Academic Advising

Academic advising is available throughout the year and helps you plan how best to achieve your academic goals, including how to overcome any obstacles that may interfere with the goal.

Here are some topics you might discuss at an advising appointment:

• Career planning
• College transfer process
• Transfer program expectations
• Academic plan for Sandburg program
• Transfer college selection process
• Study habits and time management
• Employment, child care and other outside obligations that impede study time
• Individual needs and expectations
• Personal issues

Registration is when you enroll for the classes planned at the advising appointment. Typically, there's not enough time during a registration appointment for in-depth academic advising. 

Here are issues you might discuss at a registration appointment:

• Any new life changes that could interfere with your academic plan
• Your class schedule for next semester
• Work schedule and times available
• Your class load — how many classes a semester can you successfully manage
• Required classes remaining for your degree or certificate
• Electives you wish to take
• Your goal date for graduation and progress toward completing your degree or certificate

Advising and registration is a shared responsibility between the advisor and you. You will get more out of the advising appointment when you come prepared and understand your responsibilities.

• You need to be an active participant in your educational journey.
• Understand the requirements of your chosen degree or certificate.
• Understand the policies and procedures of Carl Sandburg College.
• If you are a transfer student, understand the requirements of your transfer degree. Your Sandburg advisor can assist you in looking into this, but understand that Sandburg advisors are not advisors for other colleges and universities. They will not be able to advise you on the requirements of another school.
• Have an idea of what classes you plan to take when you come to the registration appointment. Class schedules are available prior to each semester’s registration period and can be found under the “class schedule” on the Sandburg home page.
• If you don’t understand, ask questions.
• Ultimately, students have the final say in the decision-making process. Come prepared to discuss your options and understand the advisor is there to assist you, but not to make decisions for you.

You can add a course to your schedule without permission from the instructor until the class has met for the first time. Once a class has met, however, you must get instructor permission to add the class.

Speak with your advisor to make sure the class meets your degree requirements. If it does and you want to add the class, work with your advisor to follow the procedures for adding a class.

Communication with your instructors is critical to your academic success. When should you contact your instructors?

• When you have a course-related question (e.g., how an assignment should be completed, when an assignment is due or a course concept you don’t understand). First, try to find the answer in your syllabus, your textbook, a classmate or the Tutoring Center. If you can’t find the answer you need, contact your instructor.
• When an issue arises that your instructor should be aware of (e.g., a day you need to miss class, a technology issue that prevents you from submitting an assignment, an issue impeding your success in the class), you should contact your instructor as soon as possible.

There are a number of ways to contact your instructor:

• Ask to talk to them before or after class. 
• Ask to set up an appointment in their office.
• Email or call your instructor. You can find your instructor’s contact information on the course syllabus.

• Don’t give up!
• Stop by the Tutoring Center located in B72. Tutors are available on a drop-in basis or by appointment for a variety of subjects regardless of your grade. 
• Contact your instructor and ask for assistance. Find out what else you can do to better understand the material and course assignments.
• Talk to your advisor. In some cases, it may be best to drop the course, but there are important deadlines, degree requirements and financial aid implications you'll need to discuss with your advisor before making this decision. Your advisor may also help you locate other resources to help you succeed in the class. To make an appointment, contact the Student Services Office at 309.341.5237. TRIO SSS students should contact the TRIO Office at 309.341.5362.
• Don’t stop attending class! If you don't officially withdraw from the course, you'll receive an F on your transcript. This impacts your GPA and could impact your financial aid.

Yes. If you're not routinely attending your class or doing the work, your instructor can drop you at midterm. However, do not assume the instructor will drop you if you are not attending the course. If you need to drop a class, you must contact your advisor and officially withdraw from the course.

You must contact your academic advisor either by making an appointment, phone or email. You cannot drop a course online.

