare for your meetings with your advisor, success coach, or UNC mentor.

  Degree Works is the official overview of your degree progress. Keep an eye on the Green Check Marks and Red Circles as you complete different requirements. If anything looks 'off', ask your advisor right away.

  Your major developed a general Four Year Plan to help you visualize your degree timeline. These are guides, and your advisor will develop an individual degree plan based on your academic records.

  Your assigned advisor is here to help from start to end. You can find your advisor through URSA under Student Information. You can also visit your college's advising or success center for help.

• We have many resources and services to help you succeed: and they are free to use!

  Your academic success depends on many factors. UNC has various services to help you along the way--all included in your experience as a Bear.

  • Tutorial Services offers peer-led sessions for undergraduate courses. Hear from a Bear about their experience.
  • The Writing Center provides one-on-one sessions for specific writing projects. Hear from a Bear about their use of the Writing Center.
  • The Math Study Center offers drop-in assistance to students enrolled in math courses.
  • University 101 is a class designed to help you learn skills and tools for college.
  • The Michener Library provides more than books and study spaces: ask for research help, talk to a subject librarian, and watch video tutorials.
• You have a community here with tons of opportunity to meet people and get involved.

  Your personal success depends on many factors, and UNC has various community networks to help you along the way.

  • Find your home away from home with our cultural and resource centers
  • Connect with DREAMer resources and support
  • Join the Student Diversity Advisory Council to make an impact on campus
  • Register for a Unite Cohort to learn about numerous social topics
  • Bookmark the University Events calendar
  • Visit the Counseling Center or the Psychological Services Clinic 
  • Find or start a new student organization
  • Get involved with the Office of Student Engagement for even more opportunities
• We publish a book with all the policies, course descriptions, and programs every year: you can search that book online whenever you have a question about your degree.

  Every policy, major, course description, and rule about being a UNC Bear exists in our online catalog. 

  We published a new catalog every year with changes, and any changes apply to that Fall term. The catalogs are labeled by the year of that Fall (first number) and Spring (second number). When you are searching for a catalog, think about the year you started as a UNC Bear: 

  If you began in the Fall of 2021, your catalog year is 2021-2022. If you began in the Fall of 2020, your catalog year is 2020-2021. If you began in the Spring of 2019, your catalog year is 2018-2019, and so on.

  Use the catalog to verify information, check your degree requirements, and search for which minors and majors we offer.