ADVISING FOR ONLINE AND PRINT-BASED DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS

Advising is a partnership between you and your advisor. All online degree completion and incarcerated students will be assigned an eCampus advisor, and you will work together to create sound educational plans to meet your academic, career, and personal goals. You are responsible for being prepared for and participating in advising sessions, and for understanding University and program requirements.

If you don’t know who your advisor is, check your DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report.

If you are a student from another institution and you are not working toward an OHIO degree, you will need to consult with your advisor at that institution to make sure the OHIO class(es) you plan to take will meet your degree needs.

eCampus Advisors:

Office hours for all advisors: Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 5:00 EST.

RN-to-BSN Students

Students in the online RN-to-BSN program will be assigned to an academic advisor in the School of Nursing. Click HERE for more information.

DARS
Your DARS report is the official tool for tracking your academic progress. DARS analyzes degree requirements for a major, minor, or certificate according to the catalog year in which you entered the program. DARS reports are the printed results of the analysis. The DARS report displays the courses from which you must select in order to complete degree requirements, and it shows how the completed courses apply toward those requirements.

After you have activated your OHIO ID, you can access your DARS online at https://my.ohio.edu.

• Sign in using your OHIO ID and password
• Click on the tab “Academics”
• Click on the link for DARS
• Login to Student Center using your OHIO ID and password
• Click on "View Audit"

A personalized DARS is available to incarcerated students by request after the student enrolls in his or her first course. Other students can view a personalized DARS after your transfer credit has been fully evaluated and processed. We suggest you check Student Center periodically.

How to Read a DARS
The general DARS listed below are provided to help you understand how to read these reports:

• Associate in Applied Business - Business Management Technology Major
• Associate in Arts - Arts & Humanities Emphasis
  
• Associate in Arts - Social Sciences Emphasis
• Associate in Individualized Studies
• Associate in Science
  
• Bachelor of Criminal Justice
  
• Bachelor of Science in Applied Management
  
• Bachelor of Specialized Studies
  
• Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies
  

Advising Expectations

The University Academic Advising Council has established the following guidelines for academic advising.

A student can expect the advisor to:

• Establish and adhere to reasonable weekly office hours, be available for advising appointments, and expand hours during registration periods.
• Be sensitive to the needs of a diversity of students.
• Understand the mechanics and deadlines of enrolling students, such as scheduling by telephone or the web, adding and dropping classes, closed class options, special enrollment forms, and contacts in the Office of the Registrar or the college office.
• Understand how to read a DARS checksheet and how to request DARS checksheets for exploring other majors and programs.
• Understand university grading policies including probation and academic suspension.
• Be familiar with the variety of university degree and program offerings, departmental and college requirements as well as university-wide general education requirements (as explained in the Ohio University Undergraduate Catalog).
• Assist students in exploring course and program offerings and career choices.
• Know where to refer students with special needs or interests (e.g., Academic Advancement Center, Career Services, International Student and Faculty Services, Office of Institutional Equity, Student Financial Aid, Education Abroad, Ombudsman).
• Help students plan a course of study based on aptitudes, life goals, career interests, academic performance, and the frequency and sequencing of course offerings.
• Help students continually reassess their course of study in light of changing goals and overall academic performance.
• Share information about opportunities in their major and intended career field (e.g., internships, practicums, volunteer, and service learning opportunities).
• Seek reassignment for an advisee if necessary.

An advisor has the right to expect a student to:

• Consult with the advisor at least once each term.
• Make appointments for advising via phone, email, or office hour sign-up sheets during mutually agreed-upon advising times.
• Keep appointments promptly.
• If unable to make a scheduled appointment, notify the advisor in advance.
• Discuss academic and career-related needs and seek additional help from appropriate sources as suggested by the advisor.
• Be prepared for the advising appointment by bringing appropriate materials and written questions and by having reviewed the DARS, checked catalog requirements, consulted the schedule book for the current quarter, and prepared a tentative schedule.
• Seek assistance in decision making rather than expect the advisor to make decisions.
• Follow through with appropriate action after each advising session and consult with the advisor if critical decisions cannot be accomplished.
• Evaluate advising sessions and give formal and informal feedback to the advisor.
• Seek reassignment to another advisor if necessary.
• Be aware of departmental major, college, and university-wide general education requirements.
• Understand how to read and use a DARS checksheet.

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