Academic advising is an important part of your Lawrence education; in fact, it can play an important role in defining your education and even your life after Lawrence. 


As a student at Lawrence University, you are responsible for planning and pursuing your own educational program. You are able to make your own decisions and choose appropriate options. Your academic advisor will help guide you through these important tasks.

Your advisor can assist you in:

  • understanding the curriculum
  • identifying your strengths and weaknesses
  • setting your goals
  • effectively utilizing the resources of Lawrence

Building a strong relationship with your advisor helps you get the most out of your Lawrence education.


Types of Academic Advisors

 

new student REGISTRATION ADVISOR

New student registration advisors will assist you with class registration during the summer before you start at Lawrence University. 

Pre-major advisor

Before you arrive for Welcome Week, you’ll be assigned a pre-major advisor in your degree program. Double-degree students will be assigned to two advisors, one for each degree. You'll meet with them for the first time during Welcome Week. Your pre-major advisor will help guide you through the liberal arts education at Lawrence, discuss your interests and goals, assist with course registration, and help you adjust to college-level academic expectations.

Because the pre-major advisor is here to help you explore your interests and understand the general curriculum, pre-major faculty advisors come from all areas of the College and Conservatory. It is unlikely that your pre-major advisor will come from the department/area in which you are considering a major, unless you are a Conservatory student or transfer student who has already completed at least a year of college. You will continue to work with your pre-major advisor until you officially declare a major.

Major advisor

You will transition to a faculty advisor within your declared major by the end of your sophomore year (ideally before spring registration begins). Your major advisor will continue to help you reflect upon your interests and goals, while also offering support for course planning in the major. You will have a faculty advisor for every major that you declare. 

Navigate Student is a mobile app and web application used at Lawrence University to schedule appointments with academic advisors, counselors, and specialists from other areas, get access to planning tools and resources for academic success.

When your registration window opens, you'll be able to register for classes through Lawrence's new registration portal.  Check out our video tutorials to help you get registered.

Find your advisor

You can find your assigned advisor(s) in Degree Works. Your advisor assignment(s) will be listed in the top section of your degree audit. Assignments for new students will appear in early September before Welcome Week.

Spring Registration & Advising Holds 

Each spring term, you will register for classes for all three terms of the following academic year. Be sure to meet with your advisor as you plan your future class schedule, as you will also need your advisor to release your "advising hold" before registering for classesThe advising hold is a way to make sure you receive the appropriate guidance before you register for classes.

Meet Your Major Series - Winter Term 2025

Are you still exploring your options for a major, minor, or interdisciplinary program? Join our Meet Your Major series! These events are a great way to connect with faculty and current students, ask questions, and discover the perfect fit for your academic journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore your passions and plan your future!

  • Friday, January 10 (12:30PM-1:30PM | Youngchild Hall 231): Earth and Environment Exploration. Join current students and faculty in the Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, and Geosciences majors for a tour of the LU Greenhouse desert and tropical plants (and frogs!), take a walk back in time on the new 45-meter geologic time scale floor decal, and play some games created in Intro to Environmental Science while enjoying some delicious food including homemade bread, jams, local honey, and other treats.
  • Saturday, January 11 (12:00PM-12:45PM | Esch dance studio, Warch): LU Dance Day - Dance Lunch Date. Come lunch with Dance professors, Margaret and Mauriah, to learn more about the Dance: Embodied Collaborative Practice minor and interdisciplinary area. Some food from Mai's Deli will be provided! We will chat, eat, and enjoy the beautiful view from Esch dance studio. As part of Lawrence Dance Day, dance clubs will be offering classes throughout the day. Follow dance_lawrenceu for more info. 
  • Monday, January 13 (4:30PM-5:30PM | Youngchild Hall 121): Meet the Major: Biology and Neuroscience! Join faculty and students from the Biology and Neuroscience programs to learn the requirements for both majors as well as opportunities for research, study abroad, and post-grad preparation and more! Cookies, popcorn, and other treats will be provided.
  • Tuesday, January 14 (4:30PM-6:00PM | Warch Cinema): US Foreign Policy in the Trump Era: A Panel Discussion. Join faculty from the Government and International Relations majors for a discussion about how the incoming administration is likely to engage in foreign policy. We'll focus on trade, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and more.
  • Wednesday, January 15 (12:30-1:30PM | Briggs 420): Business and Entrepreneurship Pizza Lunch. Are you interested in business and/or entrepreneurship? Would you like to learn more about the requirements and focus areas of the BUEN major and the IA in I & E? Join us for a pizza lunch and learn more from the faculty and current students about the B & E program.
  • Tuesday, January 21 (11:00AM-1:00PM | Warch Campus Center tables): Global Languages and Cultures at Lawrence. Drop by our info table to learn about majoring or minoring in French, Spanish, Russian, German, Chinese, Japanese, and Global Studies!
  • Wednesday, January 22 (4:00PM-5:30PM | Wriston Art Center - Print Room 227): Up Close with Art: Studio Art, Art History, Museum Studies. Ancient Greek coins! Medieval manuscripts! Contemporary prints! This is your chance to see some of the amazing objects in LU's art collection and learn how students in studio art, art history, and museum studies all use them in their classes and capstones. Faculty will be there to share insights into these majors and info about alumni who now work in a variety of fields. And there will be snacks!

