Mandatory Advising (Unblocking) Guide 

What is mandatory advising/unblocking?

              Mandatory advising, or unblocking as you may hear it called, is what COSAM students MUST do each semester before they can register for courses.  Every semester a “block” is put on your account, which prohibits you from registering until you visit your specified advisor.  Once you meet with your advisor, your PIN number is set allowing you to register for courses.

How do I know where to go for mandatory advising/unblocking?

              Which advisor you go to see for mandatory advising is dependent upon if you have declared your major, how many hours you have, or if you are a pre professional student.  See the links below for more information.

When should I come for mandatory advising/unblocking?

              Once your time ticket is posted on tiger i, it is important for you to come and see your specified advisor during their available times.  If you are seeing the advisors within the COSAM Dean’s Office, it is important for you to check your email and the TV screens in SCC to know the dates and times that the advisors will be doing mandatory advising. If you have a faculty advisor, you should get in contact with him/her as soon as possible.  You should plan on seeing your advisor several days before your set time ticket, to ensure that there is sufficient time to re-set your PIN. 

**Express Lane Advising

              If you have no questions for your advisor, you can opt to use the Express Lane during mandatory advising. If you are advised by the Dean’s Office Advisors you can use this if you feel confident in your schedule and you have no questions for your advisor. You simply will need to bring your form by 239 SCC during the specified times and drop off the form.  You will want to make sure to do this several days before your registration time ticket to ensure that your PIN will be reset.  Express Lane is available Monday-Thursday during regular advising hours.   Please check the advising schedule for the dates that this will be available. If your PIN is unable to be re-set, you will be notified by your advisor with instructions on what to do.

 Click on the link below which best describes your current status:

I am a first year student (regardless of major)

I am an undeclared (including pre-health) major

I have officially declared my major in pre-health

I am not first year student, am not Pre-Health, but have a declared major

I am a first year student (regardless of major)

You are a first year student if you:

• Are in your first year of college (you have started your first year of college within the Summer or Fall of the current academic term)

If you are a first year student, these are the steps that you must follow for mandatory advising:

1. You must come to see your Dean’s Office academic advisor to be advised.  There will be times that are set aside just for mandatory advising.  We DO NOT take appointments. Please come during the times that are listed on the advising calendar.
2. Once you have come and seen your academic advisor, your PIN will be re-set.
3. If you have any problems with your PIN, please contact COSAM Student Services at 334-844-4269.

I am an undeclared (including pre-health) major

You are an undeclared or pre-health major if you:

• Are a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior who has not officially declared your major (you are listed on tiger i as UNSM)
• You are seeking a pre health concentration (pre-pharmacy, pre-medical , pre-dental, pre-optometry or pre-physical therapy)

If you are an undeclared or pre-health major, these are the steps that you must follow for mandatory advising:

1. You must come to see your Dean’s Office academic advisor to be advised.  There will be times that are set aside just for mandatory advising. We DO NOT take appointments. Please come during the times that are listed on the advising calendar.
2. Once you have come and seen your academic advisor, your PIN will be re-set.
3. If you have any problems with your PIN, please contact COSAM Student Services at 334-844-4269.

I have officially declared my major in pre-health

You are an officially declared pre-health major if you:

• You have officially declared your major (you have filled out a form declaring your major and you are NOT listed on tiger i as UNSM)
• You are seeking a pre health concentration (pre-pharmacy, pre-medical , pre-dental, pre-optometry or pre-physical therapy)

If you are an officially declared pre-health major, these are the steps that you must follow for mandatory advising:

1. You must see your faculty advisor, Dr. Larry Wit, for mandatory advising.    
   Once you have come and see Dr. Wit, your PIN will be re-set.
2. If you have any problems with your PIN please contact COSAM Student Services at 334-844-4269.

NOTE: If you are a declared Chemistry/Pre-med major, you MUST see your faculty advisor in the Chemistry department to be advised.  Dr. Wit can not advise you.

I am not first year student, am not Pre-Health, but have a declared major

You are an officially declared major only if:

• You have officially declared your major (you have filled out a form declaring your major and you are NOT listed on tiger i as UNSM)
• You are NOT a pre-health concentration

If you are an officially declared major, these are the steps that you must follow for mandatory advising:

1. You must see your faculty advisor in your department for mandatory advising. You should contact your faculty advisor for information on advising times and locations. When you declared your major you were assigned a faculty advisor within your department. If you do not know who your faculty advisor is, please contact your department.  Here are the numbers:

• Biology- 334-844-7511 or 334-844-4830
• Chemistry/Biochemistry- 334-844-4043
• Geography-334-844-4074
• Geology-334-844-4282
• Math and Statistics- 334-844-4290
• Physics- 334-844-4264

1. Once you have seen your faculty advisor, your PIN will be re-set
2. If you have any problems with your PIN, please contact COSAM Student Services at 334-844-4269.