Advising Information

As a new student at Mitchell Community College, you will have your first academic advising session in the Advising Department in Student Services on the Statesville Campus or the Student Services Advising Offices in Building A at the Mooresville Campus. An Admission’s Specialist will provide instructions for making an advising appointment once you complete the Admissions’ process and any required placement testing. You’ll also get instructions for setting up your student accounts so that you can manage your educational process online. 

At Mitchell Community College, advising is considered an important part of our responsibilities to our students, and our students’ responsibility to themselves as they work toward their academic and career goals. How is it a student’s responsibility? You have to let your advisor know when you want to meet or respond to your advisor’s outreach to you. We very much want you to be successful in your goals!

With that in mind, every October and March of the academic year kicks off what we refer to as “Advising Season.” While you can schedule to meet with your advisor as needed, we begin promoting advising at the beginning of these two months and encourage students to start planning their upcoming semesters with the support of their advisors. Even if you are confident about your progress and program, it never hurts to check in with your advisor to ask questions, celebrate successes, and see how close you are to achieving your certificate, diploma, degree, or specifically selected courses based on employment needs. 

During these advising seasons, advisors typically reach out to their advisees with information about scheduling an advising appointment, so be sure to check your student email account often.

If you are unsure about the name of your advisor, you can find that information in your Self Service account. Once in Self Service, select “Student Planning” then “Plan and Schedule Courses” and then find and select the “Advising” tab on that page, and you will see your advisor’s name there. 

Fun fact: There’s actually such a thing called Global Advising Week which usually occurs the first week of May! One of the purposes of the week is to celebrate and promote the profession of Advising. You can read about it here on the NACADA website.

Questions? Need help figuring out who your advisor is? Contact our Advising staff at advising@mitchellcc.edu. We are here to help!

Students are assigned a faculty advisor in their chosen area of study as they transition from their Student Services Advisor. Students meet with their faculty advisor every semester during Spring and Fall Advising Seasons to discuss and review educational goals, update career plans, make course selections, complete change of major forms, and submit graduation applications. Faculty advisors are also available to provide academic support and guidance to advisees during non-advising periods. Students need to be familiar with the Mitchell Community College Catalog and are responsible for making final decisions on academic matters. To locate your faculty advisor’s contact information, log into your Self Service account and view your student profile.

• Attend the first day of class. Study the course syllabus to understand the course requirements and the instructor’s policies.
• Attend all classes. If you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to make up the work missed.
• Plan to study one to two hours outside of class for each hour in class.
• Communicate with your instructors and advisors proactively.
• Understand that being a student is like a job and often not an easy one. It takes work.
• Accept responsibility for your academic decisions and don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed. 

First Day Attendance (external Youtube link)

Maximum Course Load recommendations for success if you work and/or have family responsibilities

• If you work 10 hours a week, take 16-19 credit hours per semester.
• If you work 20 hours a week, take 12-13 credit hours per semester.
• If you work 30 hours a week, take 6-10 credit hours per semester.
• If you work 40 or more hours a week, take 5-8 credit hours per semester.

Discover how to study and learn more effectively in less time at the Tutoring Center (formerly known as MIND Center).

1. Take the ACA 122 required course in transfer programs in your first semester, or your second semester at the latest!
2. Get started early in your Mitchell career. Meet with your advisor to learn about transfer options and begin planning early.
3. Know about and understand the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the North Carolina Community College System and the UNC System and private NC universities and colleges. 
4. Keep a record of your progress at Mitchell. Use the guidelines outlined in the Mitchell Catalog for your particular major to make sure you are progressing properly toward graduation. Maintain a file with your grade reports, placement test scores and other important Mitchell documents. Bring the file with you each time you meet with your faculty advisor. There are planning tools in Self Service that can assist you in planning your degree. You can find Self-Service on the My Mitchell page.
5. Take part in career exploration opportunities, and use the Bachelor’s Degree Plans provided by most N.C. public and private colleges and universities. 
6. Earn the very best grades you can at Mitchell, but also focus on deep and meaningful learning. Doing well at Mitchell can help you get into the college of your choice and will enable you to succeed at the four-year institution.
7. Learn your options for transfer. Talk with your advisor about ways to select a four-year institution that is right for you.
8. Be prepared for better advising. Bring college catalogs and transfer information from prospective four-year colleges with you to advising sessions. Your advisor can provide you with a better consultation if he, she or they have access to this information. 
9. Discover opportunities to visit four-year colleges and universities. Check out visitation or open house events at the senior institutions you are considering. You should also visit the web sites of each college you are exploring to determine their transfer admission criteria. Watch for Mitchell visits from area college and university representatives, too.
10. Complete your degree at Mitchell. Research from NC universities shows that students who complete their community college degree perform much better at the senior institution. Plus, with an associate degree, you are more likely to transfer all of your credits without having to take additional core courses required at the senior institution.
11. Finally, celebrate your successful graduation from Mitchell. We will celebrate your success with you, so keep in touch with your advisor and the college. We want to hear from you. When you graduate from Mitchell, be sure to join the Mitchell Alumni Association.