Office of the Registrar Academic Advising
Welcome to the Academic Advising page!
Effective academic advising is a key component to a Westmont education. At its core, advising is a collaborative, developmental relationship between our students and our faculty. The mission of the Academic Advising Department is to encourage and support students’ personal and intellectual development as they embrace Westmont's educational opportunities, build a plan to complete their degree, and move forward to find their calling in the kingdom of God.
Because academic advising is key to our educational strategy, academic advisors are regularly evaluated during the promotion and tenure review process.
Please review the important Academic Advising details below.
Academic Advising Information
Advisor/Advisee Information
Academic Advisors can be helpful to you in many ways. They can help you explore your options regarding a major and career choices as they listen and learn about you and your strengths and weaknesses.
Maximizing your Advisor Relationship
Academic advising is the most underutilized resource on many college campuses. Many students don’t truly realize what academic advising is, and what it can do to help them prepare for the world beyond college.
Changing your Advisor
You must let us know when you change your mind and have found another advisor. This will help us keep track of your academic records and make sure we get the needed information into your hands. Once the Change of the Advisor form is completed, submit the form to the Student Records Office.
Academic Standing
To remain in good standing, a student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 2.0 in courses taken at Westmont and on Westmont off-campus programs.
Transferring Courses
Students can take many kinds of courses during the summer months. These can include courses to meet General Education requirements, courses toward a major or a minor, or elective courses. All students will need to meet 124 units to graduate with their degree, and some of these can be taken away from Westmont.
Declaring your Major
The Major Declaration Form should be filled out whenever you are ready to make your decision regarding a major official, but no later than the end of your sophomore year. You do not have an official major recorded until you complete the form.
Successful Scholar Seminar Course
The Successful Scholar Seminar is a program designed to help students manage the logistical side of academia. The college environment requires students to be responsible and prioritize their lives in a way they may not have previously experienced, or are not yet academically accustomed to.
The course introduces students to tips and techniques throughout the 1-unit course which includes time management skills, note-taking skills, test preparation, and essay preparation. Students will also receive instructional presentations from on-campus resource representatives such as:
- Career Development and Calling: Networking, internships, and potential career/life interests.
- Westmont College Library: Navigating Westmont's research database and accessing assistance from the Library Research staff to utilize this valuable resource.
- Counseling Center: Introduction important counseling services and guidance on how to make an appointment. The Counseling Center is dedicated to the support and development of the whole person; their services are confidential and free.
Over the course of the semester the instructor will share confidential progress reports with each student. This valuable feedback will give students a better understanding of their instructors' expectations and their individual standing in their classes.
The Successful Scholar's Seminar, course number APP-002, is a 1-unit graded courses which is available to all students.