The advising process is mandatory for all undergraduate students in the School of Engineering. In the past, Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) has held these advising sessions in the spring quarter. Beginning in 2009, we are moving the sessions for freshman and transfer students to the winter quarter, then to the fall quarter beginning in Fall 2009. Advising sessions for sophomores, juniors, and seniors will remain in the spring quarter.

Group advising provides undergraduates an overview of campus, school, department, and degree program policies, programs, and opportunities. This session includes a summary of the degree programs that is directed toward your year in the program, an overview of the ABET accreditation process, and information on achieving professional engineering registration.

Individual sessions provide each student the opportunity to meet with a CEE faculty member to discuss career paths, research opportunities, and a variety of other topics related to civil and environmental engineering.

Yes, you are required to complete this process each and every year. Faculty advising is required of our degree program accreditation and, more importantly, it provides channels for communication with program faculty. It complements, not replaces, advising from counselors in the HSSOE undergrad office (with whom you should also meet annually).

Freshmen will attend in the winter quarter (in the fall quarter beginning Fall 2009). In subsequent years, as a sophomore, junior, or senior, you will be advised in the spring quarter. As long as you will be continuing with courses the next fall, you must attend advising. This year's freshmen will next be part of this process in spring 2010.

If you are planning on transferring to a different major, you still must attend our advising process or a hold will be placed on your registration. If you are planning on transferring into CEE, you are encouraged to participate.

There are sessions for "Freshmen", "Sophomores", and "Junior/Seniors".

Freshmen include students taking typical freshmen classes, primarily first year math and science courses as well as courses such as EECS 10 or CEE 81A (spring), regardless of the total number of UCI credit hours completed to date. You are planning on taking sophomore courses in the next academic year. You must complete the advising process in the winter (or in the fall in subsequent years) and attend a group session designated for "Freshmen".

Sophomores include students taking typical sophomore classes, including second year math courses as well as courses such as CEE30, 81B, 80, 20, and 11, regardless of the total number of UCI credit hours completed. You are planning on taking junior courses in the next academic year. You will be part of the spring quarter advising process and will attend a group session designated for "Sophomores".

Juniors include students taking CEE121, 150, 170, 130, 151A, 171, etc. You are planning on taking senior courses in the next academic year. You will be part of the spring quarter advising process and will attend a group session designated for "Juniors and Seniors".

Seniors who are graduating at the end of the current academic year are not required to complete the advising process. If you are planning to take any courses to fulfill degree requirements in the next academic year, then you must complete the advising process this year. Attend a group session designated for "Juniors and Seniors".

It is recommended that Transfer Students (from outside of UCI or from another UCI degree program) attend both a freshmen session in winter (or in the fall in subsequent years) and, if applicable, a Sophomore or Junior/Senior session in the spring. If your degree program plan of study (developed with and filed in the HSSOE UG Office) is up to date and you have no current or anticipated problems, you can be excused from the freshmen process. Contact Professor McNally <mmcnally-at-uci-dot-edu>.

In Civil and Environmental Engineering, we have implemented a 2-phase advising process:

1. Group Advising: You will attend a scheduled group advising session designated for your year in the program (see below). The program's UG Advisor presents general information, discusses opportunities, and addresses common questions and problems. Sign up in EG 4128.

   In Spring 2009, the group sessions are:

   1. Sophomore 1: Monday, April 13th, 3-4 pm
   2. Sophomore 2: Thursday, April 16th, 1-2 pm
   3. Junior/Senior 1: Monday, April 13th, 1-2 pm
   4. Junior/Senior 2: Wednesday, April 15th, 3-4 pm

   All sessions will be held in McDonnell Douglas Engineering Auditorium (MDEA). Leave 10-15 minutes at the end of the session to sign up for an individual session.

2. Individual Advising: At the end of the group session, sign up for a session with an individual faculty member. You can choose based on faculty expertise (listed on the sign up sheet), meeting format (some do individual 15 minute sessions, some do small groups), or whatever fits your schedule.
   
   Take advantage of meeting faculty members to discuss career options, undergraduate research opportunities, and aspects of the program not covered in the group sessions.
   
   In Spring 2009, individual sessions will be available from April 20th through May 1st. Sign-up sheets will be posted in EG 4128 after the group sessions are over.

If you miss the group session, you should contact Professor McNally or Laura Grimes immediately. You'll likely be asked to review and summarize the advising slide presentation.

You are still required to attend an individual session but you will not have the range of choices provided to those who attend the group session and you will likely have to make individual arrangements for a meeting with a faculty member.

Your registration for the following quarter will have a hold placed on it until you have completed the advising process. Any courses that you register for will be dropped.

An hour in a group session and 15 minutes in an individual session, each year, will be well worth the time investment for most if not all of you.

MGMcNally
Undergraduate Advisor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
<mmcnally-at-uci-dot-edu>