Galesburg advising office: 309.341.5237   

Advising appointments are available in Galesburg, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. Sandburg observes summer office hours during the summer semester, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Carthage advising office: 217.357.3129, ext. 7243

In Carthage, appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or in the evenings by appointment only. Sandburg observes summer office hours during the summer semester, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sandburg does not mail a copy of your grades after the semester is completed. You must go online to check your grades.

Log in to mySandburg, and click on the My Classes link under the Self-Service tab. Then click on “view my grades/transcript.”

If you need an official copy of your transcript, you may request one through the admissions & records office. Visit our request a transcript page for directions.

At times, students find it necessary to appeal to Sandburg's current processes for extenuating circumstances. Please see the categories below for the common situations for appeals.

 

Appeal for a refund of tuition due to extenuating circumstances

Sandburg provides students a period of time at the beginning of the semester to decide if they are able to continue with the course. Students should thoroughly review the course syllabus to ensure they are able to complete the course requirements and have the proper resources including the required textbooks, online access codes and technology when appropriate. Sandburg provides a full refund of tuition and fees if the student drops the course before the deadline. 

Deadline for 16-week courses: First nine calendar days of the course.

Deadline for eight-week courses: First five calendar days of the course.

If the student experiences extenuating circumstances after the 100% refund deadline that will prevent them from completing the course, they may be eligible to appeal for a refund. Students must drop the course before they can submit an appeal. Students should submit the refund request form, along with any documentation to support their claims.

Appeals will be considered on the basis that the student could not have anticipated the circumstances and the circumstances were out of the student's control. Third-party documentation should accompany all appeals.   

For questions, or to return a completed appeal form, visit the Business office in Student Services, E100, call 309.341.5210, or email boffice@sandburg.edu.

Appeal to withdraw from a class after the deadline

Each semester, Sandburg notifies students of the last day to withdraw from a course. Students should communicate with their instructor and academic advisor to ensure they know their current grade in the course to make an informed decision prior to the withdraw deadline. If extenuating circumstances arise and the student is unable to withdraw before the deadline, the student may be eligible to appeal to withdraw from the class. 

Last day to withdraw for 16-week courses: Tuesday of the 14th week

Last day to withdraw for eight-week courses: Wednesday of the 7th week

Students are not be eligible to appeal for a withdraw from a class after the deadline for reasons such as:

• Forgot to contact their advisor to withdraw.
• Did not know the date of the last day to withdraw.
• Thought that the instructor would drop them.

Students must complete the appeal form and provide documentation to support their claim of extenuating circumstances that prevented them from dropping the course prior to the deadline. This appeal can be submitted online and must be turned in by the Monday of finals week.

Please return the completed appeal form to Angel Rohrig. 

Appeal to be reinstated after academic suspension

Students who have been suspended from Sandburg for academic reasons must appeal for reinstatement using the academic suspension appeal form. Students must submit their appeal at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which they would like to enroll. Students should contact their academic advisor to develop a plan to improve their academic performance if their appeal is granted.

Please email the completed appeal form to Candace Fones return to Student Services E100. Appeals must be submitted two weeks before the beginning of the semester in which the student wishes to re-enroll.

Satisfactory academic progress appeal (financial aid)

Students who lose their financial aid due to grades, completion rate or maximum timeframe have the opportunity to appeal for reinstatement of financial aid, using the satisfactory academic progress appeal form.

 

Veterans benefits appeal

To fulfill the VA Satisfactory Progress requirement, a student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Students who do not maintain this requirement are placed on Sandburg VA Warning. While on Warning, the student has one semester to bring their cumulative GPA up so it satisfies the 2.0 requirement.

Students on warning who do not satisfy the cumulative GPA requirement during the warning period will be placed on Sandburg VA Dismissal and will no longer be eligible for education benefits through the VA. Students placed on Sandburg VA Dismissal may file an appeal, using the veterans benefits appeal form to reinstate their benefits for an additional semester if approved.

Please email the completed appeal form to Michelle Erickson.