FAQs for Students | Academic Advising | University of Portland

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FAQs for Students

Academic Advising: FAQs for Students

Getting Started

How do I find out who my advisor is? Log into Pilot UP’s “Self-Serve" portal. From Self-Serve, click on "Student Records," then "View Student Information" at the bottom and find the name of the advisor on that page. The Academic Program Counselor of the school or college in which you are enrolled, can also provide this information.

When should I meet with my advisor? Students should always meet with their advisors during the two weeks prior to the registration period and should consider meeting with them at least once more to discuss larger issues associated with their academic experience.

How do I find my professor's office? Every professor puts all of his or her important contact information on the course syllabus, including office location, office hours, phone number, and email address. To find a professor who is not teaching one of your classes, consult the on-line version of the campus directory.

Registration Issues

How do I find out about official dates for registration, adding classes, etc? Go to the calendars located on the Students will need their pin number to register for classes or to change their class schedule. To get their pin number, students should meet their advisor in their primary major and construct a proposed schedule for the next semester. Once this is done, the advisor will provide the pin number.

How do I add a class? The latest day to add a course is the Friday of the first week of classes. The student will need to bring a completed and signed Drop/Add form to the Registrar’s Office. After the last add/drop date, an Exception to Academic Regulations form and a completed Drop/Add form is required to add a course.

How do I drop a class? To drop a course prior to the Friday of the first week of class, submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar’s Office for processing. After the first week of class, classes can still be dropped a "W" will appear on your transcript, indicating a withdrawl from the course. The Registrar's Office sets deadlines each semester for the withdrawal period. After this period ends, a withdraw from a course requires an Exeption to Academic Regulation form. See the university calendar for specific dates. Withdrawal from a course after the first week requires the signature of both the instructor and the student’s academic advisor or the associate dean/academic program counselors from the Dean’s Office.

It is important to discuss dropping a course with your advisor, since this may impact your ability to graduate on time.

How do I enter into a closed course? If a course taught in the College of Arts and Sciences is closed, see the department chair of the course you wish to add. If the course is taught in one of the professional schools, contact the academic program counselor. Adding a closed course requires a green "Closed Course Form" and an “Add/Drop Form.” Please note that in the College of Arts and Sciences, only department chairs can distribute closed course forms for their respective departments.

Can I repeat a class if I am unsatisfied with the grade earned? To repeat a class, a student must have received a C– or below or received no credit. By repeating the class, the new grade will replace the previous grade in the GPA calculation, but both classes and grades will remain on the transcript.

How can I get a copy of my schedule? Log into PilotsUP. In the Self-Serve portal, select "Registration." Then select “Student Detail Schedule” and find a weekly schedule showing all of your classes and their time and location. In addition, the main office of each school or college can provide a printed copy of your schedule.

How do I get credit for AP/IB classes? To get credit for AP or IB classes, request that official AP or IB scores be sent to the Registrar’s Office. AP and IB credit will not be reflected on your UP transcript until the sucessful completion of one full semester of coursework at the University.

Special Considerations

Should I be concerned if I get an academic warning? Professors give academic warnings for any number of reasons. Some of the more common reasons given include poor test or quiz scores, frequent absences, inadequate preparation or study skills, and missing or late assignments. These warnings do not mean that a student is going to fail the class, but they do mean that a student is in danger of failing if there is no academic improvement. Make sure to visit the professor. If significant problems exist with understanding the course material or test taking, consider seeking out a departmental tutor or other resources. Advisors can also identify the appropriate resources.

What is academic probation and how is a student placed on it? Students who do not pass the semester with a 2.00 grade point average (GPA), are placed on academic probation for the next semester; students on probation for two semesters in a row can be dismissed from the University entirely. When grades improve to the 2.00 level at the end of the next semester, then the probation will be lifted. For more information see the Registrar’s website.