Schedule an appointment with the appropriate academic advisor each semester. Advising is done year round; it is wise to get an appointment early in the semester. Waiting until it is time to register can cause delay in seeing an advisor. (Don't forget to bring your Degree Progress Report which can be obtained from MyNIU.)
Read your department's email to stay current with any academic changes.
Review your Degree Progress Report report each semester. You are responsible for your graduation requirements. The Degree Progress Report originates from the Office of Registration and Records, the office which will do a final check on your academic requirements for graduation.
Keep all paperwork – including each Degree Progress Report – used during your advising sessions in a folder and bring it with you to each advising session. You may also want to keep a copy of your transcript for your personal files.
Keep your Undergraduate Catalog (given to you at orientation) and read the requirements for your department carefully. Be sure that you have a clear understanding of the description for your major. You may also view the Undergraduate Online Catalog.
Declare your major in a timely fashion. Changing your major at the end of a semester, after registration has begun, may prevent you from graduating on time. Declared majors have first priority in course registration.
Check financial aid status each semester, if appropriate.
Make sure encumbrances are removed prior to registration. You will not be able to register unless they are resolved.
Be sure that your address is correct with the Office of Records and Registration. If an advisor needs to contact you for any reason and the correct information isn't in the computer, it could be detrimental to your academic career. Address changes may be done on MyNIU.
Apply for graduation and be aware of the deadlines! You must have at least 90 total semester hours to apply for graduation and your $29.00 graduation fee is due when you apply. Please be aware of strict application deadlines found on the Office of Registration & Records Graduation Information page.
