Academic Advising
Lisa Shaw, M.P.A.
Sr. Academic Advisor
Writing and Rhetoric Studies
3702 LNCO
(801) 585-3921
l.shaw@utah.edu
majors/minors book an appointment exploring pre-major book appointment
Welcome Students
Office hours are in person or via Zoom 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. If Navigate U does not work for setting up your appointment try the Bookings link to make an appointment.
I am happy to arrange a meeting with you outside of those hours if needed. Call 801-585-3921 .
I care about your safety and want to accommodate any of your concerns to the best of my ability. Your phone or video appointment will still provide you with the same level of information, professionalism, and care that you can expect from an office appointment.
Video and phone appointments will require us to verify your identity in compliance with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) by obtaining a FERPA pin. Here are the instructions on how to create your FERPA pin. Please create it ahead of time and authorize me to disclose academic information over the phone. If you need help with this, please email me or I can walk you through this during your scheduled appointment.
Before your appointment, please be prepared with the following
- The Zoom link
- Your FERPA pin or 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 other alternative methods, please reach out to me. In order to be FERPA compliant these conversations must happen from your Umail.
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.
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.