Advising and registration
All students at Chico State have a team of advisors who help you navigate the path to your degree—and beyond. You should meet with your major advisor and a GE advisor every semester before registration, a graduation advisor in your third year, and a career advisor when preparing for internships and jobs.
New students receive academic advising and register for courses at Orientation.
Advising tools
- Catalog
Overview. The Catalog describes the Chico State curriculum, lists graduation requirements, and explains General Education, majors, and minors. It is the most important advising tool we have because it is comprehensive and applies to all students at Chico State.
Catalog year. Every year, there are changes to some aspects of the curriculum. To help students graduate in a timely manner, the university recognizes the right of students to complete degree requirements in effect when students started continuous attendance at a California Community College or CSU campus, or when students graduate from a CSU campus (their "catalog year").
- To look at your catalog year, go to Portal -> Student Center -> Academic Progress -> Programs
- Changing majors/minors will affect catalog year, so talk to your major/minor advisor before changing majors/minors
- For questions about your catalog year, contact Graduation Advising
- Degree Progress Report (DPR)
The Degree Progress Report helps students understand degree requirements (including courses, units, and grades). DPR analyzes a student's course history, their major, and their catalog year to display remaining requirements.
- To look at your DPR, go to Portal -> Student Center -> Academic Progress -> Degree Progress
- Smart Planner
While the DPR looks back, the Smart Planner looks forward. Students can use the Smart Planner to arrange a semester-by-semester plan for their degree. Smart Planner draws from Degree Progress Report and allows students to try different combinations of courses that will help them make progress toward their degree.
- To use Smart Planner, go Portal -> Student Center -> Academic Progress -> Planner
- Schedule Builder
Like Smart Planner, Schedule Builder looks forward. It helps students create a course-by-course schedule for the next semester based on students' availability and desired courses.
- To use Schedule Builder, go Portal -> Student Center -> Enrollment -> Schedule Builder
Registration process
- 1) Check your enrollment appointment
New students will receive academic advising and register for courses at Orientation.
Continuing student registration for Fall 2023 courses begins April 24th and ends May 19th, but the exact date and time of registration varies by student. You can see your individual registration date and time (called the "enrollment appointment") now.
- To see the date and time, go to Portal -> Student Center -> Enrollment -> Enrollment Dates
- 2) Resolve any enrollment holds
You may have a "hold" on your account that prevents you from registering for courses. Holds will include an explanation of the issue and contact information for the office that placed the hold.
- To see if you have enrollment holds, go to Portal -> Student Center -> To Dos, Holds, and Messages -> Holds / Notices
- 3) Review your Degree Progress Report (DPR)
You should review your DPR before meeting with your team of advisors so you can start thinking about courses you're interested in. Write down questions for your advisors. Think of this step like reading for class—it will help you prepare for the conversation with your advisors, which makes the meeting more helpful.
- To look at your DPR, go to Portal -> Student Center -> Academic Progress -> Degree Progress
- 4) Meet with your advisors
The most important part of registering for courses is meeting with your advisors. They will help you select courses that interest you and that meet graduation requirements. You should meet with your major advisor and a GE advisor every semester.
- GE advisors are not assigned. You can meet with the CME Student Success Team or Academic Advising Programs
- Major advisors are assigned. To find your major advisor, go to Portal -> Student Center -> Academic Progress -> Advisor Information
- 5) Register for courses
Before your enrollment appointment, you can add desired courses to Schedule Builder to review schedule options. On the day and time of your enrollment appointment, you will be able to register ("enroll") in courses. If you need help, meet with the CME Student Success Team.
- To add courses to Schedule Builder, go to Portal -> Student Center -> Enrollment -> Schedule Builder