Academic advising is a critical component to student success.
Academic Advisors are here to help you navigate your time as an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona. Beyond helping you plan your courses, they can help you connect to campus resources, clarify departmental and university policies, and partner with you to define and achieve your academic goals.
Three Ways to Connect with Your Academic Advisor
There are several options for advising, so you can choose which best fits your needs:
Scheduled Appointments
- 30-minute appointments for currently declared majors or minors.
- Available in-person, through Zoom, or over the phone. After booking your appointment, please be sure to verify the modality!
- Our Academic Advisors typically post appointments two weeks at a time. If you don't see any availability, keep checking back!
Drop-In Advising
- Designated for quick questions only (think 10 minutes or less). No appointment necessary; simply show up within the drop-in hours to see your Advisors on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Typically offered in person in the Ina Gittings building.
- Availability varies, so you should always check your Advisor's calendar in Trellis Advise for their offerings before doing anything.
Email Advising
- You can email your Academic Advisor for any general questions you have.
- Use your official UA email account and include your name, student ID number, and details about your question.
- It can take 24-48 business hours to get a response (excluding holidays and priority registration.
We support the University of Arizona COVID-19 guidelines for in-person interactions, and recommend following these guidelines to keep our community healthy:
- Wear a mask when you're indoors, especially in crowded indoor settings such as classrooms and labs. When attending in-person advising meetings, we encourage you to wear a mask to protect both you and those around you.
- Stay home if you're sick (with any illness). If you've made an in-person advising appointment, reschedule your appointment for when you're better, so you can focus on resting.
- Get tested if you fall ill or have been around someone who is exhibiting symptoms. Please visit the Campus Health website for more information on on and off-campus testing options.
Meet Our Advising Team
Our Academic Advisors work with students based on the first letter of your last name. We work a hybrid schedule, meaning your Academic Advisor works on campus some days and remotely other days. Be sure to check their calendar in Trellis Advise for the most accurate availability!
Directory
What to Expect from PSIO Advising
Academic advising is a collaborative relationship between you and your Academic Advisor. The intent of this relationship is to assist you in developing meaningful education goals consistent with your interests, values, and abilities.
We strongly recommend you meet with your Academic Advisor at least once a semester to discuss your plans, assess progress toward your goals, and address any issues or questions you have. Still, you're welcome to connect with us as often as needed. To learn more, we encourage you to read the full Physiology Advising Syllabus.
Student Expectations
- Seek advice from appropriate Advisors at appropriate times.
- Learn academic program requirements.
- Utilize available resources, including web-based ones, to monitor academic progress.
- Take responsibility for actions and decisions that affect academic progress.
- Demonstrate respect for others and self at all times.
- Adhere to the University Student Code of Conduct, policies, and procedures.
- Check University's official email account multiple times per day during the regular Fall and Spring semesters.
Advisor Expectations
- Approve academic programs of study.
- Provide accurate and consistent information.
- Clarify program requirements and policies.
- Assist in identifying appropriate institutional resources.
- Uphold academic standards of the institution.
- Demonstrate respect for others and self at all times.
- Adhere to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines.
- Respond within *24-48 business hours upon receipt of an email from a student’s University account.
- Response times may vary during peak advising times.
Frequently Asked Questions
While not mandatory for most students, it’s strongly recommended that you meet with an Academic Advisor at least once a semester to make sure that you’re on the same page with your plans and have the resources you need to be successful. In some cases, certain scholarships/financial aid or classes do require you to meet with your Academic Advisor.
The classes you need and the order in which you take them depends on a variety of factors, including which emphasis area you declared, what your starting math placement is, etc. You should refer to the curriculum guides and sample four-year plans, this math guide, as well as your advisement report in UAccess to help you get a better sense of course requirements and recommended sequencing. Your Academic Advisor is also a great resource to help you plan.
Grade Replacement Opportunity (GRO) offers you the ability to replace grades of C, D, and E by repeating the course, which you can do up to three times throughout your undergraduate career. When used, only the grade from the repeat attempt will be used to calculate the GPA, though both courses will remain visible on your record. Please review the policy in full and connect with your Academic Advisor (can this push up to the Academic Advisor section of this page?) to discuss whether this is a good option for you.
Your cumulative GPA is a calculation based on all classes completed through the UA, whereas your major GPA is a calculation based on just your PSIO courses, as well as any other emphasis and elective courses completed within the major. Please note: courses taken at other institutions don’t count towards your GPA calculation.
Taking courses over the summer can be a great way to catch up or get ahead with requirements. This guide walks you through the general process.
Start Your Journey through the Study Abroad Office to think about and define your goals, learn more about locations, and read about course options. If you’re interested in taking PSIO major electives while abroad, the UA London Global Track or the UA Sydney Global Track could be great options to explore.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is an on-campus resource that offers a variety of support options to best fit your needs. You can visit their website or call 520-621-3334 to get started.
Your Academic Advisor is a great first point of contact for any questions or concerns you have! They can provide you with information and make referrals to other places on campus that can best support your overall success and wellbeing. If you want to get started on your own, some of the most common recommendations are:
Your Academic Advisor can help address any questions you have and refer you to the right source if they don’t have the information you need. Please connect with them as early and as often as possible!