Advising & Registration

Make sure you complete the following steps before your registration window opens! We are here to help you if you have any trouble along the way. (Please note: this information is for current undergraduate students. Incoming freshmen and transfer students will receive information about registration from the Office of Admissions. Students in the School of Graduate, Professional and Continuing Education (SGPCE) can click here for more information about advising in SGPCE.)

STEP 1: Identify your registration date/time.

Your registration date/time is based on the number of credit hours you have earned. Click here to see your specific registration date/time. Once you know your registration date and time you can map out your timeline to prepare for the following steps!

STEP 2: Consider what you need and want to take.

Take a look at your Degree Works through your myLewis portal. Make a list of classes you need and classes you are interested in taking. You can use this advising worksheet to guide you. You can also review the University Course Schedule, as well as up-to-date course offerings through the “Look Up Classes” option in your myLewis portal.

STEP 3: Check for and resolve any holds.

There are various holds that can prevent you from registering. It takes time to resolve holds, so it is very important to check for any holds on your account well-before your registration date and time. Your hold must be resolved in order for you to be cleared to register for classes. The list of holds includes:

• Admission Office Hold: If you have not submitted a final transcript from high school or your previous institution, you may have an Admission Office Hold. Contact Admissions at admissions@lewisu.edu or call (815) 836-5250.
  
  
• Business Office Hold: This hold typically is a result of not making payments for the semester and/or not setting up payment plans. Students may also have missing documents, resulting in the Business Office hold. Contact the Business Office at businessoffice@lewisu.edu, call (815) 836-5210 or visit their office on the ground floor of the LRC.
  
  
• Financial Aid Hold: Students may have a Financial Aid hold if they have not completed all financial aid paperwork or have not provided required documents. Contact Financial Aid Services at finaid@lewisu.edu, call (815) 836-5263 or visit their office on the ground floor of the LRC.
  
  
• Health Services Hold: Students who have not submitted proper immunization records or who are out of compliance with state regulations will have a Health Services hold placed. For questions about this type of hold, students call (815) 836-5455.
  
  
• Academic Services Hold: Students who are on academic probation have an Academic Services hold. This hold is automatically removed during registration time, unless a student was dismissed from the university. Questions about this hold can be directed to Academic Services by emailing academicservices@lewisu.edu or by calling (815) 836-5593.
  
  
• Student-Athlete Hold: Student-Athletes have a hold on their account to ensure they remain eligible to compete by NCAA standards. This hold is automatically removed during registration time, but may still appear in Degree Works.  Questions about this hold can be directed to Academic Services by emailing academicservices@lewisu.edu or by calling (815) 836-5593.
  
  

STEP 4: Meet with your Advisor.

Meeting with your advisor is a very important and valuable step in the advising and registration process. To find out who your advisor is take a look at your Degree Works through your myLewis portal. At the top of your Degree Works you will see your advisor’s name listed and you will be able to click on their name to send them an email. Reach out to your advisor to determine the best option for scheduling and attending your advising appointment. Once you have set-up your advising appointment, use this advising worksheet to prepare for your appointment. When you register for classes you will need an alternate PIN number. You will be provided with your PIN at the end of your advising appointment.

STEP 5: Register for classes.

When your registration date and time arrive, log on to your myLewis portal to officially register for classes. You will need to click on the ‘Records & Registration’ tab and then you can select ‘Add or Drop Classes’. From there you can use your course numbers (CRNs) to add the classes you selected with your advisor.

If you have completed all these steps and the tasks within each of them you are ready to register! Congratulations! If you have questions about these steps, please reach out to your faculty advisor, major department or Academic Services. Academic Services is located in LR-342 and can also be reached at (815) 836-5593 or academicservices@lewisu.edu.

