Advising Resources for Parents of Undergraduates

The first semester of college is an amazing milestone for both your student and you. One thing's for sure: You'll have lots to talk about, and throughout the term, you'll probably want to check in and ask questions about how things are going in class.

• The First Week

  By now, your student has been in classes for one week, and has had at least one class meeting for each course. This is a good time to ask how they like them and whether they have read the syllabi carefully. The Add/Drop deadline, which is the last date a student can adjust their schedule before it is part of their permanent record, is an important date to be mindful of. Encourage them to review the academic calendar so they are aware of the semester and term based deadlines. Are they planning to drop or add any classes? (Remember that students need to maintain at least 12 credits to be considered full-time.)

• Add/Drop Deadline

  Each semester, there is a period at the beginning of classes when students can adjust their schedule. Students cannot add classes after this deadline. Classes dropped after this deadline may require a fee and will be indicated on the transcript with a "W" for Withdraw. This is a good time to encourage your student to stop in and visit their advisor to introduce themselves before deciding to drop or add a course. This may also be a good time to remind them to visit the Center for Academic Achievement for tutoring or writing help. View the Academic Calendar for specific Add/Drop deadline dates.

• Early Alert

  Within the first four weeks of the semester, faculty notify the Academic Advising Center with names of students who are having attendance issues, behavioral issues in the classroom, late/missing assignments, or poor performance on quizzes and assignments. The professional advising team will follow up with those respective students to address the concerns. If your student gets an early alert, encourage your student to meet with both the faculty and academic advisor to discuss options to move forward.

• Mid-Semester Evaluations

  Halfway through the semester, faculty will begin to submit mid-semester evaluations for students who are having difficulty in their classes and are at the risk of earning a C- or lower. Both students and advisors will receive copies of these reports electronically by email. Encourage your student to talk to any instructor in whose class they received a mid-semester evaluation, and to check in with their advisor as well. The advisor can help your student consider the best "next steps" and connect them with appropriate support resources. Encourage your student to go back and review the course syllabi to look ahead for the second half of the semester.

• Course Registration

  At the mid-point of each semester, it will be time to begin planning for the following semester’s schedule as well as summer or winter study. Your student will have the month-long Advising Period to meet with their advisor to plan a semester schedule before course registration begins.

  Students will register for courses online on an assigned registration date. Students cannot register if they have not met with their advisor. This is to ensure that the courses they sign up for will meet graduation requirements. Student Account holds (often due to incomplete immunization records or unpaid balances) will also prevent your student from registering on time. Encourage your student to look at course offerings in the Course Catalog and in the Academic Catalog, and to think about appropriate courses before they visit their advisor.

  Prior to the advising meeting with a professional academic advisor, encourage your student to talk to a Peer Advisor or Peer Mentor, who could help your student with pre-advising and schedule building. The MyLesley Academic Advising Community also contains important registration information for students, including registration notes. Encourage your student to stay up to date with their Lesley email, as important information and updates will be sent out from their Advisors throughout the month-long Advising Period.

• Last Day to Withdraw from a Course

  Each semester, there is a deadline of the last date a student can take a leave of absence for the semester or withdraw from a class or classes. This is particularly important to consider if they are unlikely to pass the course. Encourage your student not to wait until the last minute if they need to withdraw from a course and to speak with their academic advisor. 

  Students must meet with their advisors to withdraw from a course. Withdrawing from a class will yield a “W” grade on a student's transcript. A "W" grade does not affect GPA; however, it could impact a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress with Financial Aid. Please refer to the Lesley Academic Calendar for specific dates for the Course Withdrawal Deadline.

• Classes End

  The last couple of weeks of class are very stressful for many students. Lots of support from home is welcome here!

• Final Exams

  Lots more support welcome here, too! Please be sure to check with your student about their final exam schedule before making vacation or travel arrangements.

Academic Advising Lingo

We get it—between all of our acronyms and academic terms, sometimes it can seem like we're speaking in code. That's why we've put together this helpful glossary of common phrases you'll hear during your student's first year at Lesley.

• Lesley University 101 or LU-101 (CLAS) and First-Year Conference (LA+D)

  Designed to assist first-year students with their transition to the Lesley community and position them for academic success. This series of discussion-based workshops foster the development of skills and strategies that bridge various aspects of the college experience.

• First-Year Seminar

  This is a required course for all first-year students in programs outside the College of Art & Design. The First-Year Seminar seeks to excite the intellectual curiosity of first-year students in the Fall semester and integrate them into the academic community of the university through small, discussion-based classes and several common events.

  Students choose from intriguing seminar topics, all of which connect the interests and expertise of a particular faculty member to the university's mission. Some seminar topics are interdisciplinary in nature, while others engage students in inquiry within a specific academic field of study.

• Academic Advisor

  Students are assigned an Academic Advisor, a professional staff or faculty member who will help with academic planning and track their progress. All first year students will be assigned a professional academic advisor. Students meet individually with their advisors throughout the year to check in and create a schedule for next semester. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this support person to discuss any academic issues.

• Peer Support

  Peer Advisors and Peer Mentors are an integral part of the undergraduate experience. A peer is a resource, a mentor, a guide, a support, a friend, and so many other roles to first year and first semester transfer students. They provide the perspective of an experienced undergraduate student in the college and assist new students in making the transition to Lesley University. Peers share strategies for achieving academic success, knowledge of campus resources, and understanding of the academic advising process. 

• Liberal Arts Requirements

  These are the general education (GenEd) requirements which all students must complete before graduation. They are designed to provide a broad experience and to help students develop general skills such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing.

• Add/Drop Period

  The first two weeks of the semester is when a student may drop a course or add a course to their schedule without penalty or fee. Dropping below full-time status may affect financial aid and billing.

  College of Art & Design students can make changes through Self-Service, but we encourage these students to check in with their academic advisors first.

  All other first semester students need to meet their academic advisor to add or drop courses. Students may add or drop a class after their first semester on their own through Self-Service but we encourage these students to consult with their advisors before changing their schedules to ensure timely graduation.

• Withdrawal

  After the end of add/drop period, students may withdraw from a course up until the withdrawal deadline found in the academic calendar. This form requires the signature of the student's academic advisor. A "W" is recorded on the student's transcript and the student does not receive credit for the course. After the withdrawal deadline, if not withdrawn, students will receive a grade in the class, even if they stop attending.

• Full-Time Status

  Undergraduate students must maintain a schedule of at least 12 credits to be considered full-time. This is important for housing, athletics, financial aid, and often health insurance.

• Advising Period

  This is the four-week period each semester during which students meet with their academic advisors to plan the following semester's courses.

• Double Major

  Lesley's curriculum is flexible enough for students to study two majors. All education students are required to study a liberal arts major in addition to their education major. Non-education students are not required to double major but are encouraged to take on a minor. 

• Self-Service

  Self-Service provides secure online access to administrative information for applicants, students, faculty and staff.  The following services are available on Self-Service:

  • Register for classes
  • View class schedule, grades, student profile, financial aid information, student account profiles, and placement test summary
  • Submit declaration of intent to graduate
  • RSVP for graduation commencement
• MyLesley

  Students use MyLesley to view course-specific announcements and assignments, participate in discussions, download course materials, connect with instructors and fellow students, access information about student services at the University, access MyLesley My Community that they are a part of (this includes the Academic Advising Community for academic advising related information).