Faculty Advising & Retention at HCC
Faculty Advising & Retention at HCC
Faculty advising exists to help currently enrolled HCC credit students (who are not dual enrolled high school students) gain the maximum academic and personal benefit from Hagerstown Community College. Faculty advisors assist advisees to clarify personal and career goals, develop an academic plan, make consistent progress toward goals, connect with campus support for academic and non-academic needs, and prepare for life after college. Early College students (who are dual enrolled high school students) are not generally assigned faculty advisers since they meet with Admissions staff for advising (if taking HCC classes at the high schools) or Retention & Registration staff for advising (if taking HCC class on the HCC campus).
Every HCC credit student (who is a high school completer) is connected to two people for planning, answers and support:
- A Faculty Advisor - Full-time faculty members and academic division directors who have deep knowledge of their academic programs and the careers related to those programs. Students see their faculty advisor for course planning AFTER their first semester of college classes.
- A Retention Specialist - Staff members in the Retention and Registration office who specialize in helping students navigate college offices and systems, and who connect students to help for non-academic needs. Students are required to see a Retention Specialist for their first semester course planning and for unique needs along the way.
These people work as a team to help students plan and accomplish their academic and career goals. Some students are connected to additional support people, for example, student-athletes, students with disabilities, and veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can my Faculty Advisor help me?
Faculty advisors assist students by:
- Helping students identify personal and career strengths and goals
- Explaining college majors and programs
- Helping students create degree plans that meet their personal and career goals
- Helping students plan courses that meet their goals and program requirements
- Helping students navigate Self-Service
- Reviewing progress in the major and suggesting specific course sequences
- Encouraging students to use on-campus tutoring and writing center services
- Advising on career, internship and transfer options
- Making sure that students are on track to graduate
- Providing letters of recommendation or serving as a reference for scholarships, transfer applications, or jobs
How can my Retention Specialist help me?
Retention specialists assist students with:
- Helping students navigate Self-Service and register for classes
- Time-sensitive scheduling needs
- Advising on college majors
- Helping students plan courses that meet their goals and program requirements
- Reviewing progress in the major and making sure students are on track to graduate
- Changing majors
- Explaining college policies
- Navigating transfer in or out of HCC
- Answering questions about class conflicts, financial aid, transcripts, how to get tutoring help
- Helping with problems outside of college, including needs for housing, food, mental health or other resources
Who is my Faculty Advisor? How do I contact my Faculty Advisor?
- Navigate to Self-Service and sign in
- Choose the Student Planning tab
- Choose Plan Your Degree
- Click the Advising tab. Your advisor’s name is at the top left, near the envelope icon
- Click to send an email
- To make an appointment with your faculty advisor, please click here
When should I meet with my Faculty Advisor?
Students’ academic advising needs vary. It is a good idea to plan to meet with your faculty advisor at these key points during your college experience:
- Identifying strengths and goals, and ensuring that academic program is a good fit – first year
- Planning next year’s courses – spring semester
- Struggling with academic challenges – any time
- Thinking about change of major – any time
- Progress check near program mid-point – when about 25 credits have been completed (for a typical 60-credit associate degree)
- Planning for internship or transfer – when about 25 credits have been completed
- Progress check near program completion – when about 50 credits have been completed (for a typical 60-credit associate degree)
Students are not limited to these reasons. Contact your advisor any time you need help.