WGSS Advising

Academic advisors are committed to engaging, encouraging, and empowering students to explore and excel in the university environment and beyond. This means that you are the captain of the ship, and we are the map and compass that will help you find your way. Your advisor will not “prescribe” answers or courses for you. We will encourage you to find academic areas and courses that are the best fit for you.

In addition, co-curricular experiences are integral to career and academic development, so we will also encourage you to seek learning opportunities outside the classroom (clubs, internships, research, study abroad, etc.). These are often memorable and life-changing experiences!

We believe academic advising is a collaborative process, and ultimately, you–the student–are responsible for your educational experience.

As a WGSS minor, you will have a major adviser in your primary field and an adviser in WGS. The adviser in WGSS is the coordinator, but all of our friendly faculty are ready to chat with you too.

Ideally, the adviser will be both a good resource for the student as well as a strong advocate for the student's needs. If a student wishes to switch advisers, he or she may do so by filling out a form online.

Students are encouraged to get to know the WGS faculty members to enrich their intellectual experiences at Millersville University. Faculty members post office hours on their doors as well as on their syllabi so students can contact them easily (and also on D2L if they use that system). You can also find contact information on faculty members' home department websites.

APPOINTMENTS

What it is: one-on-one conversations with your adviser

Best for: complex questions and reflections on your academic experiences, goals, options, and decisions

When to make an appointment:  In general, advisers are available to meet in person or through Zoom during office hours. You don’t need to make an appointment during office hours, but you should check with your adviser to see if s/he prefers appointments.

During the 2 weeks before registration, you may need an appointment. Note that during this busy time advisers' calendars quickly becomes booked. It is important that you plan ahead to ensure appointment availability—or come early.

What to prepare: think through what you want to talk about and develop a few questions that can guide the conversation; bring a copy of your DARS report and ideas for classes during pre-registration conferences.

EMAIL

What it is: formal, written, asynchronous communication with your adviser

Best for: moderately complex questions or reflections on your educational life at Millersville. Email allows for deliberation and careful crafting of ideas and thoughts. However, not everything lends itself to email, and if the question turns out to be more complex than it first seems, your adviser may ask you to schedule an appointment.

What to prepare: a well-structured piece of writing, including appropriate salutation and proper grammar, sent from your Millersville email account. Include your M# in any correspondence that asks about schedule advice. Please allow at least 48 hours for a response. Response times may be longer during busier times of the year, such as during the last few weeks of the semester and during class registration times.

QUICK QUESTIONS

What it is: 5–10 minute drop-in interactions with your adviser.

Best for: well-defined, technical, less complex questions pertaining to an immediate or time-sensitive matter.

What to prepare: Check our WGS website and/or the Millersville website first. The answer might be there. If not, send an email to your adviser!

SUCCESS COACHING

What it is: 30–60 minute sessions with a professional staff member.

Best for: enhancing academic skills, confidence, and knowledge, discovering motivation, and improving academic performance. Coaches can assist you with time management, study strategies, note-taking strategies, test-taking tips, navigating campus resources, and more.  

• Coaches are not academic advisers, tutors, or counselors. Your coach will not tell you what to do, but will help you feel supported and encouraged to reach the goals you set for yourself, while being pushed and held accountable along the way. 

How to make an appointment: Success Coaches are available by calling (717-871-5333) or visiting Academic Advisement’s front desk (3rd floor of Lyle Hall).

TUTORING

What it is: 30–60 minute sessions with a trained tutor.

Best for:  Enhanced learning of course specific content.

• Tutors provide assistance with academic content. Please identify specific areas of need prior to tutoring as this increases the efficiency of tutoring.
• How to make an appointment: Tutors are available by calling (717-871-7222) or visiting Academic Advisement’s front desk on the 3rd floor of Lyle Hall. Use the Tutoring Center website to check availability.

Although college is the continuation of your previous learning experiences, you will be presented with many new challenges and opportunities at Millersville. Your first year will be spent developing the skills and knowledge that will serve as the foundation for your undergraduate education.

By the end of your first year, you should have some of your General Education requirements done (including ENGL 110, COMM 100, Wellness), as well as our Intro to Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies course.

By the end of your second year at Millersville, you should have taken two of your electives in WGS.

Be sure to

• Practice effective course registration. This includes not only the mechanics of researching and registering for classes using the tools available in your Degree Audit Report (DARS), but also knowing what constitutes a balanced mixture of courses that advances your educational goals given your unique time requirements.
  
  
• Create a strategic course of study. DARS allows you to map out a tentative course plan for your stay at Millersville, and to evaluate it using audits to ensure that all the requirements for graduation are satisfied. Of equal, or maybe greater, importance is developing a plan for participating in out-of-the-classroom experiences (undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, volunteering, etc.). What you envision may change over time, but it is useful to think holistically about your intentions.
  
  
• Understand the significance of the General Education Program, not just as the framework for your education at Millersville, but as the foundation for your role as an engaged member of our society. The following short piece explains how the General Education Program is a central part of your liberal arts education:

https://www.millersville.edu/gened/curriculum-requirements/objectives.php

College can be a stressful time for a variety of reasons, many not related to school. By addressing these stressors, you can make your time at Millersville more productive.

• For assistance with mental health, alcohol, or drugs, contact the Counseling Center.
• For assistance with life issues, contact the Wellness Advocate.
• For assistance with learning differences or accommodations, contact Learning Services.
• For assistance with sexual assault, contact your adviser, the Title IX Coordinator, the Center for Health Education and Promotion, or the Police.

• Academic Advising and Student Development Website
• Class Schedule and Registration Guide
• Tutoring Center
• Writing Center
• Math Assistance Center
• The Career Center - Internships
• Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL) - Clubs

Millersville University and its faculty are committed to assuring a safe and productive educational environment for all students. In order to meet this commitment, comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681, et seq., and act in accordance with guidance from the Office for Civil Rights, the University requires faculty members to report to the University’s Title IX Coordinator incidents of sexual violence shared by students. The only exceptions to the faculty member’s reporting obligation are when incidents of sexual violence are communicated by a student during a classroom discussion, in a writing assignment for a class, or as part of a University-approved research project. Faculty members are obligated to report to the person designated in the University Protection of Minors policy incidents of sexual violence or any other abuse of a student who was, or is, a child (a person under 18 years of age) when the abuse allegedly occurred. Information regarding the reporting of sexual violence, and the resources that are available to victims of sexual violence, is available at www.millersville.edu/titleix