Academic Advising

Academic Advising Self Service Option:

Course planning and approvals do not require an academic advising appointment. Students are encouraged to use their MyBackpack self-service tools to plan courses and communicate electronically with their assigned advisor. MyBackpack can be accessed by students through the MCC4me Portal. The academic planning tools are located in the “Advising” tab in MyBackpack.

Students can add courses to their timeline by selecting the “Timeline” tab. Please ensure that you click the “Request Review” tab located in the top right corner to notify your academic advisor that there is a pending review for approval and allow for 72 hours for your assigned advisor to review your request.

You may also use the “compose a note” feature under the “note” tab to communicate with your assigned advisor. Please ensure to hit the “Request Review” button to notify your assigned advisor of this new note.

Academic Advising Appointment Option (Virtual or In-Person):

If you are unsure on what courses to plan or have questions for your assigned advisor, there are several ways to schedule an academic advisement session with your assigned advisor.

Phone Request:

(810) 762-0331

Email Request:

[email protected]

MyCompass:

Access your MyCompass network from your MCC4Me portal and navigate to your “Success Network”. Locate your Assigned Advisor and use the drop-down menu to choose your appointment type.

• How to Schedule an Appointment in MyCompass

Academic Advising Express Sessions (In-Person):

Express advising is a 15-minute advising session on a first come, first served basis and can be requested at the Prahl Center welcome desk located on the main floor of the Prahl College Center. Express advising is ideal for quick questions, modification to current approval and for guidance on the current or upcoming semester. Because the session is short and you may not be meeting with your assigned advisor, express sessions cannot assist with long term planning needs, academic success planning, transfer advising and other in-depth services that are offered during advising sessions with your assigned advisor.

Preparing for an Academic Advisement Session:

Being prepared for your academic advisement session is critical in ensuring that your session is effective, and you leave that session with answers to questions and a quality academic plan. In order to prepare for your session, we recommend the following steps:

How to Prepare:

• Have a copy of your unofficial transcript available from any other college or university you’ve attended.
• Prepare any questions you may have for your advisor (see sample questions below)
• Be prepared to follow along electronically by being logged into your MyBackpack account during the advising session and also have note taking materials ready during your session.
• Be prepared to arrive on time! If you are more than 10 minutes late to your session, you may be required to reschedule

What to Expect:

• Expect your session to last 20 to 30 minutes in length. Oftentimes, your academic advisor will not be able to exceed 30 minutes. You may request an additional session as needed.
• Expect to discuss your academic goals, academic plan and academic progress made so far.
• Expect that your assigned advisor will approve courses that meet your program of study and degree requirements. Understand that your advisor only approves your plan and courses, and it is the student's responsibility to enroll in courses utilizing MyBackpack or with assistance from the Enrollment Center staff.
• Expect that your assigned advisor will provide answers to your questions, however we encourage you to ask clarification questions if what we explain doesn’t make sense to you.

Questions you may want to ask:

How do I:

• Verify or update my program of study?
• Determine what courses are in my program of study?
• Monitor my academic progress, degree requirements and GPA?
• Review the course description, credit hours and textbooks needed for my approved courses?

When do I:

• Talk to my advisor about graduation and transferring?
• Enroll in my approved courses?
• Apply for competitive admission programs?

What is:

• The Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) and how can it help me?
• The difference between MCC4Me, MyCompass, MyBackpack and Canvas?
• The Family Life Center and what do they offer?

Where do I:

• Go for tutoring?
• Find my class location?
• Go for non-academic needs like transportation, food or support?

Who can I talk to about:

• Any learning disabilities I have?
• Help with my study skills, time management and test taking methods and strategies?
• Help with financial aid, campus resources or events on campus?

Planning for University Transfer can be a multi-step process and requires transferring students to explore transfer opportunities, resources and planning steps. Comprised below are important transfer links and resources, but we encourage students who are considering a transfer to meet with their assigned advisor for a thorough transfer planning and building a roadmap to university transfer.

• Transfer Checklist
• Transfer Guides
• University Transfer Bridging
• University Center
• Michigan Transfer Agreement
• Transfer Course Equivalencies

Comprised below are brief How-To guides on many resources and tools available to our students:

• MCC4Me
• Mott Mobile
• MyBackpack
  • Overview
  • Send a Note
  • Register for Courses
• MyCompass

Academic Advising at MCC has adopted the Core Values of NACADA has a framework for academic advising and student success. The overarching adoption Academic Advisings include:

Through academic advising, students learn to become members of their higher education community, to think critically about their roles and responsibilities as students, and to prepare to be educated citizens of a democratic society and a global community. Academic advising engages students beyond their own world views, while acknowledging their individual characteristics, values, and motivations as they enter, move through, and exit the institution.

Academic Advising is build upon pedagogy, which includes:

Academic advising, as a teaching and learning process, requires a pedagogy that incorporates the preparation, facilitation, documentation, and assessment of advising interactions. Although the specific methods, strategies, and techniques may vary, the relationship between advisors and students is fundamental and is characterized by mutual respect, trust, and ethical behavior.

NACADA Core Values PDFNACADA Core Competencies PDF

Excerpts included above with permission from NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising www.nacada.ksu.edu