  • Wednesday, January 22 (4:30PM - 5:30PM | Briggs 419)Meet your Major: Math and Computer Science (with pie!). Come join faculty and current students to talk about math, stats, and computer science at Lawrence! We will have pies (both pizza and dessert) and will compete over some challenging estimation puzzles!

  • Monday, January 27 (12:30PM-1:30PM | Briggs 317): Psychology Pizza Lunch. Psychology faculty and students from the Lawrence United Psychology Association invite you to an informal pizza lunch. We will have information about the psychology major and time for students to ask questions and get to know current psych faculty and majors.

  • Tuesday, January 28 (4:30PM-6:00PM | Briggs 326): Anthropology 2025. The Anthropology major is changing next fall! Please join us to learn about the new structure of the major, and how we hope it will update the Anthropology major experience at Lawrence, including instructions for how to navigate the transition period. We will also share some Anthropology grad stories - AND PIZZA.

  • Wednesday, January 29 (12:00PM-2:00PM | Strange Commons, Main Hall): Meet Your Major: English and Creative Writing. Do you like to read books? Do you like to write poetry, fiction, or non-fiction? Then this event is for you! English Department professors, current English and Creative Writing majors and minors, as well as other students exploring these two majors will be there to share their expertise, experience, and enthusiasm. Refreshments will be served.

  • Wednesday, January 29 (12:30PM-1:15PM | Briggs 420): Meet the Majors - Business & Entrepreneurship - Arts Entrepreneurship focus area. Are you thinking of combining your passion for the arts with the skills learned in business and entrepreneurship? If so, this session is for you! Topics to be covered: Arts Entrepreneurship focus area of the BUEN major, Internship Opportunities, Career Pathways and Alumni Stories related to music, theatre, and studio art.

  • Wednesday, January 29 (12:40PM-1:40PM | Briggs 223): ECON Recon. Please come learn more about the ECON major from faculty and current majors! We will provide pizza, snacks, and refreshments and we hope to see you there!

  • Thursday, January 30 (11:30AM-1:30PM | Nathan Pusey Room, Warch Campus Center): Global Languages and Cultures at Lawrence. Stop by to learn about majoring or minoring in French, Spanish, Russian, German, Chinese, Japanese, Linguistics, East Asian Studies, or Global Studies. Faculty and students will be present to answer questions about these areas of study and also about off-campus programs.

  • Monday, February 17 (4:30PM-5:30PM | Diversity & Intercultural Center): Gender Studies Reveal and Pizza PartyGender is a foundational aspect of human identity. It has great impact on everything from TikTok trends to Supreme Court decisions and more. Gender Studies explores and decodes the forces driving these impacts, one slice at a time. Join us for free pizza and to learn more about the Gender Studies major at Lawrence.

  • Wednesday, February 19 (4:40PM-6:00PM | Cloak Theatre): Theatre Skills are Life Skills (and pizza). Theatre skills are life skills (and we have fun). Come learn about Lawrence's special brand of serious and joyful theatre making where combine collaborative learning with individual goal setting. Learn about opportunities for performers, designers and technicians, writers, lovers of literature, and the visual arts all work together to create great theatre experience for ourselves and our audiences. Share some pizza and other goodies with new classmates and upper-class majors to get all the stories about being a Theatre Arts major.

Important Resources

Majors, Minors, & Programs
Find more information about our areas of study including their requirements. You can contact department chairs and program directors for specific questions. You will also find program-specific advising resources linked under "Additional Resources" at the very bottom of program pages. 

Declare a Major/Minor/Interdisciplinary Area
Use this form to declare a major, minor, and/or interdisciplinary area. Students should declare a major by the end of their sophomore year, but ideally before spring registration begins.

Change your Academic Advisor
Use this form to change advisors after declaring a major. You can also use this form to change academic advisors at any time, provided you have consent from the new advisor. 

Class Schedule
This helps you plan your schedule and be prepared ahead of your advising meetings.

Course Catalog
This is the official record of Lawrence’s requirements. It has full information about requirements and academic procedures and regulations.

Academic Procedures, Regulations, and Forms
This page provides an overview of key academic procedures (e.g., dropping a course, requesting an incomplete, withdrawing from Lawrence, etc.).

Registration Schedule
This page provides an overview of key registration periods for the 2023-2024 academic year.

What Can I Do With This Major?
Explore common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and strategies to maximize opportunities

Career Center
Learn more about connecting your academic interests to your career goals. Find support for internships, job searches, and more.

Center for Academic Success
Discover a wide array of support and services including academic skills classes, tutoring, accessibility, and more.

Questions or Concerns?

For any additional questions or concerns, please contact Jacklyn John Fischer, Director of Academic Advising.

jacklyn.j.fischer@lawrence.edu

920-832-6986

Be sure to refer to the Academic Advising SharePoint site for the Advising Handbook and advising resources.