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Advising Frequently Asked Questions

Advisors

Q. Who are my advisors?
A. You have a variety of advisors depending on your needs

Your academic advisor (assigned to you by SLIS at admission) will discuss academic-class related-issues
The Student Services Coordinator and the Coordinator of Admissions and Academic Advising (called the Graduate Advisor by the University) will help with all administrative issues such as late drops, late adds, transfers, withdrawals from the semester etc. These kinds of issues should not go to your academic advisor.
Any faculty member who has expertise that you need. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/enrollment/advising.htm#who

Q. Who is my academic advisor?
A.

Check the admission letter you received from SLIS (both via snail mail and e-mail)
Look on Angel. You are automatically joined to your advisor's Angel advising site
E-mail office@slis.sjsu.edu

Q. What is the role of my academic advisor?
A. See (Scroll down to Responsibilities of an Advisor): http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/enrollment/advisors.htm

Q. When should I talk with my academic advisor?
A. When you have questions related to academic-class related-issues. You also need to talk with your academic advisor when you are on academic probation

Q. How do I change my academic advisor?
A.

e-mail the SLIS office to find out if there is room on the desired full-time faculty member's roster.
If there is room, the student should ask the desired full-time faculty member for permission to switch to them as an advisee.
If the faculty member agrees, the student should ask the faculty member to e-mail the SLIS office confirming agreement.

Q. Who is the Student Services Coordinator?
A. Scharlee Phillips

Q. What does the Student Services Coordinator do?
A. Handles all forms and obtains signatures. Answers questions by phone and e-mail that are administrative in nature

Q. Who is the Graduate Advisor (in SLIS called the Coordinator of Admissions and Academic Advising)
A. Dr. Linda Main

Q. What does the Graduate Advisor (in SLIS called the Coordinator of Admissions and Academic Advising) do?
A. Essentially helps with all administrative problems. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/adminroles/role_coord_admissions_advising.htm

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Class related

Q. Do I need to declare a specialization?
A. No. The specialization pages are purely to help you if you decide on classes if want to concentrate in a particular area. There is no requirement to focus on a particular area. Taking classes from a variety of areas is quite common and may make you more marketable.

Q. Can I waive Libr 285 -Research Methods.
A. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/mlis.htm#libr285

Q. How many classes should I take?
A. This varies hugely from one individual to the next. Take into account whether or not you are working and family and other obligations. This is a graduate program and classes are a lot of work. See: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/mlis.htm#load

Q. I received a C in a core class (200, 202, 204). Do I have to retake it?
A. If you were admitted for Spring 2009 or after Spring 2009 you must make a B in Libr 200, Libr 202, and Libr 204. In this case you must retake the class.

Q. If a class needs a prerequisite can I take it concurrently?
A. No. A prerequisite must be taken "before".

Q. How many classes can I take each semester?
A. It is totally up to you. We at SLIS set no minimums or maximums. However funding authorities may set minimums or maximums. For state funding you need 8 units a semester to be regarded as full time.

Q. How many classes do I need to take to be full time?
A. We at SLIS do not set a full time or part time limit. The Bursar's Office regards 8 units as full time for a graduate student.

Q. How fast can I complete the degree?
A. Here is one full time scenario -obviously you could configure this differently depending on whether you start in Fall or Spring.

Fall -10 units (200, 202, 203, 204)
Spring -9 units (3 classes)
Summer -6 units (2 classes)
Fall -9 units (3 classes)
Spring -6 units (2 classes)
Summer -3 units (1 class)

So 43 units and 15 classes.

Q. What is Libr 298: Special Studies?
A. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/classes/studies.htm

Q. How do I enroll in Libr 203?
A. You do not self-enroll in Libr 203. SLIS enrolls you in the course. Libr 203 is required for all new students.

Q. How do I find out which classes use Elluminate:
A. Check SLIS class schedules

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Drops, Adds, Transfers, Withdrawals.

Q. Who Should I contact about late adds, late drops?
A. Anything to do with forms and administrative issues such as late drops, late adds, withdrawals contact the Student Services Coordinator.

Q. How do I transfer in classes from other institutions?
A. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/admissions/transfer.htm

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Holds, Probation, Disqualification

Q. What are "holds" on my record and how do I get them lifted?
A. "Holds" on your record can be but are not limited to academic or financial holds. When you have a "hold" on your record you are not able to register for classes, receive transcripts, etc. If the hold is because you are on probation talk with your academic advisor. If the hold is administrative, talk with the relevant University department.

Q. I'm on academic probation and can't register. What should I do?
A. Contact your academic advisor by e-mail. Discuss with the advisor the reasons why you are on probation. Bear in mind that to get off probation and avoid disqualification you must make higher than a B in classes in the following semester (so a B+, A-, A). If your adviser feels that you are planning a reasonable load for the following semester he or she will contact the Student Services Coordinator and have the registration hold lifted.

You will remain on probation until your overall GPA (SJSU cum GPA) reaches 3.0 or higher. As long as you are on probation you must make higher than a B each semester (semester GPA must be higher than 3.0).

If you do not make higher than a B (greater than 3.0) you will be disqualified.

See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/enrollment/academic_problems.htm

If you are not sure who your advisor is:

Check the admission letter you received from SLIS
Look on Angel. You are automatically joined to your advisor's Angel advising site
E-mail SLIS Office

Q. I've just learned I've been disqualified from the program. What can I do to get reinstated?
A. SLIS is not accepting reinstatement petitions. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/enrollment/academic_problems.htm

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Semester Leave

Q. Can I take a semester off? What do I need to do?
A. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/enrollment/semesterleave.htm

Q. Can I take a leave of absence while on probation?
A. Yes. See: http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/catalog/rec-2106.html

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Graduation, Candidacy, Course Substitution

Q. I think I am ready to graduate, what do I need to do?
A. See: slisweb.sjsu.edu/graduation/process.htm

Q. The graduate advisor needs to sign my course substitution form. Who should I send it to?
A. You do not need to obtain the signatures. Follow the procedures outlined here (when the page opens scroll down to Course Substitution Form): slisweb.sjsu.edu/graduation/candidacyhowto.htm

Q. How do I submit my candidacy form?
A. Read and follow the information at: slisweb.sjsu.edu/graduation/candidacyhowto.htm

Q. I neglected to submit my candidacy form by the deadline? What can I do?
A. You will have to submit it for the next graduation period. There is nothing SLIS can do. The deadlines are firm and set by Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluation.

Q. I was wondering if I have to graduate at 43 units or can take more classes.
A. If you do not take Libr 289 you can continue to take classes. Remember that you can only count 43 units towards the MLIS degree. Any units taken over will not be part of the MLIS but will show on your transcript.

However the University is trying to move towards forcing students to graduate when they complete the required units — so the above may change.

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SJSU E-mail

Q. How do I get an SJSU e-mail account?
A. See: students.sjsu.edu

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