Skip to main content
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Social Work

BSW Advising

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to helping you succeed. If you’re a BSW student, you will be assigned to an advisor. BSW students get advisor assignments at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. All advisors are trained to assist you in planning your academic career at NC State.

Advising Philosophy

Advising is a partnership between you and your advisor that is grounded in frequent and ongoing communication regarding personal goals, self-knowledge and information concerning the social work profession, your studies, and how university policies pertain to you and your academic career. Social work advisors do not prescribe answers for you; they prompt you with questions and resources necessary to explore your unique interests, abilities and values, and to help you set – and reach – your academic and career goals. Though academic advising is a collaborative process, the ultimate responsibility for your educational experience resides with you. Your advisor is your very valuable guide.

Student-Advisor Relations

Every student is assigned an academic advisor, who may be a professional staff advisor or a faculty advisor. It is your advisor’s responsibility to provide you with information about academic requirements and procedures and to assist you in planning your academic program. Take advantage of the support your advisor can provide. Go to see your advisor early and get to know them. Be aware that if you have a problem or a question that you want your advisor to help with, it will usually be up to you to approach the advisor. They will not know you need help unless you ask for it.

Remember, your advisor is a resource to assist you in achieving your academic and professional goals. As such, please treat your advising appointments as professional meetings and maintain proper language and tone when communicating via email, phone and/or video conferencing. This professional relationship will help you prepare for your field placements and your career. 

Incoming students are given the names of their advisors or may look them up on your personal Student Center page in the MyPack Portal website. If you do not see the name of your advisor in MyPack, please contact our Academic Advising Coordinator (See below).

Academic Advising Coordinator

Despite the role played by your advisor, primary responsibility for planning your individual program and for meeting academic requirements and deadlines resides with you. You must stay informed about satisfactory academic progress by consulting MyPack Portal periodically to track your progress toward graduation. Contact your academic advisor if you find problems. Seek assistance as soon as a problem arises. 

Please keep in mind that your advising appointment is an individual meeting between the advisor and the student. This means that all meetings will take place one-on-one unless you request the presence or advisement of another faculty member.

In addition to your Social Work advisor, the college’s Academic Support Center offers walk-in advising between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday in Caldwell Lounge during the academic year. These advisors can help with navigating  MyPack Portal, registration procedures, GEP requirements, college and university policies, degree requirements and university resources. The center is not a replacement for your advisor.

Note: For any questions involving academic advising, policies, and procedures, please contact Danielle Fox at dfox2@ncsu.edu.

As a result of the academic advising experience, you will:

  • Identify and articulate your unique interests, abilities, and values (self-knowledge).
  • Apply your self-knowledge, personal experience, and research to make an informed decision on a major.
  • Establish educational goals and monitor progress toward those goals.
  • Understand university policies and procedures including, but not limited to:
    • Satisfactory Academic Progress
    • Change of Degree Application (CODA)
    • Other academic  policies, including Grade Exclusion and Academic Standing
  • Select courses that strategically fulfill the General Education Program in your intended degree program(s) and help you achieve your educational and career goals.
  • Utilize the Pack Planner effectively in course planning.
  • Pursue campus resources and opportunities that support personal wellness, academic success, community involvement, and career goals.
  • The Student is an active partner in the advising relationship.
  • The Student is responsible for scheduling and keeping appointments with the Advisor. An initial advising appointment and a registration advising appointment are required for a student’s first semester. Additional appointments may be required based on the Student’s academic standing and status.
  • The Student demonstrates courteous and professional behavior, rescheduling appointments with notice if necessary, and coming to every advising meeting prepared with questions, materials, and/or topics to discuss.
  • The Student keeps the Advisor informed about academic progress and schedule adjustments, and shares any issues or concerns in a timely manner. Failure to communicate any concerns could potentially delay your progress towards degree (i.e. graduation).
  • The Student is proactive in exploring possibilities for majors, minors, and special programs.
  • The Student is open to developing and clarifying personal values and goals.
  • The Student accepts responsibility for their decisions and actions.
  • The Student regularly checks their NC State email account for updates from the Advisor and important university information, and makes timely responses to requests and inquiries.
  • The Student follows through with actions agreed upon in advising sessions. Any changes to your Pack Planner must be made in collaboration and approved by your academic advisor.
  • The Advisor develops knowledge about the Student and builds a relationship with the Student.
  • The Advisor provides a safe space in which the Student can share thoughts, aspirations, concerns, and interests.
  • The Advisor maintains confidentiality in accordance with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and University regulations.
  • The Advisor explains college and university policies and procedures.
  • The Advisor provides information on majors, minors, and special opportunities.
  • The Advisor supports the Student in his/her major decision-making process, assisting the Student in identifying the appropriate path to achieving academic goals.
  • The Advisor encourages and supports the Student in gaining the skills and knowledge necessary for success.
  • The Advisor communicates critical information in a timely manner.
  • The Advisor refers the Student to other appropriate resources if needed and follows through with actions agreed upon in advising sessions.