What Your Students Need to Know About
Academic Advising at HCCC

All HCCC students have an academic advisor to help navigate the degree process from start to finish. Faculty members who are familiar with the majors students are taking serve as faculty advisors.  They are students' primary resources for academic requirements and internships, as well as your personal connection to the services HCCC provides.

Should students have any questions about who their advisor is, or if they need any assistance if their advisor is unavailable, encourage them to stop by the Advisement Center, which is located on the first floor of the CA Building, Room 130. Its hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and can be reached at x-8239. Students may also e-mail the Advisement Center at advisementcenter@herkimer.edu. Important things students need to remember about the advising process include:

• Prepare for each advisement session.
• Be knowledgeable about the requirements of the chosen program of study
• Inform advisors of important changes that directly affect academic performance and educational goals (full time/part time, curriculum change, etc.)
• Follow through on actions identified during advisement sessions.
• An advisor's responsibility is to make suggestions and recommendations- not decisions.  During appointments with advisors- expect to PARTICIPATE!  Advisors need to know about students as individuals to give accurate advice.

All new, full-time students are scheduled to take Freshman Seminar (FS 100) as a required course. Students are graded in the course and the course must be successfully completed to qualify for graduation. Freshman Seminar is an ongoing orientation program. It is designed to help students prepare and adjust to all of the academic and social challenges that the College will afford to them.

The Academic Support Center offers a wide range of services, aimed to provide all HCCC students with opportunities for academic success, regardless of previous academic preparation. The mission of the Center is to encourage academic potential and to provide opportunities to maximize that potential. All students are welcome and all services are FREE of charge. The Academic Support Center's range of services and programs include:

• Placement testing (all incoming students)
• Tutoring for over 150 different courses (in person or online, individually or in small groups, by appointment or at drop-in times)
• Services for students with disabilities
• College Adjustment Program (students on probation and readmits encouraged to enroll)

Good study skills are critical to college success. Entering freshmen are frequently not prepared for the heavy workload they encounter in college. Professionals in the Academic Support Center are available to assist students in evaluating study skill strengths and weaknesses and offer personalized help individually, in small groups or via an online conference. Workshops may also be offered throughout the year to help students improve skills in time/task management, note-taking, test-taking, memorization and concept mapping strategies. In addition, free online study resources may be found on the HCCC Academic Support Center website.

The Academic Support Center is located in the Library Building although this year with the construction of the Library, the Academic Support Center is relocated and it is best to contact the main office directly for more information.  The telephone number is (315) 866-0300, ext. 8288. General hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays/Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays/ Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays during regular semesters. Hours at other times vary and are posted. The main office is staffed all year long.