Academic Advising

As a Media major, you will be assigned your own, personal advisor. At the SSC we believe good advising is a key ingredient in your adjustment to college, your progress towards a degree, and in maximizing your college experience and success in college. Your SSC advisor will want to get to know you and get a sense of your interests, abilities and goals. This collaborative relationship will empower you in the setting of goals and in developing a plan to achieve them. Advising at Media is mandatory and you will be required to meet with your advisor prior to registration for upcoming semesters. Your advisor is not your course picker, but is a skilled and experienced mentor who can inform as well as inspire, guide as well as motivate, while still ensuring that you make optimal progress towards your academic and career goals. 

To make an appointment:

  • Please use the scheduling link that your assigned Academic Advisor has provided you to schedule an appointment. If you are not sure who your assigned advisor is, please email the Media SSC at media-ssc@illinois.edu for information.
  • Or call the Student Services Center front desk at 217-244-4329.

The Student Services Center is located in 18 Gregory Hall.

Express Advising

Express advising allows students to meet with an academic advisor without an appointment. Express advising will occur only on days when class is in session. It serves as a 5- to 10-minute meeting for quick advising questions. Course planning will not occur during express advising. If a student comes during express advising for course planning, they will be asked to make an appointment with their assigned advisor.

Students will see the academic advisor on duty during express advising, but all follow-up appointments should be made with their assigned academic advisor.

Students not in the College of Media are invited to come to express advising with follow-up questions after attending an ICT info session.

Express advising utilizes the College of Media Advising Queue. Please sign in to the queue during one of the times listed below. Express advising will take place virtually and a Zoom link will be provided on the Advising Queue page to which you can log on. Express advising for Fall 2024 will begin the week of August 26 and will end on December 11, with no express advising during Fall Break. It will take place the following days and times during Fall 2024 semester:

  • Tuesdays 1:30-2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Advising Appointments

You will want to meet with your advisor to discuss your plans, your progress, and to craft your course schedules. You should meet with your assigned advisor early every semester to discuss your academic adjustment to a new schedule, overall academic progress, extracurricular and pre-professional involvement, and any other personal interests. Your advisor can also help you assess study abroad options, explore transfer courses and credit, and advise you on college and university academic policies and procedures. Indeed, your advisor will be willing to assist you with any question you may have. We can’t always promise that we can answer every question but we can promise we will help you find those who can. 

You can expect your advisor to:

  • Keep in touch with you every semester
  • Provide accurate, specific and up-to-date information
  • Keep appointments with you (or let you know in a timely manner if they need to reschedule)
  • Listen to you without prejudice, offer suggestions and discuss strategies
  • Guide you in your decision-making processes, encourage and support, but also confront unrealistic expectations and suggest alternative patterns of progress
  • Expertly navigate you through university, college and major requirements
  • Be a resource, ally, and mentor

You will want to:

  • Contact and keep in touch with your advisor
  • Make and keep appointments (or call to change or cancel them when necessary)
  • Prepare for appointments by checking your degree audit and curriculum plan and writing down questions
  • Choose your own class schedule before meeting and discussing it with your advisor
  • Utilize resources and read information on our weekly advising newsletter and emails
  • Be open in discussing your personal adjustment to Illinois, your academic progress and your study habits. If you experience any problems, let your advisor know
  • Make informed decisions relating to your major and career plans 
  • Set realistic and achievable goals
  • Keep track of important dates and deadlines for the academic year