The department realizes the importance of proper student advisement and has developed an advisement plan that addresses the needs of the student at each phase of their education. The various phases of advisement include both curricular and career components. During curricular advisement, we make sure that students are taking the correct courses and an appropriate number of units to facilitate a timely graduation with consideration to their personal circumstances (job, family obligations, extracurricular activities, etc.). The Department Chair, the department faculty, and the ECE Undergraduate Advisor perform advisement of ECE students. The ECE Undergraduate Advisor is an ECE faculty member who is given release time to perform a large portion of the undergraduate curricular advisement as described below.
In addition to meeting with their advisor on a regular basis, students are encouraged to visit the department office, read the department's advisement materials and use the college and department web sites. The Degree Progress Report (DPR), which is available for our students, is a primary tool for advisement. In the following, we describe the advisement plan for Electrical and Computer Engineering students.
Advisement of First Semester Freshmen:
New Electrical and Computer Engineering freshmen have mandatory advisement prior to enrollment in their courses for their first two semesters. Prior to this advisement, new freshmen take a series of university administered placement examinations in English, Mathematics, and Chemistry. Upon completion of their exams, freshmen students are scheduled for an ECE Freshman Orientation Session with the ECE Undergraduate Advisor. At each session, 1 – 15 new ECE freshmen meet in a computer laboratory. They are presented with an overview of the program and supplied with advisement materials. Based on the results of their placement tests, the Undergraduate Advisor prepares an individualized list of courses for each freshman. After a tutorial on the online enrollment system, the students remain in the computer lab to enroll in their courses for their first semester under the supervision of the Undergraduate Advisor. This system guarantees that the students are properly enrolled for their first semester. After the advisement session, the Undergraduate Advisor maintains email contact with the students and helps them with any schedule changes that need to be made up until the beginning of the semester.
Advisement of Second Semester Freshmen:
All Electrical and Computer Engineering freshmen have mandatory advisement prior to enrollment in their second semester courses. Prior to the registration period, freshmen should schedule individual appointments to meet with the Undergraduate Advisor for this session. During this appointment, the Undergraduate Advisor assists the students in preparing their course schedule for the next semester and discusses their current courses with them. After the advisement session, the Undergraduate Advisor maintains email contact with the students and helps them with any schedule changes that need to be made up until the beginning of the semester.
ECE 101 Advisement:
In ECE 101, students learn the general education and program requirements and then spend 1 week laying out their complete degree program using Excel.
Advisement of Transfer Students:
The Undergraduate Advisor advises new transfer students. At their initial meeting, transfer students receive a copy of their DPR. The DPR reports show the students all of the transfer courses that they have received credit for and their CSUN equivalencies. The Undergraduate Advisor reviews this report with the students and assists them in planning their course schedule for the first semester. Transfer students who come from institutions without articulation agreements are advised of the process for Transfer Credit Evaluation. The Undergraduate Advisor maintains email contact with these students and assists them with enrollment issues.
Advisement of Probationary Students:
If a student's grade point average drops below 2.0 overall or at CSUN, he/she is placed on probation and has mandatory advisement each semester. The Department Chair advises probationary electrical and computer engineering students. At their individual advisement meeting, the Chair works with the students to assess the causes of their poor performance and works with them on a plan for improvement. Additionally, a schedule of classes for the following semester is developed. Probationary students are informed of actions they need to take in order to avoid disqualification.
Advisement of Sophomore/Junior Students in Good Standing:
After completion of their freshmen year, students in good standing are not required to have academic advisement prior to enrollment. Many students find that the flow charts, the DPR, and other advisement materials provided by the department provide enough information so that advisement each semester is not needed. Prior to the registration period each semester, students are sent a letter encouraging them to seek advisement. While students always have the option of discussing their program and other concerns with any ECE faculty member, students wishing to be advised are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Advisor. At the time of the advisement appointment, the Undergraduate Advisor reviews the students’ DPR, discusses their progress in terms of the major and general education requirements, and addresses any questions that they have. A schedule for the following semester is planned. It is important to note that this is not the only time that students can meet with the Undergraduate Advisor. The Undergraduate Advisor is available for scheduled and walk-in appointments throughout the semester and during the breaks so that students can have their concerns addressed as they arise. The Undergraduate Advisor is also available throughout the year using email to assist students with simple questions that do not require a face-to-face meeting and to assist students with registration problems.