Academic Advising

As an Honors student, you are assigned to all of the Honors Program’s academic advisors, known as the Honors advising committee. You should feel free to meet with any of the Honors advisors based on availability and personal fit.

While some Honors students prefer the flexibility of meeting with whichever advisor may be available, others prefer to meet with one advisor throughout their undergraduate career. The choice is yours!

You can find a full list of your assigned advisors, including advisors for your declared majors or certificates, in the Academic Navigator section of MyUW.

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. 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. The drop-in advising schedule is posted on the L&S Honors online calendar, and students can join the virtual drop-ins waiting room through the L&S Honors Program service in Starfish. Students are met with on a first-come, first-served basis.
• 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. E-mails are checked Monday through Friday and typically receive a response within 24 hours.

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.

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 or manage waitlists

For first-semester students, the L&S Honors Program provides structured advising content in a group setting. These sessions help you understand the expectations of the Honors Program and set the groundwork for individual advising appointments.

Fall Orientation

• Fall orientation usually occurs during the first week of fall classes, and you will receive instructions from the Honors Program on how to sign up for a session.
• This 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 first-year students should attend Fall Orientation before scheduling individual advising appointments.
• Following your session, you can review the 2020 Fall Orientation presentation slides (with links!).

Fall Group Advising

• This wave of advising often takes place after the spring course schedule has been published and before students enroll in spring courses. 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.
• Group advising 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 was shared at group advising? View the 2019 Honors 182 presentation slides.

Use our Honors in the Liberal Arts Degree Progress Self-Check! This self-check guides you through the relevant sections of your DARS report.

You can follow up on the self-check by meeting with an Honors advisor. Clarification questions can also be sent to advisor@honors.ls.wisc.edu.