Academic Advising is designed to assist students in making academic choices for majors, minors or course selection, as well as to assist in making other important decisions that will impact the quality and meaningfulness of your college experience. You can find your advisors name in Degree Works through your myLewis portal. Academic Advising is designed to help you accomplish a number of tasks... here are a few:

Get the Correct 128 Hours

To earn your bachelor’s degree you must complete a minimum of 128 semester hours of courses. Students often exceed this number. But, these aren’t just any courses. Some are required by either your major or minor or as General Education courses. But you will also have many choices. With the help of your advisor and the many departments and offices that work with students, you will make the best choices and progress toward your goals.

Keep Track of Progress

Your advisor keeps a record of your academic progress. If you change advisors, perhaps as a result of changing majors, your information is available to your next advisor. You work with your advisor by keeping your own up-to-date record of all of the courses you have completed, the grades you have earned, and information you have received from the Registrar or your academic department. You should also have a tentative plan for the courses that you   know   you   still   have   to take.  You can use Degree Works through your myLewis portal.

Explore Career Choices, Options and Ideas

You may already be sure of your career direction. Or you might have some ideas about your career, but want to explore some options. Or you may be unsure about which career to pursue. Your advisor and the chair of an academic department in which you have an interest know the kinds of careers or jobs available in this field. They can help you decide if a major matches your interests. They also know about graduate schools and internships. The staff in the Career Services Office on the ground floor of the LRC can help you discover not only the career that matches your interests and talents, but also identify the major that suits your ambitions and abilities.

Get the Most Out of College Life

Semester hours and scheduled classes are the mechanics that organize your college program and open learning opportunities to you. These help you gain a well-rounded college experience. Out-of-class events and activities also make important differences in your enjoyment of college life and in your learning. Lewis’ busy extracurricular calendar offers lectures, plays, musical performances, presentations and discussions through the Arts & Ideas series. CASE offers workshops on time management, technology, and study skills. And, of course, there are student organizations, athletics and other activities in which you might participate.

Get Ready for Life After College

Any major or career you choose has its own standards for professionalism, expectations and networks. While you are at Lewis, one of your goals should be to become an informed and productive professional. Your advisor and other faculty and staff members can guide your initiation into your chosen profession. The staff of the Career Services Office also can help you with career exploration, choosing a major, developing your resume, establishing contacts with potential employers, and preparing for a job interview.

Three major resources used in the advising process are the University Course Schedule, Degree Works, and the Undergraduate Catalog.

University Course Schedule

This University Course Schedule contains the detailed list of the anticipated courses to be offered for the upcoming semester(s) and the specific times/days classes will be offered. The University Course Schedule is made available twice yearly: in October/November for the spring semester and in March/April for the summer and fall semesters.

The University Course Schedule has the most current dates and deadlines. Other important details include:

• Tuition rates, the tuition refund policy, student financial obligations, information on billing and payment, and tuition reimbursement
• Deadlines for course registration and withdrawal (and penalty fees), applying for the pass/fail option, and applying for graduation
  
• Financial Aid application information and deadlines
• Residence halls and fees
• Academic calendar and final exam schedule
• Study Abroad opportunities
• How to buy books
• A list of department chairs

Degree Works

Degree Works is an easy-to-use online academic planning tool that help students and advisors see what courses and requirements students need to graduate.  It can be accessed by logging into the myLewis portal, clicking on the Resources tab, then clicking on the Degree Works icon. A helpful Degree Works manual can also be found within the myLewis portal, under the “Records and Registration” tab. Degree Works also allows you to see a different degree plans for different majors if you use the ‘what if’ feature. You can also add minors using the ‘what if’ feature. Using the ‘what if’ feature is a great way to explore options and see what classes you might already have that apply and what classes you will still need.

Undergraduate Catalog

The Undergraduate Catalog is the official document that delineates the academic policies and procedures, college and degree requirements, and course descriptions at Lewis. Students follow the program and graduation requirements included in the Catalog that is in use at the time they entered Lewis University. The Catalog is a useful tool that will answer many of your questions about University policies and how to get some things done.

How do I find out who my advisor is?
As soon as possible in your first semester at Lewis University, log into your Degree Works audit to see who your advisor is.  If no advisor is listed, visit the department of your major and ask for the name of your advisor. Your First Year Mentor can assist you with this. If you have not yet decided on a major, your advisor will be a Student Success Coordinator in Academic Services.

