Choosing classes is only one part of earning a university degree.

Students also need to understand which courses satisfy their academic requirements, whether their major is officially declared, and how their decisions today might affect graduation several semesters later.

At the University of Utah, these responsibilities are supported by Campus Information Services (CIS) and the university’s academic advising services.

CIS provides access to academic records, degree audits, and certain major-related requests. Meanwhile, the university uses Navigate360 to help students connect with academic advisors and schedule appointments.

These systems serve different purposes, but they work together in the student’s academic planning process.

Whether you’re entering your first semester, considering a different major, or approaching graduation, understanding how academic advising works can help you avoid unnecessary delays.

What Is Academic Advising at the University of Utah?

Academic advising is the process of helping students make informed decisions about their education.

An advisor can explain degree requirements, review academic progress, discuss course choices, and help students understand university policies.

At the University of Utah, advising responsibilities are distributed among different offices.

Students with declared majors generally work with advisors associated with their academic departments or colleges.

Students who are undecided can receive assistance through the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students.

Other advising specialists assist with academic standards, professional school preparation, and specific student circumstances.

This structure matters because there isn’t necessarily one advisor responsible for every question a student might have.

A question about a biology major may require a different advisor from a question about university-wide general education requirements.

Knowing which advising service to contact is the first step.

CIS vs. Navigate360: What’s the Difference?

Students may encounter both systems while planning their academic schedules.

Although they are related to student services, they aren’t interchangeable.

Platform	Primary purpose
Utah CIS	Academic records, registration, degree audits, and student information
Navigate360	Academic advising appointments and connections to student support services
University academic catalog	Official descriptions of programs, courses, and degree requirements
Department advising	Major-specific requirements, academic planning, and program guidance

The official CIS website is https://cis.utah.edu.

For advising appointments, the University of Utah directs students to Navigate360.

Students should use the appropriate service rather than assume every advising function is contained inside CIS.

For example, a degree audit may be accessed through CIS, while an appointment to discuss the results is scheduled through Navigate360.

How to Find Your Academic Advisor

The University of Utah explains that a student’s assigned advising resource depends on their major or whether they are still exploring academic programs.

Students with declared majors can find their advisor through Navigate or the university’s academic advising website.

Undeclared students are directed toward the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students.

To begin:

1. Visit the University of Utah’s Undergraduate Academic Advising website.
2. Open the advising appointments section.
3. Identify the academic college or program associated with your major.
4. Follow the link for the appropriate advising service.
5. Sign in to Navigate360 when required.
6. Review the available appointment options.

The university’s official advising website is:

https://advising.utah.edu

Students who are uncertain about their advising assignment can contact Campus Advising Solutions for assistance.

It’s better to confirm the correct advisor than to schedule an appointment with a department that doesn’t handle the student’s program.

How to Schedule an Academic Advising Appointment

The university uses Navigate360 for student advising appointments.

Students can access appointment scheduling through the official advising website or their Navigate360 account.

Appointment categories depend on the student’s needs.

For example, an undecided student may select a major exploration appointment.

A student already enrolled in a specific program may need a departmental advising appointment.

Other categories include academic standards assistance and specialized preprofessional advising.

The university also provides advising options for prospective and returning students.

Availability and appointment formats can differ by department.

Some meetings may be conducted remotely, while others may be offered in person.

Students should review the details associated with the selected appointment.

What Should You Prepare Before Meeting an Advisor?

An advising appointment is more productive when the student arrives with a specific goal.

Before the meeting, review your academic record and identify the decisions you need help making.

For example, you might want to know whether a particular course satisfies a degree requirement.

Or you may be considering changing your major and need to understand how many additional semesters that decision could require.

Useful preparation includes:

• Reviewing your current class schedule.
• Checking your degree audit.
• Identifying outstanding academic requirements.
• Preparing questions about future courses.
• Reviewing the academic catalog for your program.
• Considering your expected graduation timeline.

Students should also mention relevant circumstances that affect their academic planning.

Work commitments, transfer credits, and plans to attend graduate school can influence which courses make sense.

Understanding Your Degree Audit in CIS

One of the most useful academic planning resources is the University of Utah’s Degree Audit system.

A degree audit compares a student’s completed coursework with the requirements of a particular degree program.

The university explains that audits can identify requirements that have already been satisfied and those that remain incomplete.

Students can access degree audit resources through CIS.

The audit is particularly useful before registration and graduation planning.

However, students need to understand what the report represents.

A course marked as in progress hasn’t necessarily been completed.

A requirement that appears incomplete may need an approved substitution or additional coursework.

And an audit generated for a different major may not reflect the requirements of the student’s declared program.

The university recommends using the audit associated with the student’s declared major and minor when reviewing official academic progress.

Why Your Degree Audit Might Look Incorrect

There are several possible reasons.

A transfer course may not have been evaluated or posted correctly.

The student’s declared major or catalog year may need attention.

A course substitution might require an approved exception.

Or the student may simply be viewing an audit for a different academic program.

An academic advisor can help determine which explanation applies.

The University of Utah also identifies [email protected] as a contact for technical questions involving Degree Audit.

