Current and newly admitted students are matched with an academic advisor during early October or March during their first Fall or Spring semester at UMD.

QUESTIONS? FOR ASSISTANCE:

⮑ Go-to section ⓒ of Answers-FAQ

Answers-FAQ includes responses to over thirty questions that the Biological Sciences Program is frequently asked. If you do not see your question answered there, then email your academic advisor for assistance. Their email can be found on the Biological Sciences Directory.

If you are a new student who has yet to be matched with an academic advisor from Biological Sciences Program or are a prospective student, then you may email any questions to bscique@umd.edu until you are matched in either early October (Fall admit) or early March (Spring admit).

Academic Advisors for Biological Sciences

• FACILITATE responsible graduation planning

• ILLUSTRATE courses necessary for registration in Biological Sciences (semesterly)

• ENCOURAGE students attaining academic and professional success goals

• REFER students to essential campus resources, procedures, policies, and opportunities

How are students and academic advisors matched?

Students are first matched with a professional staff advisor while working on the major’s basic program (typically first-years and sophomores), and are later rematched to a faculty advisor based on their declared major specialization and as they begin to register for upper-level courses in the Biological Sciences advanced program.

Academic advisors are not mental health counselors.

For additional support, students are encouraged to connect with a professional mental health counselor at the University Counseling Center. Get started on counseling.umd.edu/get-started.

TerpEngage is where students can:

• REVIEW their matched advisor for Biological Sciences (check under Success Team)

• READ notes posted by their academic advisor(s) after scheduled meetings

• SUBMIT a request to change their specialization in Biological Sciences

The methods that academic advisors use to schedule appointments vary. If TerpEngage shows your academic advisor as Not Available, this means that either:

Your academic advisor has yet to set up appointment scheduling on TerpEngage.

OR

Your academic advisor schedules appointments using a platform that is not TerpEngage.

Refer to the messages delivered by your academic advisor via TerpEngage Advising Note or TerpMail to learn what to expect for Biological Sciences advising.

ALL STUDENTS WHO

• are still completing the degree’s Basic Program

• have a GPA below 2.5

• are UMD athletes

• or are in their first semester matched to a Faculty Advisor

Must report to mandatory advising before they can register for courses.

The mandatory advising requirement can be waived for students who do not meet this criteria, but students are encouraged to connect with their academic advisor whenever they cannot find answers on BSCIweb. Students must refer to notes sent by their academic advisor in either TerpMail or TerpEngage to confirm whether advising for the semester is mandatory.

After mandatory advising for Biological Sciences has been satisfied, a registration block is removed from the student’s account on Testudo, allowing them to register for courses during their University-assigned registration appointment.

EXPECTATIONS FOR MANDATORY ADVISING

Students are delivered a list of courses they are expected to register for after mandatory advising is completed.

This list accounts for an appropriately balanced course load and registration that follows University policy, expectations for responsible grad planning, and timely completion of the Biological Sciences LEP-Benchmark Requirements—which are necessary to meet so as to remain in the Biological Sciences Program.

Students must read advising notes.

Students shall review any advising note(s) they are delivered after academic advising—found in TerpEngage and TerpMail—whenever they register for their courses in Testudo.

Students shall email their academic advisor to clarify any information that was included in their official advising note OR if an official advising note cannot be found in TerpEngage or TerpMail.

ON SELECT DATES

—students enrolled in Biological Sciences can meet with an academic advisor for 15-minute drop-in advising during the Fall and Spring schedule adjustment period at

1210 BIOLOGY LOUNGE in the BIOLOGY-PSYCHOLOGY BUILDING (BPS)

Drop-in Advising is for ✅

• Informed decision about a course add (for open and unrestricted sections listed in Testudo)

• Informed decision about a course drop

• Discussing a major switch (leaving the Biological Sciences Program)

• Discussing the addition of a second program (minor, major, or degree)

• Clarifying academic policies & expectations for Biological Sciences: LEP-Benchmark Requirements & Course Repeats

• Referral to essential campus resources

Drop-in Advising is NOT for ❌

• Mandatory, Pre-Registration Advising

• Graduation Planning —see Expectations for Graduation Planning

• Pre-Health inquiries —refer to the Health Professions Advising Office (HPAO)

• Study abroad inquiries —refer to Maryland Global / Education Abroad

• Requests for letters of recommendation —refer to a trusted advisor, instructor, or mentor

• Degree Clearance —upperclassmen may send their grad plan to their matched academic advisor for an in depth review

Additionally, the College of CMNS offers 15-Minute Drop-In Advising for all CMNS students on select dates. These sessions are not a substitute for mandatory advising with an academic advisor for Biological Sciences.

If you are a current student who has yet to be matched with an academic advisor and cannot attend a drop-in session, then email bscique@umd.edu for assistance.

Dates & Deadlines

—all Biological Sciences students are responsible for knowing the University’s dates and deadlines for course registration.

This information is updated annually by the Office of the Registrar, which determines the start of classes, the schedule adjustment period (course add/drop), and the window for final exams.

Students are advised to review these steps for course registration before meeting with their matched academic advisor.