Advising
At Mitchell, advising is more than choosing classes – it’s about building your future. Our WELCOME and EASE frameworks ensure every student is supported from the moment they connect with us through graduation, and equipped with skills to carry forward. Our approach is informed by NACADA principles and reflects our commitment to Empowering Futures.
WELCOME represents the first experience students have with advising at Mitchell. It reflects our commitment to creating a welcoming, supportive, and empowering environment from day one.
Warmly Greet – Create a welcoming atmosphere that sets a positive tone.
Evaluate with Empathy – Assess needs, listen actively, and respond with understanding.
Lay the Foundation – Clarify expectations, roles, and pathways for success.
Connect and Care – Build trust genuine connection and inclusive support.
Ownership Recognition – Empower students to take ownership of their goals and decisions.
Motivate for Success – Inspire confidence and encourage persistence through challenges.
Educate Through Advising – Provide guidance that informs, equips, and transforms.
EASE is our ongoing advising model designed to provide students with continued holistic, personalized support throughout their academic journey.
Engage -Initiate meaningful connections and foster open dialogue.
Align – Ensure goals, resources, and pathways are clearly connected.
Support – Provide timely, personalized guidance and encouragement.
Empower – Build confidence and autonomy through informed decision-making.
What You'll Learn: Skill-Based Outcomes
- Craft an educational plan
- Use information & make decisions
- Own your academic progress
- Apply critical thinking
- Communicate effectively
- Develop lifelong learning skills
Advising Services
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.
- Academic Planning: Build a schedule that fits your life and understand degree and certificate requirements.
- Career & Transfer Advising: Explore career paths and transfer options.
- Support for Adult Learners: Providing tools, resources, and referrals that help with balancing school, work, and family.
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 advising season, 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.
Who Should I Talk To?
High School Student
Taking College Classes?
Adult Learner Starting
or Returning to College?
Still Exploring?
Get Help Choosing A Path
Student Checklist for College Transfer
Take the ACA 122 required course in transfer programs in your first semester, or your second semester at the latest!
Get started early in your Mitchell career. Meet with your advisor to learn about transfer options and begin planning early.
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
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.
Take part in career exploration opportunities, and use the Bachelor’s Degree Plans provided by most N.C. public and private colleges and universities.
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.
- Learn your options for transfer. Talk with your advisor about ways to select a four-year institution that is right for you.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Steps for Success
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 Ahead
Plan to study one to two hours outside of class for each hour in class.
Communicate
Communicate with your instructors and advisors proactively.
It Takes Work
Underand that being a student is like a job and ofen not an easy one.
Accept Responsibility
Your academic decisions are your own, but do not hesitate to ask for help when needed.
Advising FAQs
To locate this information, login to your Self-Service and view under “Academics > Student Planning > Advising,” or you may contact Student Services at advising@mitchellcc.edu and request the information.
Yes. Appointments may be made by telephone, virtually or you may schedule an in-person office visit with your advisor.
Your faculty advisor will offer guidance and make suggestions about course choices that will help you achieve your educational goals and follow your program of study and course sequencing. It is suggested that you plan ahead and review course offerings for each semester and compare those to the classes listed with your major in the Mitchell Catalog. Preparing ahead of time can make your advising time more productive and rewarding.
Registration and advising are not the same thing. Meet with your advisor to discuss and plan your upcoming semester before registration.
It’s always a good idea to contact your advisor to make an appointment for advising. However, each faculty advisor maintains a posted office hour each day to assist students. Feel free to visit your advisor during this office hour.
Registration times are listed in each semester’s schedule. Students self-register for classes using Self-Service.
Click on the link to Self Service on the My Mitchell page. You can watch a Self-Service course registration tutorial here.
It really shouldn’t change your relationship at all. But, it can make your advising sessions more productive.
Self-Service is a tool you can use to explore availability of courses each semester and view your grades and other academic information. You will be able to register for classes online via Self Service.
Self Service cannot replace your faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor is there to guide you so you complete your degree. Your advisor is a valuable source of information about your major and how your major will help you in the workforce once you’ve graduated.
After you have told your advisor about your academic strengths and weaknesses, work and family responsibilities and your timeframe for completing your degree, your advisor can assist you in making wise course choices each semester.
You may want to use Self Service to check which classes in your program of study you have completed and which ones are still in progress. This way you can work with your advisor to complete your remaining courses.
Statesville Campus
Eason Student Services Center
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Mooresville Campus
Student Services Department, Building A
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.