However, a technical support contact shouldn’t replace an academic advisor when the question concerns whether a course satisfies a particular degree requirement.

Declaring Your Major at the University of Utah

Not every student arrives at college knowing exactly what they want to study.

The University of Utah provides major exploration advising for students who are still deciding.

Its current guidance strongly encourages students to declare a major by the end of their first year.

Declaring a major updates the student’s official academic record and helps connect them with program-specific advising.

The university directs students to meet with an advisor from the major they want to declare.

That advisor can explain the program’s requirements and any additional admission conditions.

Some majors have specific prerequisites or application processes.

For that reason, selecting a major isn’t always as simple as choosing a name from a list.

Students should confirm the department’s declaration requirements before assuming they can enter the program immediately.

What If You Haven’t Chosen a Major?

Undecided students have access to advising resources specifically intended for major exploration.

The Navigate Hub for Exploring Students helps students compare academic interests and consider possible degree paths.

The university encourages students to explore majors through coursework, research, volunteer experiences, student organizations, and other opportunities.

Students who remain undeclared after their first year are subject to additional advising expectations.

The university explains that they must meet with an exploring-students advisor each semester until they declare.

These appointments are intended to support academic planning and help students move toward an appropriate program.

Remaining undecided doesn’t mean a student has failed academically.

However, delaying the decision can affect course sequencing and graduation planning.

Some programs require prerequisites that take several semesters to complete.

Choosing a major late may leave less time to finish those requirements.

How to Change Your Major

Changing academic direction is common.

A student may discover a new interest, reconsider career plans, or decide that their current program isn’t a good fit.

At the University of Utah, changing or declaring a major requires working with an academic advisor.

The Office of the Registrar directs students to meet with an advisor for the major or minor they want to declare.

This allows the student to review the requirements before making an official change.

For example, moving from one academic program to another may affect which previously completed courses count toward the new degree.

Some general education credits may still apply.

Other courses may become electives rather than major requirements.

Students should ask for an updated degree plan before finalizing a significant change.

How to Drop a Major Through CIS

The University of Utah provides a documented online process for dropping an existing major.

The Registrar identifies the following navigation:

CIS → Academic Record → Drop Major

Students select the appropriate major and use the Request to Drop function.

However, dropping a major shouldn’t be confused with declaring a replacement.

A student who wants to enter another program should first understand that program’s requirements and advising procedures.

Students should also consider whether dropping a major could affect their academic status or graduation plan.

Adding or Removing a Minor

A minor allows students to pursue an additional academic subject alongside their primary degree.

For example, a student majoring in a scientific discipline may be interested in a minor related to business, communication, or another field.

The availability and requirements of a minor depend on the academic department.

The University of Utah requires students to meet with an academic advisor to declare or change a minor.

Removing a minor follows a different procedure from dropping a major.

According to the Registrar, students who want to drop a minor should send a request from their university UMail account to:

[email protected]

The message should identify the specific minor to be removed.

Students should consider the academic consequences before making the request.

A minor may involve additional required coursework, but removing it doesn’t automatically change every other degree requirement.

If a graduation application has already been submitted, additional procedures may apply to changes in the student’s academic program.

Why Your Catalog Year Matters

University degree requirements can change from year to year.

Departments may revise course sequences, introduce new requirements, or change the structure of an academic program.

The catalog year determines which published requirements apply to a student’s degree evaluation.

The University of Utah explains that undergraduate students may generally use an eligible catalog year associated with their declaration or a more recent catalog, subject to university limitations.

Its graduation guidance refers to the current academic year and the four preceding years as the active catalog-year range.

Students shouldn’t assume that the newest academic catalog automatically governs their existing degree.

An advisor can help confirm the correct catalog year.

This is especially important when a student changes majors, returns after an extended absence, or prepares to graduate.

A mismatch between the student’s official record and degree audit can create confusion about outstanding requirements.

Planning Courses Across Multiple Semesters

A good academic plan considers more than the next registration period.

Some courses are offered every semester.

Others may be available less frequently.

Certain classes require prerequisites that must be completed in a particular sequence.

A student who needs an advanced course may first have to complete one or more introductory courses.

This means the order of classes matters.

For example, taking an elective instead of a required prerequisite could delay access to an important course the following semester.

Academic advisors can help students identify these dependencies.

A semester-by-semester plan may include required major courses, general education requirements, electives, and other academic obligations.

The plan should remain flexible because course availability and personal circumstances can change.

Students should review it regularly rather than treat the first version as permanent.

Advising Holds: Why Registration May Be Blocked

A student may be able to sign in to CIS but find that registration is restricted.

One possible explanation is an advising hold.

The University of Utah requires certain students to complete advising activities before registering.

The university’s official instructions direct students to the Tasks tile on the CIS Student Homepage to review holds.

Selecting a hold provides information about the steps needed to resolve it.

Different holds have different requirements.

Some may involve mandatory advising.

Others may relate to academic standing or administrative issues.

Students should follow the instructions attached to their specific hold.

An advisor may need to confirm that a required meeting or activity has been completed before the restriction can be removed.

