Student Advising
Academic Advising Helps Students with Academic and Professional Success
Academic advising is a collaborative effort between students and their advisors to reflect on academic and career goals and to track academic progress. By working together, students are able to make sound decisions that will empower them to take ownership of their education and further their academic and professional success.
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How does the academic advisor help me?
The academic advisor plays an important role in guiding and supporting their advisees toward successfully achieving academic goals. They are generally available to assist via phone, email or in person. Advisors are typically full-time faculty, though some advising may be done by administrative personnel in the offices of the college or school dean and the professional staff of academic support service programs. Students can also consult their advisor for clarification of academic policies and procedures and when contemplating changes in their major program or curriculum. Advisors, faculty and administrative staff may assist students by explaining requirements and procedures in individual instances. However, students are responsible and accountable for knowledge of the requirements, procedures and regulations set forth in the catalog.
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Does my program require advising before I can register?
The general answer is yes. For most programs, students must consult with and obtain the approval of an academic advisor in the development of their schedules. This applies for each term and when changing registration (adding or dropping) after the first week of classes. Students can also consult their advisor for clarification of academic policies and procedures and when contemplating changes in their major program or curriculum.
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What are my responsibilities during advising?
Students should make an appointment to meet with their advisor at least once per term, prior to registering for classes. Before meeting with your advisor:
- Reflect on your academic and career goals.
- Check your degree evaluation.
- Check your academic progress against the catalog.
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When should I see my advisor?
Students should plan to meet with their advisor before registration opens. Advisors have extended office hours the week prior to registration. Check the University schedule for dates.
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Will the advisor contact me?
This varies across the University. Please contact your advisor at least one week prior to registration to make an advising appointment. Some advisors put schedules on their doors. Other advisors will use electronic calendars or emails. Do not wait for your advisor to contact you.
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Who is my academic advisor?
Academic advisors are automatically assigned to you by the University, and are chosen from within your specific department of study. You can find the name of your advisor in the student portal by following the instructions in the section below for identifying your academic advisor.
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How do I change my advisor?
- Download the Change of Correction of Program or Advisor or obtain the form from the college office.
- Add all current programs but don’t worry about the codes.
- Sign the form.
- Return it to the college office.
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How do I change my major?
- Download the Change of Correction of Program or Advisor or obtain the form from the college office.
- Add all current programs majors/minors that you want to keep. Don’t worry about the codes.
- Add the new major.
- Sign the form.
- Return it to the college office.
Student Portal Self-Service Tools:
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Identify your advisor
- Log in to my.udmercy.edu with your username and password.
- Look for the heading "Self-Service – Student"
- Click "Student Profile."
- Your advisor(s) will be listed in the student information screen.
- Click on their names to see their contact information.
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Where do I find major and/or minor requirements?
- The best place to check first is the Detroit Mercy catalog.
- Select Undergraduate Catalog (or Graduate Catalog if needed) for the year enrolled.
- Select the college or school for your program.
- Select the major, minor or certificate to view the description and degree requirements.
- If you are still unsure, your academic advisor can help you.
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How do I know if my transfer credits or exam credits (AP, IB, etc.) have been reviewed and processed?
- Log in to .
- Look for the heading "Self-Service – Student."
- Select "Student Profile."
- Select "Academic History" from the menu on the left.
- Select the level of the transcript needed (you may always leave it at all levels and submit. This will display both a record of all previous coursework and transfer credits, including any AP, IB credits.
- Click "Submit" to display your transcript and view your transfer credits.
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How do I look up my degree progress / degree evaluation?
You can monitor your progress through the option: Degree Evaluation.
- Log in to with your username and password.
- Look for the heading "Self-Service – Student."
- Select "Student Profile."
- Click on “Degree Evaluation” in the left navigation menu to either “Generate New Evaluation” of your current program or click on “What-if Analysis” to evaluate your credits within a program you are considering.
- Follow the prompts as indicated.
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I am considering several different majors. How do I know if my current coursework applies to these majors?
The What-If option on the degree evaluation menu described above will help identify how courses may transfer from one major to another. Follow the instructions above but select the What-If option. Make sure to select the correct Entry Term (i.e. choose Fall 2019 if you began Fall 2019). If you do decide to change a major, make sure to consult with your academic advisor and fill out a Change of Major/Program form.
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What are Core Curriculum requirements?
