Academic Advising
ACADEMIC ADVISING—At Howard Community College (HCC), academic advisors provide students with information and recommendations regarding academic planning, including areas of study, course selection, academic concerns, academic standing, graduation, and transfer preparation. Additionally, academic advisors perform initial graduation clearance. Students in selected programs, or with selected enrollment statuses, are assigned to specific academic advisors based on their area of study, academic goal, cohort, and academic pathway. All other students are assigned to the Office of Admissions and Advising. Regardless of academic advisor assignment, academic advising is available year round to all students through the Office of Admissions and Advising.
Students are responsible for fulfilling the requirements of their area of study for the catalog year that applies to them. Students may pursue more than one area of study if that serves their career and academic goals. First-time, degree-seeking students are required to complete college composition and the appropriate college-level mathematics course within the first 24 college-level credit hours. First-time, degree-seeking students who place into the developmental mathematics or English sequence must complete an appropriate college level mathematics or English course the subsequent semester following the completion of the highest level developmental mathematics or English course. Students who do not meet the pre-requisite requirements for their chosen area of study are advised to enroll in a broad associate degree such as General Studies, in order to accurately plan for degree completion.
It is the student’s responsibility to meet with an academic advisor at least once per term. Students may access information regarding their academic pathway and applicable catalog year through their Student Planning account in Self-Service. Additional academic advising information may be accessed by each student on the College’s academic advising website and in appropriate college publications.
For further information contact the Office of Admissions and Advising at adm-adv@howardcc.edu.
Transfer Information and Advising
TRANSFER ADVISING—Transfer advising is essential for all students planning to transfer and matriculate to other colleges or universities. From their initial enrollment at HCC until the completion of their studies, students are strongly advised to seek assistance with the transfer process. In order to ensure a successful transfer, it is each student’s responsibility to meet with an academic advisor at least once per term. Students are also strongly encouraged to meet, whenever possible, with transfer representatives from the institutions to which they plan to transfer. In addition to transfer advising, students are encouraged to use the college resources available and participate in the many transfer activities held on campus such as the annual Transfer Fair, Information Sessions and a variety of transfer and scholarship seminars. Transfer information is also available for students with specific concerns or interests, such as athletes, students with disabilities, and international and immigrant students.
Transfer services are offered as part of the Office of Admissions and Advising (adm-adv@howardcc.edu, transfer@howardcc.edu, 443-518-1220, RCF-242). The following services are provided:
- Transfer Website www.howardcc.edu/advising – This website offers access to general information, a transfer activities and events calendar, college and university websites, transfer scholarship information, other online resources, information about articulation agreements, and more.
- Transfer Fairs – The college conducts general and specialized transfer fairs, including virtual events, during the fall and winter/spring terms to inform students about their many transfer options. Representatives from a broad range of both public and private, and in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities are available to provide information. Specialized transfer fairs are also held for specific majors.
- Transfer Representative Visits – Representatives from individual schools visit the college throughout the year and are available to meet with students on an individual basis.
- ARTSYS – An online transfer system designed to provide guidance to students planning to transfer to public colleges and universities, and several private institutions in Maryland.
- CollegeView – A computer program offering virtual tours of North American college campuses.
- Specialized Transfer Information – Information is available for students with specific concerns or interests, including information for international students, students with disabilities, athletes and others.
- Transfer Institution Visits – Visits to other institutions are organized based on interest and special transfer initiatives.