Advising & Registration at HCC
Advising & Registration at HCC
Advising exists to help currently enrolled HCC credit students gain the maximum academic and personal benefit from Hagerstown Community College.
Advisors assist advisees to clarify personal and career goals, develop an academic plan, make consistent progress toward goals, connect with campus support for academic and non-academic needs, and prepare for life after college.
Student Support Advisors
New students meet with a Student Support Advisor who guides major selection, builds course plans, and advises students from application to graduation. Student Support Advisors also connect students to on-campus resources such as tutoring and financial assistance, and provide referrals for needs such as housing and mental health.
Early College students who are dual-enrolled in high school are advised by Admissions staff (if taking classes in a high school) or a Student Support Advisor (if taking classes on the HCC campus).
Students in General Studies and Arts & Sciences are advised by Student Support Advisors for the entirety of their degree progress at HCC.
Faculty Mentors
Students who have earned more than 30 college credits in an associate degree program are eligible to benefit from the guidance of a Faculty Mentor. The Faculty Mentor is a full-time faculty member or academic division director who has deep knowledge of their academic programs and the careers related to those programs. Faculty Mentors share their expertise in the major and its career fields, review progress in the major, and assist with planning for experiential learning, internships, and transfer.
Some students are connected to additional HCC support people, for example, student-athletes, students with disabilities, and veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can my Student Support Advisor help me?
Student Support Advisors assist students with:
- Helping students to identify personal and career strengths and goals
- Providing information about choosing a major that will meet a student’s goals
- Creating degree plans that meet students’ personal and career goals
- Helping students navigate Self-Service and register for classes
- Reviewing progress in the major and making sure students are on track to graduate
- Changing majors
- Explaining college policies
- Navigating transfer in or out of HCC
- Answering questions about class conflicts, financial aid, transcripts, how to get tutoring help
- Helping with problems outside of college, including needs for housing, food, mental health or other resources
How do I connect with a Faculty Mentor?
- Students become eligible for a Faculty Mentor when they have earned more than 30 college-level credits toward an associate degree program
- When students have achieved this half-way point toward graduation, they are invited to apply for a Faculty Mentor in their program area
- All students can seek academic and career advice from their professors, whether or not they are formally affiliated with a Faculty Mentor
How can my Faculty Mentor help me?
Faculty Mentors assist students by:
- Providing expertise related to the major and its career fields
- Reviewing progress in the major and suggesting specific course sequences
- Adjusting degree plans, if needed
- Advising on career and transfer options
- Assisting students with opportunities for experiential learning and internships
- Reviewing progress toward graduation
- Providing letters of recommendation or serving as a reference for scholarships, transfer applications, or jobs