Academic and Career Advising
Academic Advising
Your academic journey is important, and advising plays a big role in helping you succeed. While your professors challenge you to think critically, advisors are here to guide and support you outside the classroom—helping you make informed academic and career decisions.
Advisors are available on each campus to:
Discuss your educational goals and the best programs and courses to reach them.
Help you navigate college policies and requirements.
Provide information on transfer programs and how to prepare for them.
Most students have an assigned advisor and can book an appointment through myGradPlan. If appointments are full, you can always connect with dedicated advisors for walk-in or virtual support via the FSCJ website. If you’re in a bachelor’s program, please schedule your appointment with your advisor through myGradPlan. We're here to help every step of the way!
How Can Advising Help Students?
To stay on track for graduation, you should:
Meet with your assigned advisor initially to create an Education Plan and then regularly, at least once per term.
Keep up with your degree plan found in your myGradPlan portal.
Connect with your assigned advisor if you are experiencing academic difficulties.
Routinely check your student email account for important messages from the College and your advisor.
Advising Center Locations
South Campus: Building U, Suite 101.
Downtown Campus: Building A, Suite 1100.
Kent Campus: Building B, Suite 102.
North Campus: Building E, Suite 124.
Deerwood Center: Building D, Suite 2400.
Nassau Center: Building A, Suite 105.
Cecil Center: Building A, Suite 110.
Career Development
Career development advisors are available on each campus to guide students in reaching their full potential. With a focus on developing an effective process, we aim to educate each student on making informed decisions.
Available services include:
Access to mock interviews.
Building and promoting a professional online presence.
Career-related workshops.
Developing a job search process.
Developing a professional network within your industry of choice.
Internship exploration and search strategies.
Matching majors to careers.
Researching career options.
Résumé and cover letter critique.
Selecting and transferring to university (understanding accreditation, researching programs and professional goal considerations).
For more information, visit the Career Development webpage.
Academic Advisement Report
Your success is our priority, and keeping up with your academic progress is an important part of the journey. While your advisor is here to guide you, it’s up to you to monitor your progress and enroll in the right courses. Each term, be sure to review your academic progress with your advisor and check these key points:
Confirm that your Academic Plan/Program of Study is correct.
Ensure all required courses are completed with the necessary grades.
Review any transfer credits applied to your program.
Identify specific electives and General Education requirements.
Check that you're meeting the minimum credit hours for each subject area.
Verify your current course enrollment for accuracy.
Review any holds or service indicators that may impact registration.
Your advisor is happy to help you understand and use the advisement progress report! Visit the Advising webpage to schedule an appointment.
Staying Enrolled
When you're admitted to a program, you follow the catalog requirements in place at that time. To stay on track, you must successfully complete at least one course every three terms. If you don’t enroll for three consecutive terms, you'll be discontinued from your program and need to reapply to FSCJ. Upon readmission, you’ll follow the catalog requirements in place at that time.
We’re here to support you—let’s make sure you’re on the path to success!
Excess Hours Advisory
Florida Statute (section 1009.286, 2009) encourages students to complete their bachelor’s degree efficiently by limiting the number of extra credit hours they can take before facing additional fees, known as the Excess Credit Hour Surcharge.
How It Works
As of 2019, if you take more than 120% of the credits required for your degree, you may be charged extra per credit hour. For example, if your degree requires 120 credits, you could be charged for any credits beyond 144 (120% x 120 credit hours = 144 credit hours).
What Counts Toward Excess Credit Hours?
Transferred credits applied to your degree.
Withdrawn or dropped courses (with penalty).
Failed courses.
Repeated courses (unless you’ve paid a repeat course fee).
What Doesn’t Count?
AP, IB, CLEP, AICE, or dual enrollment credits.
Withdrawals due to medical or personal hardship.
Internship credits.
ROTC program credits.
Credits for certification programs or dual majors.
Credits taken by active-duty military.
Remedial and ESL courses.
For more details, visit Transfer Services to explore FAQs and learn how to stay on track.
Orientation
At FSCJ, we understand that embarking on your college journey can be exciting and overwhelming. That is why we emphasize the importance of completing the online orientation and attending a comprehensive in-person or virtual orientation session. FSCJ Orientation isn't just a formality; it is a crucial first step in ensuring your success. As such, new and transfer students must complete the online orientation. You can access the online orientation program through the "Useful Links" section in your myFSCJ portal.
Students are encouraged to join on-campus or virtual orientation sessions to dive deeper into essential topics such as student success strategies, navigating the financial aspects of college, understanding student life opportunities, hands-on assistance with myFSCJ, and myGradPlan tools, combined with an Academic Advising segment. By attending a live in-person or virtual orientation session, you will forge connections with fellow students and connect with campus resources.