Academic Advisement

Academic Advising and Retention Center
Student Success Center, DUC A-330
Phone: (270) 745-5065, Fax: (270) 745-5421
www.wku.edu/advising

Ellen W. Bonaguro, Ph.D., Director

Advising
The Academic Advising and Retention Center (AARC) provides a wide range of academic services to undergraduate students. The Center coordinates academic advising activities among undergraduate colleges and academic departments for undergraduate students. All degree-seeking undergraduate students must meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for classes until they have 90 hours and an Application for Graduation on file in the Office of the Registrar. The academic advisor assists the student in the selection of courses that will provide appropriate preparation for his/her career objectives and assure timely completion of degree program requirements.

Advising System
The advising system is structured to provide assistance for students who are exploratory/undecided as well as those who have clearly defined academic career objectives. Students with a declared major work closely with an advisor from the academic department that administers the particular program of study. Beginning freshmen and transfer students who enter the University with tentatively selected programs of study (pre-major students) are also assigned academic advisors in their chosen disciplines. A beginning freshman who has not selected a major (an Exploratory/Generally Undeclared student) is advised by the faculty member who serves as the student’s instructor in the University Experience course.  AARC provides additional advising support for Exploratory/Generally Undeclared students.

Attendance Notification
AARC provides class attendance notification services as requested by students and faculty. When requested by students, notifications of absences resulting from personal emergencies are relayed to faculty. In addition to this official notification, it is the student’s responsibility to contact each professor to make arrangements to make-up missed assignments and tests. AARC also notifies students of excessive absences reported by faculty.

Major/Minor/Advisor Update
Changes in majors and minors and changes in advisors are routinely made prior to periods of priority registration for undergraduate students. The student and the academic department that administers the student’s chosen program indicate changes to be processed on a “Change of Major/Minor/Advisor Form.” These forms are available online for students in TopNet under Student Services. A student wishing to change his/her major must seek advising and program approval through the department of the academic program to be declared. Students entering WKU prior to 2005 with approved undergraduate degree programs on file in the Office of the Registrar may change their major(s) and/or minor(s) by filing an approved, revised program or an Undergraduate Degree Program Change Form with the Office of the Registrar.

Move to or from the Bowling Green Community College
Requests to move between the Bowling Green Community College and other undergraduate colleges of the University are submitted via the Major/Minor/Advisor Change Form to AARC. If, at the time of first admission, the student was eligible for University admission (no campus restriction was placed on the student), the student will be allowed to move to the University upon request. If, at the time of first admission, the student was not eligible for University admission, the student should meet the following requirements by the term in which the move is to be effective:

Have successfully completed a minimum of 24 degree hours at WKU, 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA, and have no Pre-College Curriculum deficiencies.

Academic Probation
The academic probation program for the University is administered by the Academic Advising and Retention Center. The Center provides special advising services for students who have earned grade point averages less than the minimum required for good standing at the University. AARC offers the Best Expectation Programs to help students who are in academic difficulty by providing them with additional services such as special topic workshops, peer advising, study hall, and tutoring services through The Learning Center and The Writing Center (located in DUC A-330).

The Learning Center (TLC)

Student Success Center, DUC-A330
(270)745-6254 (front desk), (270)745-2178 (computer lab)
www.wku.edu/tlc

The Learning Center is a service division within the Academic Advising and Retention Center. The mission of The Learning Center is to promote student success, enhance student performance and increase student retention at Western Kentucky University. The Learning Center provides tutoring, workshops, and outreach services. Students are free to stop by the open learning lab to study or meet with a tutor. Students may set up an appointment to meet with a tutor specialized in the subjects they are finding difficult to understand. There is also the opportunity to attend various workshops on time management, study skills, test taking strategies or other academic areas of interest. The Academic Advising and Retention Center encourages students to utilize the services as a source of academic support. TLC helps students enhance their academic performance and sharpen their skills to be successful Western Kentucky University graduates.