The Core Curriculum is also known as general education requirements. They vary slightly from college to college but are courses that Detroit Mercy considers essential to fulfill our mission. These core courses integrate the intellectual, spiritual, moral and social development of our students. The core can be found on the catalog page as outlined below:
- Go to the Detroit Mercy catalog.
- Select the Undergraduate Catalog for your year of entry to the University.
- Select Core Curriculum which is the seventh entry down the list on that page
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How do I know if a course satisfies a Core Curriculum requirement?
- Log in to with your username and password.
- Look for the heading "Resources" then look for "Online Resources."
- Click on "Class Schedule"
- Select a term from the dropdown menu.
- Select any search information you want, such as department or instructor. At least one department is necessary to continue from this page.
- To search for a particular core category (attribute), highlight all subjects at the top of the screen and then under attributes, search for the one of interest (eg. “New Core E1 Historical Exp”).
- Select Search at the bottom of the page. Each course will appear with the relevant information appearing in the attribute column if it fulfills a core objective.
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Where can I find additional student support and assistance?
Students experiencing personal difficulties, whether related to the University or not, are encouraged to make use of the services offered by Personal Counseling, Student Life Office, University Ministry, the , Center for Career and Professional Development and the Student Success Center. Trained staff in these offices may provide direct assistance to the student or referral to more specialized help.
Students of Concern
If there is a concern of imminent harm for the student or others, please contact Public Safety at 313-993-1234.
To report an episode or concern, contact the Dean of Students at 313-993-1028.
How do I use My Portal to ...?
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Identify my academic advisor
Academic advisors are automatically assigned to you by the University, and are chosen from within your specific department of study. You can find the name of your advisor in the student portal by following the instructions below:
- Log in to using your username and password.
- Look for the heading "Self-Service – Student."
- Select "Student Profile."
- Your advisor is toward the bottom of the page.
- Click on your advisor's name to see their contact information.
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Register for classes with CRNs
- Log in to using your username and password.
- Look for the heading "Self-Service – Student."
- Click “Registration.”
- Click “Register for Classes.”
- Select “Term.”
- Select “Enter CRNs” tab.
- Input five-digit CRN (ex. 12345).
- Select “Add another CRN for additional courses.”
- Click “Add to Summary.”
- Click “Submit” at the far bottom right of the screen.
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Register for classes without CRNs
- Log in to using your username and password.
- Look for the heading "Self-Service – Student."
- Click “Registration.”
- Click “Register for Classes.”
- Select “Term.”
- Search on "Subject "and any attributes of interest.
- Click on “Search.”
- Review sections and click on “Add next” to the section.
- Click “Submit” at the far bottom right of the screen.
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Resolve an Advising Hold?
An advising hold is used in some programs as a block to registration requiring the student to meet with the advisor. Please see your advisor to remove the advising hold. Only the advisor can remove it.
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Register for a class that is already at capacity?
Courses that have reached their enrollment capacity need an override entered from the college where the course resides. However, the college will need permission of the instructor before entering the override. Contact the instructor via telephone or email to get permission for a capacity override prior to requesting the override from the college office.
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Print my class schedule
- Log in to using your username and password.
- Look for the heading "Self-Service – Student."
- Click “Registration.”
- Click “View Registration Information” and select “Term.”
- Click on the printer icon in the upper right corner within the boxed outline.
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Drop a class
Note: Check the schedule for when a course can be dropped online because usually it is only the first week of a full-semester. Otherwise, you must submit a paper Advising and Registration/Change in Registration form.
Follow the steps for registering as described above, and from the Add/Drop screen:
- Open the dropdown window next to the course you want to drop.
- Select "Web Delete."
- Select "Submit Changes" at the bottom of the page.
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Apply to graduate - certificate or degree
- Log in to using your username and password.
- Click “Student Profile.”
- Click “Apply to Graduate (Certificate or Degree)” from the left navigation menu.
- Select term you expect to graduate in and answer all additional questions concerning program, name, address, etc.
New to the student portal? Read this first.
The student portal at provides self-service capability for students to register for classes, view class schedules, review and accept financial aid awards, make tuition payments, view final grades and request official transcripts.
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Log in to the student portal
- In your web browser, go to .
- Log in using your Detroit Mercy email credentials provided to you by the Office of Admissions.
- Issues logging in? Contact the IT Help Desk at 313-993-1500.