As part of updates to campus operations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, L&S Honors advisors will be available for phone appointments or Microsoft Teams video appointments rather than in person. Please continue to use Starfish to schedule appointments, and take note of the updated location options and instructions provided there and through e-mail.
Drop-in advising has been temporarily suspended. Please e-mail us at advisor@honors.ls.wisc.edu or schedule an appointment to connect with an advisor.
Visit the Office of Undergraduate Advising’s website for campus-wide information about advising and career services during COVID-19.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we all respond to this dynamic situation.
L&S Honors Program advisors work as a team to advise students throughout their time at the university. As an Honors student, you are assigned to all Honors advisors and should feel free to meet with different Honors advisors based on availability, specialization, or personal fit. We encourage you to check-in with an advisor each semester and develop comfortable, honest advising relationships that can accompany you through your time at UW-Madison.
Exploring students are welcome to also utilize Cross-College Advising Service advising. Once you declare a major or certificate, you will be assigned to an advisor from that program and maintain Honors advisors as auxiliary advisors. You should meet with departmental advisors to discuss major- and discipline-specific questions and to complete Honors in the Major declaration forms.
You can connect with an Honors advisor in the following ways:
- Appointments scheduled with the Starfish app in MyUW. You can make a 30-minute appointment with any of the Honors advisors, and appointments are available throughout the year. Appointments allow for discussions about the transition to college, academic or personal concerns, major exploration, reviews of degree progress, and four-year plans. Schedule an appointment with an Honors advisor or learn how to use Starfish.
- Drop-in advising. We hold regular drop-in advising hours in Washburn Observatory on days when classes are in session. Drop-ins are most useful for quick questions and conversations (up to 15 minutes). Common topics for drop-ins are questions about a specific course, enrollment trouble-shooting, and referrals to other campus resources. Students are served on a first-come, first-served basis, and the drop-in advising schedule is posted on the L&S Honors online calendar and on Starfish.
- E-mail: advisor@honors.ls.wisc.edu. If you have a concrete question about Honors or any other academic matter, e-mailing us is often the quickest way to get an answer or be directed to the appropriate resource.
Do you want to declare a major or certificate? L&S Honors Program advisors are happy to discuss your plans, but we are not able to process major or certificate declarations. To find out the declaration process for your intended program, visit the University Undergraduate Guide, find the major or certificate you are interested in, and view the information provided under “How to Get in.” Many programs require an appointment with a departmental advisor to complete the major or certificate declaration.
Lisa Blum
Lisa completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, majoring in Psychology and Family Studies. She has her M.S. in Education from Indiana University – Bloomington, where she worked as an academic advisor for eight years. Lisa also worked in her other area of interest: cognitive testing and Alzheimer’s research, for a combined total of eight years. Just prior to joining the Honors Program she was a research coordinator at UW-Madison. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys working on jigsaw puzzles, exploring the great outdoors, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.
- Areas of Study: Psychology, Family Studies, Higher Education & Student Affairs
Christine Evans
Christine is a proud alumna of the University Wisconsin–Madison (M.A., German) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.A./B.S., German and mathematics), where she played trombone in the Marching Illini and participated in the Campus Honors Program. After working for the LINGUIST List and teaching English abroad as a Fulbright Scholar, she moved to Madison and is currently finishing her Ph.D. in the German Program. Christine enjoyed a variety of campus teaching and mentoring roles before joining the L&S advising community. In her free time, she likes attempting crossword puzzles, playing volleyball, and visiting friends near and far.
- Areas of Study: German studies, linguistics, second language acquisition and pedagogy, mathematics
Pete Keys
Pete completed his undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, graduating summa cum laude while majoring in Secondary Education and Broadfield Social Studies, with minors in History, Psychology, and Geography. Pete is also a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning his M.S. in Educational Psychology in the Spring of 2020. Prior to joining the Honors advising staff, Pete had served as a high school Social Studies teacher for the past nine years. Off-campus, Pete enjoys active pursuits in the outdoors, including camping, hiking, and running, and spending time with his partner, Hannah, and their golden retriever, Bernie.
- Areas of Study: Secondary education, social studies, history, psychology, geography, educational psychology
Sara Stephenson
Sara is a proud UW-Madison alumna who explored many majors in the College of Letters & Science before deciding on her major. As a SOAR peer advisor, she developed an interest in helping students transition to college and find their academic path. After earning her Master’s in Education from UW-La Crosse, she returned to Madison and has been an advisor since 2007, first in the Wisconsin School of Business and later with Cross-College Advising Service. Outside of work, Sara can often be found reading, knitting, and enjoying time with her two young children.
- Areas of Study: English (literature), History, Gender and Women’s studies, college student development
Academic advising is a collaborative process in which Honors advisors support Honors students as they explore their interests, establish goals and endeavor to meet those goals. The L&S Honors Advising Team adheres to the Guiding Principles for Academic Advising at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and are dedicated to fostering a safe and respectful space where all students feel welcome and supported.
When should I meet with an advisor?
- We encourage meeting with an advisor once per semester to ensure timely progression with Honors and degree requirements.
- Once you have declared a major, you can choose to meet with your major advisor and/or Honors advisors to discuss your plans.
- Whenever you have questions or concerns, advisors are here to to support you and provide information and resources that can help.
What kinds of things can an Honors advisor help me with?
- Exploring and confirming major and certificate interests
- Understanding degree requirements and progress
- Creating and modifying course schedules
- Adjusting to campus life
- Starting career exploration and preparation
- Planning for graduate or professional school
- Deciding how Honors works with your goals
- Learning about Honors grants and scholarships
- Identifying appropriate campus offices and resources
- Navigating academic challenges
- Planning for study abroad
- Getting involved in research and student organizations
What can’t an Honors advisor do?
- Process major and certificate declarations
- Enroll students in courses
For first-semester students, the L&S Honors Program has a series of two focused group advising workshops. These sessions, called Honors 181 and Honors 182, help you understand expectations of the Honors Program and set the groundwork for individual advising appointments.
Honors 181
- Honors 181 occurs during the first week of fall classes. Sessions are approximately one hour in length and take place in the Washburn Observatory Library.
- The interactive workshop is designed to introduce you to the Honors Program, familiarize you with campus resources, and answer any lingering questions as college gets underway. All students should attend Honors 181 before scheduling individual advising appointments.
- Registration for Honors 181 happens at SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) and builds on information found in the Honors Handbook.
- Need to check or change your Honors 181 registration? Click here for instructions.
- Can’t find your handbook from SOAR? You can download the SOAR 2019 Handbook.
Honors 182
- Honors 182 takes place after the spring Schedule of Classes has been published in October. Sessions are approximately one hour in length and occur on different days and at different times, so you can find one that fits your schedule.
- Honors 182 serves as a crucial orientation to the University’s Degree Audit System (DARS), class registration procedures, and planning tools for completing your degree with Honors in the Liberal Arts. At these sessions, you also have individual work time to explore spring course options with an advisor present.
- Need a reminder of what you learned at Honors 182? View the 2019 Honors 182 presentation slides.