What is Academic Advising?
Academic Advisors are here to support you throughout your academic journey. Whether you’re planning your program, navigating degree requirements, or simply have questions about your studies, our team is here to help.
How Academic Advisors Can Support You
Our Academic Advisors provide a safe, respectful, and confidential space to discuss your academic goals and challenges. They share expert guidance and up-to-date information to help you make informed decisions about your academic path and future career.
You can speak with an Academic Advisor about:
- Course planning
- Understanding GPA and academic probation
- Addressing missed classes
- Course withdrawal policies
- Plagiarism charges
- Authorized Leave policy
- University transfer and admissions process
- Grade appeals
- Complaint procedures
Supporting Student Success
Our Student Success Coordinator is dedicated to helping students understand their academic responsibilities and expectations, while offering guidance to help you thrive as a student. Services include:
- Academic coaching
- Support for students on academic probation
- Clarifying student rights and responsibilities.
You have two options:
- Drop-in at the Student Services Office (Room 211, 2nd Floor, Main Campus) – appointments are first-come, first-served
- Book an appointment online through your Student Portal.
Got questions? Email ssa@columbiacollege.ca
If you are a High School student: Visit the front desk on the 4th floor of the North Campus to schedule your appointment
Preparing for Your Appointment
To make the most of your advising appointment, please:
- Pick up the Semester Timetable (available online, in Student Services, or at Main Reception)
- Download or collect a Degree Audit Form for your program (available online or in Student Services)
- Complete the top two lines of the Course Planning Form (available in Student Services)
- Read through the Course Descriptions in advance
- University Transfer Academic Requirements
- Associate Degrees
- Grading System
- Associate Degrees Audit Forms – All students planning to complete an Associate Degree must do a Degree Audit (i.e. a checklist of the requirements). See our advisors for a degree audit if you have any questions.
- Academic Forms – You can access all academic forms through our Student Portal
- Plagiarism and other policies
FAQs
- Registering in too many courses for a category (e.g. too many Arts courses): These courses become redundant, and cannot be counted towards your Associate Degree. This is a waste of your time and money.
- Not registering in Pre-requisite courses first: Most Second year courses have pre-requisites that must be completed first.
- Postponing English 099 or 100 too long if you have not received a “C”: You may find that you have to stay 1 extra semester to complete the 6 credits of UT English that are required.
- Postponing Math Science requirements too long for AD Arts (e.g.: a Lab course which meets 3 days a week)
- Not understanding precluded credits (e.g. Math 100 and Math 110 count only as 1 course – 3 credits; Math 111 and Math 113 and Math 115 also count as 1 course towards an Associate Degree).
- Csci 237 is a 2nd year Business course, and it does not count as a 2nd year Science course, but it can be used as a 1st year Science course.
- Biol 100, Chem 100, and Phys 100 cannot be used as electives for any Associate of Science Degree.
- Not having a cumulative GPA of 2.0: You may have to repeat a course to improve your cumulative GPA. A cumulative GPA of 1.98 will not get you an Associate Degree.
