"Earth and Planetary Sciences" text placed on top of a decorative photo collage of the five main UC Davis EPS research disciplines.

Mandatory Advising

Mandatory Advising

Purpose: Each student in the College of Letters & Science has an annual Mandatory Advising requirement, which is different depending on your year in school. Mandatory Advising is designed to help students connect with their advisors regularly. In doing so, students will learn about resources to help them succeed academically and personally, whether they are transitioning into college, managing their curricular and co-curricular schedules, or planning their next steps toward their future professional career. Students will receive proactive academic advice, learn how to become more involved in the department, and build higher-quality relationships with their faculty, staff, and peer advisors. 

  • First Year Freshmen. First Year non-transfer students will be required to visit their academic advisor in the College of Letters & Science Office of Undergraduate Education and Advising. Your hold will be placed randomly for either Fall Quarter, Winter Quarter, or Spring Quarter.  Check your UC Davis email for instructions on how to set your mandatory advising appointment with the College.
  • First Year Transfer students. First Year Transfer students will be required to visit their staff advisor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Your Mandatory Advising takes place during Winter Quarter; your hold will be placed in early December and will begin to block registration starting March 16th. You can make an appointment to meet with your Staff Advisor at http://appointments.ucdavis.edu (choose “Mandatory Advising” as the reason). It is highly recommended that you also submit a 2-year Academic Plan on OASIS (Online Advising Student Information System) to be checked by your staff advisor. 
  • Second Year students. Second Year students will be required to visit their staff advisor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Your Mandatory Advising takes place during Winter Quarter; your hold will be placed in early December and will begin to block registration starting March 16th. You can make an appointment to meet with your Staff Advisor at http://appointments.ucdavis.edu (choose “Mandatory Advising” as the reason). It is highly recommended that you also submit a 4-year Academic Plan on OASIS to be checked by your staff advisor.
  • Third Year students. Third Year students will automatically receive a Degree Check from their academic advisor in the College of Letters & Science Office of Undergraduate Education and Advising. For questions, contact lsuea@ucdavis.edu. Students are welcome to see their Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences advisors for questions about major requirements or for a major degree check as well. 
  • Fourth Year (and beyond) students and Second Year (and beyond) Transfer students. All Seniors will be required to complete two steps to fulfill their Mandatory Advising requirement:
    1. Meet with your staff advisor or faculty advisor in the in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. You can make an appointment to meet with your Staff Advisor at http://appointments.ucdavis.edu (choose “Mandatory Advising” as the reason). You can make an appointment to meet with your Faculty Advisor by emailing them.
    2. Attend one “Campus Engagement”. These activities will help you develop your professional goals and skills for after college. After participating in at least one of the following, please complete this Google Form letting your staff advisor know what you attended.
      1. Meet with a Health Professions Advising advisor
      2. Attend an AIPG meeting
      3. Participate in an Internship and Career Center workshop
      4. Attend an Internship and Career Center career fair
      5. Meet with an Internship and Career Center advisor or peer advisor
      6. Participate in a Center for Leadership Learning workshop
      7. Participate in a Student Academic Success Center Pre-graduate workshop
      8. Meet with a Pre-graduate advisor at the Student Academic Success Center
      9. Participate in a Health Professions Advising workshop
    3. It is highly recommended that you also submit an Academic Plan on OASIS covering your remaining major requirements to be checked by your staff advisor. Your Mandatory Advising takes place during Fall Quarter; your hold will be placed in early August and will begin to block registration starting December 16. Once you have completed both parts of your Mandatory Advising requirement, check in with your staff advisor to ensure that your hold is released.