How do I get into a major or change my major?
It is always a good idea to discuss your major and career aspirations with your advisor or the chair of the department in which you wish to major. When you are ready to declare or change your major, you will complete a Change of Program form with your advisor. Changing your major requires approval of the chair of the department sponsoring the major to which you wish to change. For more information about majors and minors, see the Academic Policies section of the Lewis University Undergraduate Catalog.

What if I don’t know what I want to major in yet?
Well first, don’t worry! In time you will be ready and there are many people to help you sort it out. You can talk to a Student Success Coordinator in Academic Services about your interests and ways of exploring majors and careers that you may find satisfying. You can also talk to your instructors who teach in areas in which you have an interest about careers and options in their fields.

How do I find out what courses are going to be offered?
The University publishes a University Course Schedule twice a year that is available online. The spring semester schedule is available in October. The schedule for the summer and fall terms is available in April.

Can I get advice during the summer?
Some professors may not be available during the summer. If you have a specific need or concern, go to your Dean’s Office or to Academic Services.

What do I do if I’m having a problem with a class?
It’s best to begin by asking your professor for a meeting to discuss your problem with course material or other concerns. However, you may also consult with your advisor, the Chair of the Department, Academic Services, or the Dean’s Office.

How many courses should I take?
To be considered a full-time student, you must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours; however, the standard undergraduate course load is 15-16 credit hours. Some financial aid restrictions may apply. You may take an overload of more than 18 semester hours only if you have the minimum GPA required by your College. Your department chair’s signature and the Dean’s signature are required on your course registration form if you choose to enroll for more than 18 hours.

I want to take a class at another university or college. What should I do?
Discuss this matter with your advisor. If you and she/he agree that the non-Lewis class would benefit you for academic reasons, then complete the Request for Coursework Away from Lewis University form. You must ask the department chair in your major to approve the request. Bring the request to the Dean’s Office for approval prior to taking the course away. The University requires at least 32 credit hours to be completed at Lewis.  Please note that in your graduating semester, the University requires all coursework to be completed at Lewis.

How do I decide which courses I should take every semester?
Your advisor is the best person to help you decide. Before visiting your advisor, put together a slate of classes you might take using the University Course Schedule. To develop your slate, begin by reviewing the list of General Education courses that you are required to take along with the courses required for your major and minor. Compare these to the courses you may have already taken that may fulfill some requirements. Use the General Education Checklist in the booklet and your Degree Works audit to help you. See also the Academic Guidelines section and the General Education requirements and course options published in the University Undergraduate Catalog.

What is the procedure for dropping or adding a course?
You have only one week to add and two weeks to drop a class once the semester has begun. You must drop a course during the first week of class in order to receive a 100% refund. You may drop or add online. Log into the myLewis portal, then click on the Records & Registration tab. Choose Add or Drop Classes. Once on this page, select the drop-down menu next to the course you wish to drop and choose “Drop Via the Web,” then Submit Changes. If you are adding a course, enter the CRN for the course, then Submit Changes. When you drop a class, it disappears from your course schedule. Keep in mind that in some cases dropping a course may affect your scholarship/financial aid award.

What is the procedure for withdrawing from a class?
The concept “Withdrawal” refers to removing a course from your schedule after the second week of class. Check the calendar in the University Course Schedule for withdrawal deadline. If you need to withdraw from a class after the second week, log into the myLewis portal, then click on the Records & Registration tab. Choose Add or Drop Classes. Once on this page, select the drop-down menu next to the course you wish to withdraw from and choose “Web Withdrawal,” then Submit Changes. When you withdraw from a class, a “W” appears on the transcript.

What is the best way to send messages to and receive information from advisors and other University Offices?
All faculty and University offices have email addresses.  It is also expected that students will access their Lewis University email accounts and be responsible for messages sent to their Lewis email addresses.