Mandatory Advising and Academic Milestones

The University of Utah has a Milestone Advising Program designed to support students at important points in their academic development.

This includes advising associated with the first year and other academic milestones.

For students exploring majors, the program can help clarify course choices and future degree options.

The university also identifies advising requirements for certain undeclared students with substantial completed credit hours.

These requirements are intended to encourage students to make progress toward a declared academic program.

Students who receive a milestone advising notice should follow the current instructions for their college or advising category.

The process may differ depending on the student’s major and academic status.

Ignoring a required advising appointment can create registration difficulties later.

Academic Warning and Advising Support

Advising isn’t only for students who are performing well academically.

The University of Utah also provides academic standards support for students experiencing academic difficulties.

Its published advising definitions distinguish between different academic standing situations.

For example, a student whose cumulative GPA falls below the applicable threshold may be placed on Academic Warning.

The university describes an associated registration hold and required steps to address it.

Some students may need to complete a student success workshop.

Additional advising requirements can apply depending on the student’s academic standing history.

More serious academic standing situations may involve a coordinated process with a major advisor and an Academic Standards advisor.

Students should follow the instructions associated with their particular status.

The purpose of the advising process is to identify academic problems and establish a realistic plan for improvement.

A student facing these circumstances should seek assistance early rather than wait until the next registration deadline.

Can an Advisor Help With Transfer Credits?

Transfer students often arrive with coursework completed at another institution.

Those credits may satisfy general education requirements, major requirements, or elective credit.

However, the academic value of transferred coursework depends on the university’s evaluation and program rules.

An advisor can help explain how approved transfer credits fit into the student’s degree plan.

Students may also need assistance understanding which courses remain outstanding.

A transfer course that appears on an academic record isn’t necessarily equivalent to every similar course offered at the University of Utah.

Students should rely on the university’s official transfer evaluation and advising procedures.

If a course appears to have been applied incorrectly, an advisor can help identify the appropriate office or review process.

Preparing for Graduation With Your Advisor

Academic advising becomes particularly important as graduation approaches.

The University of Utah encourages students to review their degree requirements with their advisors before applying for graduation.

A final academic review may identify unfinished major requirements, missing upper-division coursework, or unresolved transfer credits.

Students pursuing multiple majors or minors may need to consult advisors from more than one department.

The Registrar also recommends verifying the student’s declared programs and catalog year.

A degree audit is an important part of this process.

However, a student should not assume that submitting a graduation application automatically resolves every outstanding academic issue.

The official degree evaluation still determines whether the requirements have been satisfied.

Meeting with an advisor early provides time to address problems before the final semester ends.

Questions to Ask During an Advising Appointment

An appointment is more useful when the student asks specific questions.

Here are several examples:

If you’re choosing a major: Which introductory courses would help me evaluate this program, and are there admission requirements?

If you’re changing majors: How would my completed credits apply to the new degree, and could the change affect my graduation timeline?

If you’re planning next semester: Which required courses should I prioritize because of prerequisites or limited availability?

If your degree audit looks incorrect: Which requirement is outstanding, and does the record need an official correction?

If you’re approaching graduation: Are there any remaining academic requirements that could prevent degree conferral?

If you’re experiencing academic difficulties: Which support services and course-planning changes should I consider?

These questions help turn a general advising conversation into a useful academic planning session.

Where to Get Academic Advising Help

The University of Utah’s Campus Advising Solutions office provides general assistance and helps students connect with the appropriate advising resources.

Campus Advising Solutions

Building 44, Second Floor
290 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9060

Phone: 801-581-8146

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://advising.utah.edu

Students can also use the university’s advising appointments page to locate their college or department.

For official changes to academic records, the Office of the Registrar may be involved.

Questions about a particular major should generally begin with the relevant academic department.

A Simple Academic Planning Checklist

Before each registration period:

• Review your degree audit in CIS.
• Check for advising holds.
• Identify required courses for the next semester.
• Confirm prerequisites.
• Schedule advising if you need help making decisions.

When considering a major or minor change:

• Review the new program’s requirements.
• Meet with the appropriate academic advisor.
• Ask how completed coursework will apply.
• Check the effect on your expected graduation date.
• Verify that official academic records are updated.

Before graduation:

• Confirm your declared major and minor.
• Verify the correct catalog year.
• Review outstanding degree requirements.
• Resolve transfer credit or course substitution issues.
• Complete the required graduation application process.

Final Thoughts

Utah CIS provides essential academic information, but students don’t have to interpret every degree requirement on their own.

The University of Utah offers advising resources for declared majors, undecided students, transfer students, and those who need additional academic support.

Navigate360 helps students arrange advising appointments, while CIS provides access to records and tools that inform those conversations.

Together, these resources can help students make better decisions about courses, academic programs, and graduation plans.

The most important habit is to seek advice before a decision becomes difficult to reverse.

Changing a major, delaying a prerequisite, or overlooking a catalog requirement can affect several semesters of study.

Academic advising works best when students use it throughout their university experience—not only when a registration problem or graduation deadline appears.

By reviewing their records, asking specific questions, and keeping their academic plans current, University of Utah students can approach degree requirements with greater clarity and confidence.