Meet with an Adviser
The Division of Undergraduate Studies offers three ways for you to interact with an academic adviser: quick question advising, email, and scheduled advising appointments.
Quick Question Advising
Quick question advising (QQA) is intended for topics and questions that can be resolved with a brief 5-10 minute conversation. It is not intended for in-depth conversations about topics such as those listed in the Advising Appointments section listed below.
Acceptable topics for quick question advising include:
- Discussion about adding/dropping courses within deadlines
- Getting a form signed
- Help with LionPATH
- Reviewing entrance-to-major requirements
- General Education information not related to your schedule planning questions
- How to transfer credits
- Moving into DUS
QQA is held both in person in Grange Building as well as online via Zoom. Please note that a DUS Adviser is only available during the dates and times listed below. All times are Eastern Time.
DUS WEEKLY QQA HOURS - for MAY 1 - AUG 18
| Monday | 9:00am-11:00am |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00am-11:00am |
| Wednesday | 9:00am-11:00am |
| Thursday | 9:00am-11:00am |
| Friday | No QQA |
We will not hold QQA hours on Memorial Day, Juneteenth, or Independence Day.
After you check in to the waiting room, check your Penn State email continuously for an "Adviser is Ready" notification with connection instructions for Zoom. Join the Zoom room immediately upon receiving the email.
Click here to sign in to QQA Zoom waiting room
NOTE: If you are not a current Penn State student, please email dus@psu.edu or call 814-865-7576 for assistance. QQA is only available to current students.
Connect with an adviser through email:
- For students enrolled in DUS: email your assigned adviser. Use your Penn State email.
- For students not enrolled in DUS: use our online form to submit a question. Use your Penn State email.
When emailing your adviser, make sure to include your name and your student ID number. Remember that emails are not text messages and should use professional language. Keep in mind that most problems are better able to be solved during an appointment. We are happy to answer quick questions via e-mail. However, email is not a substitute for advising appointments.
Advising Appointments
Some questions require a longer conversation to discuss available options. If you need to talk about one of the topics listed below, schedule an appointment with your adviser in Starfish.
- Schedule planning
- Discussion about study abroad
- Questions about changing majors
- Academic difficulty
- Internships
- Concurrent majors
- Planning for a minor
- Faculty senate petitions
- Changes in academic goals
- Anything that will take more than 10 minutes
Note: Scheduled appointments are based on each individual adviser's availability, which may provide hours outside of the normal work day. If an appointment appears on your adviser's Starfish calendar, your adviser is available at that time. All appointments are scheduled based on Eastern time zone times. If you live outside of the Eastern time zone, please be aware of the time difference when scheduling your appointment.
Plan ahead for your appointments. Advising appointments fill up quickly during the registration timetable. If you wait until the last minute to make an appointment, you may not be able to meet with your adviser prior to your registration date. If that occurs, please see "choose your courses" with information about how to plan your schedule. You can always review your schedule with your adviser after your registration date.
Do your best to ensure your advising meeting is as productive as possible by following the suggestions at Appointment Preparation.
Are you currently:
To schedule an appointment with your assigned DUS adviser:
- Log into Starfish and click on “Home”.
- Find “My Success Network” in the navigation pane.
This will show you all your instructors and adviser. You can make an appointment with your adviser from their Individual profiles. - Click Schedule Appointment link.
Calendar (left-hand side) will show dates with open appointment times. Days in bold-face are the ones available for scheduling. - Click the + icon next to the appointment time that fits your schedule.
- Office Hours: 8:00–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). All appointments are scheduled based on ET times. If you live outside of ET, please be aware of the time difference when scheduling your appointment.
- Select a Reason for the appointments.
- Type a detailed description for the meeting to help the adviser best prepare for the meeting.
Once you create the appointment Starfish will send you an email confirming the appointment and will also send you a reminder closer to the appointment time. Your “Dashboard” will show the new appointment that you have created.
To cancel the appointment:
Click the “x” in the upper right of the appointment block on your Dashboard.
If you do need to cancel, please do so well in advance and give your adviser some reasons why the appointment is being canceled.
If you are enrolled in another college at University Park, please use our online form to submit a question. Use your Penn State email. Alternatively, you can submit a change of major request on Update Academics in LionPATH. At this time, we cannot assist with any questions/requests by phone.
To meet with a DUS adviser at your campus, please contact the Academic Advising Center directly.