An academic advisor serves to guide and assist students during their time at YSU. An Academic Advisor can help with course planning, degree progress, academic guidance, problem solving, goal setting and connecting students to campus resources. Learn more about academic advising at Academic Advising | YSU.
After logging into the Penguin Portal, students can locate their assigned academic advisor by selecting the Academic Advisor card. This card displays the student's primary academic advisor and contact information. Students can also access this information through the Student Profile card, where their primary academic advisor and contact details are listed as part of their student record.
All YSU students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor before registration begins each semester. Because appointments fill quickly, students should schedule appointments as early as possible. Typically, advising for the Spring semester begins in September, while advising for the Summer and Fall term begins in February.
All students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor at least once each semester. However, the following students are required to meet with an advisor before registering for classes:
The appointment scheduling process varies by advising unit. Several advising centers at Youngstown State University use Microsoft Bookings for appointment scheduling, while the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and the Williamson College of Business Administration use Handshake. See links below for more information.
An academic advising appointment is an individualized meeting between a student and their academic advisor. During the appointment, advisors and students discuss topics such as:
These meetings are designed to help students make informed decisions, stay on track academically, and connect with resources that support their success.
Before an academic advising appointment, students should:
Registration Appointments are assigned by the Registrar's Office and determine when students can begin registering for classes. Students are encouraged to identify their registration appointment time as early as possible, meet with their academic advisor to discuss course selection, and register as close to their assigned appointment time as possible to maximize course availability and scheduling options. Registration for spring semester starts the first week of November and registration for summer and fall typically starts late March or early April. Priority Registration Calendar | YSU
Before requesting a change of major, do some research:
Students interested in adding, changing, or declaring a minor or certificate should consult their primary academic advisor. The advisor can help students in understanding program requirements, evaluate how the minor or certificate fits with your major and career goals, and determine its impact on the student's graduation timeline.
College Degree Requirements are the academic requirements students must complete to earn a degree from Youngstown State University. These requirements ensure that students gain both broad educational knowledge and specialized knowledge in their chosen field of study. For a list of degree programs and majors at YSU visit A-Z Programs | Youngstown State University Academic Catalog.
Major Requirements are the courses and academic standards students must complete within their chosen field of study. These requirements provide the specialized knowledge and skills needed for a particular discipline and help prepare students for careers or advanced study in that field. Major requirements might include a set of core courses, a set number of upper-division courses, major elective courses, and a GPA requirement. For a list of degree programs and majors at YSU visit A-Z Programs | Youngstown State University Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements are a set of foundational courses designed to provide students with broad knowledge and transferable skills across multiple academic disciplines, regardless of their major. Because Youngstown State University's general education curriculum has undergone several revisions in recent years, students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor regarding questions about applicable requirements and course selections. Additional information is available at General Education Requirements | Youngstown State University Academic Catalog.
Advanced Placement (AP) test scores should be sent to: YSU Office of Admissions, 1 Tressel Way, Youngstown, OH 44555
Students who completed college in high school coursework through a different college/university must request that an official transcript from each college attended be sent to: YSU Office of Admissions, 1 Tressel Way, Youngstown, OH 44555
Penguin PASS is a degree audit system that allows students to view their degree requirements and track their progress toward graduation. It is recommended that students use Penguin PASS in conjunction with information and guidance provided during their academic advising appointments. Students can access Penguin Pass through the Penguin Portal.
Plan Ahead in the Penguin Portal is a self-service planning tool that allows students and advisors at Youngstown State University to prepare for future registration before the registration period begins. Using Plan Ahead, students can search for and add courses, view class days, times, and locations, organize their preferred schedule, and save their plan for discussion during an academic advising appointment. To learn how to create a Plan Ahead schedule, visit Making a Plan Ahead | YSU.
The Dean's List is a distinction used to acknowledge students who excel academically in a semester or term, similar to an honor roll in high school. Requirements can be found at Academic Honors | Youngstown State University Academic Catalog.
The President's List is an academic recognition awarded to students who achieve exceptional academic performance in a given semester or academic year. Requirements can be found at Academic Honors | Youngstown State University Academic Catalog.
College graduation honors are distinctions awarded to students for exceptional academic achievement, typically categorized as cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. More information can be found at Academic Honors | Youngstown State University Academic Catalog.
Course Prerequisites are courses, placement requirements, test scores, or other academic conditions that students must complete before enrolling in a particular course. Prerequisites help ensure that students have the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in more advanced coursework. For a list of course descriptions and prerequisites visit A-Z Courses | Youngstown State University Academic Catalog.
Students may add classes only through the end of the designated add/drop period for the term. The last day to add a class varies by semester, part-of-term, and course format. For a list of important dates and deadlines visit Calendars | YSU.
Students may drop a course through the designated course withdrawal period. The deadline to drop a course depends on the semester, part-of-term, and specific course. For a list of important dates and deadlines visit Calendars | YSU.
To view final grades, students should log in to the Penguin Portal and select the Student Dashboard card. Under the Records section, select View Grades to access final course grades for the term. Students should not rely solely on grades displayed in Blackboard at the end of the semester, as Blackboard grades may not reflect the official final grades submitted by instructors. The grades available through View Grades in the Student Dashboard are the official grades recorded by the university. For "View Final Grades" instructions visit View Final Grades | YSU.
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