University at Buffalo (UB)
Continuing Students
The College of Arts and Sciences is here to help you succeed. We offer a wide range of resources to suit your individual needs, whether you like popping over for a drop-in session, prefer one-on-one advice, or favor the energy of group advising. Explore our many tools and resources designed to level up your learning and make the most of your time here at UB!
To serve our students and help address various advising needs we offer three distinct advising options: daily drop-in option for quick questions, individual 30-minute appointments and group advising targeted for specific cohorts of students.
If you want to discuss your current semester or plan out future semesters, an individual appointment with your assigned academic advisor is the best choice!
Offered year-round
Our advisors are here to consult with students while making decisions regarding academics. We encourage students to make an appointment every semester for guidance in planning out courses and are also available whenmaking other academic decisions. Appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes. Students can choose to meet in person, via zoom or by phone.
When scheduling an appointment
- Make the appointment for a time that with few distractions (especially for Zoom or phone appointments)
- Include notes about what to discuss with an advisor
Before an appointment
- Review the academic advisement report. Look for areas that are “not satisfied.”
- Make a list of questions and concerns
During your appointment
- Set the agenda! Bring a computer or tablet and plan to take notes. The advisor may read your academic advising report, clarifying policies, providing resources and strategies concerning registering for courses, or providing information about other offices that may offer support.
After your advising appointment
- Follow up on post-meeting recommendations. Advisors are available to answer quick questions, or schedule a follow-up appointment as necessary.
Offered year-round
If you experienced an event outside of your control that impacted your ability to perform academically, advisors are available to consult with you concerning academic withdrawal.
During the meeting, an advisor can discuss:
- if the circumstances would qualify for an academic withdraw;
- review how to complete the form;
- discuss supporting documentation that is necessary;
- and review what to include in a personal statement
Offered in the Fall semester
These advisement appointments center on regaining good academic standing. During AIM for Success individual meetings, you’ll discuss factors that led to past academic difficulties and learn how to connect with offices that can help support your success at UB. The appointment may also be a time to review academic policies that are important to the situation and create a realistic plan, using a GPA calculator, to regain good academic standing.
These appointments are targeted toward students who are on academic warning, probation or were granted a dismissal appeal. Students are encouraged to attend an AIM for Success group session before their individual advising appointment.
Course Schedule Viewer: Find Free Electives
Get a jump on planning your schedule. Use the Free Elective Course Schedule Viewer Tool to view courses with no enrollment requirements across the College.
Free electives are courses that have no enrollment requirements and typically fall outside of the required courses for your area of study. Some of the courses on this list could be free electives and UB Curriculum requirements. Check with your advisor to see how free electives can fit in with your graduation plan.
Once you've found courses you're interested in, talk with your advisor and head over to HUB to register for your next semester.
Change your Major or Minor
Submit the CAS Major/Minor Change Request form to request one of the following changes to your academic plan:
- Add a major, minor, or certificate in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Drop any major
- Drop any minor
Force Registration Requests
To request force registration into an open course that has restrictions, please complete the Force Registration Request form. Select the course, section, and appropriate reason for the request. Students may need to justify or provide supporting documentation for your request.
Before you submit your request, please check to see if the course you are interested in has a waitlist. If it does, please add yourself to the waitlist, and do not submit a force registration request. You cannot request force registration into courses with an active waitlist. It will be denied. If the waitlist is full, do not submit a force registration request. Speak with your academic advisor to discuss alternate course options. *You cannot request force registration into closed courses.
Pro Tip
Always make sure that a current mobile phone number is listed in HUB, based on the advising option choosen, an advisor may call the number listed in HUB.