CESS Undergraduate Advising and FAQs | College of Education and Social Services | The University of Vermont(title)

In the College of Education and Social Services (CESS), we approach advising with a holistic model tailored to support each student’s academic plans and the person as a whole. We strive to connect each student with the resources and tools they need to be successful throughout their journey with UVM.
New (First-Year) Students
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Admitted first year students will meet their professional academic advisors in the summer before their first semester. At this meeting, students will share their academic/personal goals and learn how to register for their first semester courses at UVM. Students will also learn to navigate registration tools such as the Schedule of Courses and how to monitor their degree audit. 

Advisors can help with planning for study abroad experiences and engaging with community partners.

Degree Audit and Your Advisor
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Access and become familiar with your Degree Audit, the system that tracks your academic requirements and helps monitor your program progression.

Schedule a time to meet with your academic advisor who will help you navigate course requirements and develop a four-year plan to help ensure your academic success. This will help you to understand specific program benchmarks and requirements. If there are any discrepancies, work with your advisor or the Student Services office to resolve them.

Education Students: Licensure and Praxis Information
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If you are in a teacher preparation program, you will need to pass the Praxis Core exam before you can progress into your upper-level course work. This exam measures basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. 

For more information on passing scores and how to register for a test visit the Vermont Agency of Education. Passing SAT/ACT or ASVAB scores can alternatively fulfill the Praxis Core requirement (or specific portions of the exam).

Resources for Education Students (Licensure, Praxis, Internship, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Account Hold: What Should I Do?
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If you have a "hold" on your account, contact the Registrar's Office to determine why. It might be that you have an unpaid bill or you haven't provided the health center with the appropriate immunization information. You need to resolve any issues and have the hold removed in order to register for classes.

Change/Declare CESS Program: What is the Process?
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When you are prepared to declare or change your major, submit the form to Declare or Change Your Major, Minor, Concentration, or College.

Speak with your advisor about proposed changes to your degree audit or email cessstsv@uvm.edu.

Credits / Withdrawals / Program Completions
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CAN A COURSE FULFILL MORE THAN ONE REQUIREMENT IN MY PROGRAM?

Yes. Courses can count toward a general education or university requirement, while also counting toward a major or minor requirement. However, please note that when one course is used to fulfill two requirements, you only receive the credits once.

IF I REPEAT A COURSE AND GET A PASSING GRADE BOTH TIMES, WILL THEY BOTH COUNT TOWARD MY TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION/GRADUATION?

Students who are enrolled in programs that have minimum grade requirements for specific courses sometimes complete a course more than once to achieve the required minimum grade. Both courses will be included in your grade point average, but the credits will only be counted once toward program completion.

HOW DO I ENROLL IN MORE THAN 19 CREDITS IF I NEED ADDITIONAL CREDITS?

Complete the Request to Enroll in More than 19 Credits form. If approved, a maximum credits override is processed and you can add the additional credit(s) to your schedule. Please note that you will be charged an additional amount for any credit over 19. Work with Student Financial Services in Waterman to see how this may impact your financial aid.

ARE THERE RAMIFICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ENROLLING IN LESS THAN FULL-TIME (12 CREDITS)?

There may be financial ramifications for students who receive financial aid.  Please be sure to discuss this with Student Financial Services. Students who are covered by medical insurance that requires "full-time enrollment" likely won't be eligible for insurance coverage by that policy. Also, attending part-time will have an impact on your ability to graduate in four years.

If you are thinking of dropping courses, please check in with your advisor or Student Services before making your decision.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO STUDY ABROAD WITHOUT LENGTHENING THE TIME IT TAKES TO REACH PROGRAM COMPLETION?

Yes. Many students have studied abroad without extending their programs, but it requires planning. You and your advisor should review your four-year plan to determine when the best time is to study abroad.

HOW DO I WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE?

Information about withdrawing from a course can be found on the Registrar's Frequently Asked Questions page under Add/Drop/Withdraw.

HOW DO I WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD?

Late withdrawals are not approved unless there are medical reasons or extenuating circumstances beyond your control. Failing a course is not considered a good reason for a late withdrawal. Please submit a request to CESS Student Services at cessstsv@uvm.edu outlining your reasons to be considered for a late withdrawal.

Illness / Missing Class: How do I notify faculty when I am ill?
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If you are missing class(es) for one day, e-mail your professor(s) directly. Provide your name, your course and section, and explain that you are missing class due to illness. If the faculty teaching the course requires you to have a note from your Dean, email CESS Student Services at cessstsv@uvm.edu. We typically do not write notes for single-day absences, but if a faculty requires one, please contact us.

If you will be missing several days of classes due to illness or a crisis, contact Student Health Services (SHS) at 802-656-3350. Additionally, reach out to CESS Student Services at 802-656-3468 or cessstsv@uvm.edu and we will notify your faculty upon receipt of communication from SHS.

If you will be missing several days of classes for personal reasons, please contact CESS Student Services at 802-656-3468 or cessstsv@uvm.edu.

It is the student’s responsibility to work with their faculty and determine a timeline for completing their work. We can recommend that your absences be excused, but the faculty teaching your courses will make the final decision.


 

Transferring (Internal/UVM Students)
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How do I transfer into or from CESS?

To transfer in or out of a CESS program, see Undergraduate Internal Transfers Guidelines.

HOW DO I TRANSFER COURSES TO UVM/CESS?

If you plan to take courses at an institution other than UVM to fulfill requirements for your program at UVM, please contact the Office of Transfer Affairs at transfer@uvm.edu PRIOR to enrolling in outside courses to ensure that the classes will a) transfer back to UVM, and 
b) transfer in a way that meets your needs. (For example, making sure that they match a specific course that you may need for your major.)

If either the prefix or the number doesn't match the requirement you are attempting to fulfill, you must complete a CESS Request Form for approval to have it fulfill a specific requirement in your program. Student Services will facilitate the request for you and respond via email.

IF I HAVE A TRANSFER CREDIT OR ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDIT THAT TRANSFERS AS A COURSE I HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED AT UVM, CAN I GET CREDIT BOTH TIMES?

No. You may only earn the credit once, so you need to be very careful not to register for a course at UVM that has already been completed elsewhere and transferred to UVM.

Contact Us

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Our team is here to help you!

CESS Office of Undergraduate Student Services

  • Location: 540 Waterman Building (8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday)
  • Phone: (802) 656-3468
  • Email: cessstsv@uvm.edu

If you are not feeling well, we are happy to schedule a phone call or Microsoft Teams virtual appointment.

CESS Undergraduate Student Services Team

Phyllis M. Stone

Director of Student Services and Retention

Phyllis.Stone@uvm.edu

Eric Braun

Associate Director of Student Services and Retention • Academic Advisor

Eric.Braun@uvm.edu (802) 656-1452

Catherine Cane

Associate Director of Student Services • Academic Advisor

catherine.cane@uvm.edu (802) 656-1447

Will Major

Associate Director for Student Services and Retention • Academic Advisor

William.Major@uvm.edu (802) 656-1454