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Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies

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Academic Advising

Alex Pines ProfileAlex Pines

Academic Advisor | Student Success Hub

English | Writing & Rhetoric Studies

alex.graff@utah.edu

book an appointment Nav Ubook an appointment in Bookings

Kari Lindsey ProfileKari Lindsey

Academic Advisor | Student Success Hub

English | Writing & Rhetoric Studies

kari.lindsey@utah.edu

book an appointment Nav Ubook an appointment in Bookings

Welcome Students

For questions about First-Year Writing Assessment check out the following  website or email writingplacement@utah.edu

For questions about placement for WR2 please contact l.shaw@utah.edu

Before your appointment, please be prepared with the following

  • The Zoom link
  • Your FERPA pin or UID card
  • Have access to a computer
  • Make sure you are in a quiet environment
  • For video calls, make sure you are in an area with a strong internet connection
  • A list of questions or concerns for us to address

If you are more comfortable being advised over email or in person, please reach out to me. In order to be FERPA compliant these conversations must happen from your Umail.

What to Expect

As a student you should be...

  • Prepared.  Bring in a current Degree Audit for the correct major and catalog year (year you declared), make a list of questions and concerns, and bring a tentative class schedule.
  • Considerate. You should arrive on time to your appointment.  If you cannot make your appointment, you should contact me or reschedule online if possible. 
  • Professional.  Refrain from using your cell phone during your appointment.  Take notes and be attentive.  If you are contacting me through e-mail, please use a proper salutation and signature and include your uNID.
  • Independent.  Plan to attend your appointment on your own.  Spouses, parents, friends, and children can be distracting.
  • Responsible. Take ownership of your education and your success.  It is your responsibility to comply with university requirements and policies, monitor your My Degree Audit and progress towards graduation, and accept the consequences of your academic and personal choices.

As your advisor I will be...

  • Attentive.  I will listen to your questions and concerns.
  • Respectful.  I will be considerate of your unique interests, abilities, and circumstances.
  • Accessible.  I will be available for advising at a variety of times and in a variety of formats, including e-mail and phone.
  • Informative.  I will clearly explain degree requirements and clarify university regulations and policies.  If I don’t have an answer, I’ll do my best to direct you to someone who does.
  • Empowering.  I will help you develop an individual course plan, refer you to campus resources, and connect you with academic and extra-curricular opportunities that support your personal and career interests.

Frequently Asked Advising Questions

Academic advisors are educators and problem solvers who advocate for students as they navigate their personal journeys through higher education and attain their academic goals. Through inclusion and connection, academic advisors open doors to new opportunities for self-awareness and growth, empowering students to define their roles as citizens within local and global communities.

  • When you need help choosing a class
  • To declare your major or minor
  • When you get a Mandatory Advising email or hold

  •    A current degree audit report
  •    A list of questions and concerns
  •    Your UID card
  •    A tentative class schedule.

For more information see the University of Utah's webpage on Preparing for Your Appointment.

Please refer to the Academic Advising Center video guides.

A catalog year is the year you declared your major. When running a degree audit for your major, you should always use the appropriate catalog year. You can do this by clicking the “Degree Audit” tile in CIS.

Degree requirements can change from year to year. This happens most commonly with major course requirements. You don’t want any surprises, do you? To be sure you are fulfilling the requirements for your particular catalog year, generate DARS for the correct year – YOUR catalog year.

To check if a hold has been placed, log into the Campus Information Services and click on the "Tasks" tile on the Student Homepage. 
Depending on the type of hold, you may need to contact different offices. Read the registration hold policy in the Student Handbook. 

Depending on the type of hold, you may need to contact different offices. Read the registration hold policy in the Student Handbook.

If you still do not know what to do, contact your academic advisor to help you figure out your next steps so you can register.

Start with Campus Connect for some ideas. There are opportunities within the department for research, student committees, and more! Make an appointment to discuss your interests.

We understand that sometimes students need to take a break from their education.  Before you leave the University, please make an appointment with your departmental academic advisor to learn what you need to do now to make your return to the University of Utah easier. See the Leave of Absence advising page for more information.
Last Updated: 5/27/25