Academic Advising
Meet your partners for academic success
The Advising Center is the hub of student support for the college. This is where you can get answers to questions and practical advice about everything from choosing courses to applying for scholarships. The staff of the Advising Center will be here for you when your academic progress is steady — and if you hit a rocky patch on the trail. Already know who your advisor is? Access Navigate to schedule an appointment.
When to see your advisor
It’s important to stay in contact with your advisor. To ensure that you get the most out of this partnership, your advisor needs to know your successes and challenges, and how they can help. See your advisor when you need assistance with:
- Exploring your interests and choosing a major
- Reviewing major and minor checksheets
- Choosing and registering for courses
- Adding/changing a major or minor
- Interpreting degree audit reports
- Locating scholarship possibilities
- Planning for a study abroad trip
- Locating resources for additional help
Academic roadmap
Plan and guide your experience in the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE), including academic, engagement, service, and career development opportunities. The suggestions in this roadmap can serve as a guide to opportunities that will help you maximize your CNRE experience. Your academic advisor is always available to discuss items and connect you with related resources.
Chart your academic path
- View your major’s checksheet to understand degree requirements, meet with your advisor each semester, and familiarize yourself with the CNRE Advising Canvas site.
- Get yourself off to the best start possible by connecting with the Virginia Tech resources that best suit your needs.
Build connections and community
- Meet other students through your CNRE Academic Mentor Program group and at a CNRE Wayfinding Series event. Reach out to your academic mentor with questions.
- Join a CNRE student club.
- Find academic, wellness, and other support through campus resources including the Student Success Center, Hokie Wellness, and the Cook Counseling Center.
Engage in meaningful experiences
- Get involved on campus and in the community!
- Embrace Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) by connecting with service opportunities through VT Engage and participating in the Big Event.
- Attend Gobblerfest and check out GobblerConnect or meet with an engagement ambassador to learn about the available engagement opportunities.
Plan for life after college
- Explore Career and Professional Development resources and/or take some self-assessments. Spend some time learning about careers in your major.
- Activate your Handshake account.
- Explore the connection between major and careers by attending the CNRE Career Fairs.
Chart your academic path
- Confirm the major track you intend to pursue and start diving deeper into the content. You might also want to consider adding a minor.
- This is a great time to apply for your degree and create your academic plan using tools in the CNRE Advising Canvas site or HokieGPS.
- Have questions? Make an appointment to meet with your academic advisor.
Build connections and community
- Attend college events like the CNRE welcome back party and other college and departmental events.
- Find local service opportunities through VT Engage to help build community beyond CNRE.
- Get to know your professors during office hours.
- Apply to become a CNRE ambassador or academic mentor.
Engage in meaningful experiences
- It’s time to begin thinking about experiential learning.
- Do you want to study abroad, complete an internship/co-op, or conduct undergraduate research? Now is the time to connect with the Office of Global Education, Career and Professional Development, the Office of Undergraduate Research and/or faculty mentors.
Plan for life after college
- Start gaining experience to help build your resume.
- Consider applying to the CNRE Leadership Institute or Manufacturing Academy.
- Explore and apply for potential summer internships through the CNRE Job Board (log in with your Virginia Tech Username and password).
- Connect with Career and Professional Development and the CNRE director of employer relations, attend a CNRE Career Ready workshop and create your professional resume, and attend the CNRE Career Fairs.
Chart your academic path
- Major-related electives and minor courses can be a great place to hone your academic interests. Conversations with departmental faculty can be helpful, too!
- Make sure that you are on track with your program by checking your Degree Audit Report (DARS). If you have questions, meet with your academic advisor!
Build connections and community
- Make the most of professional development events offered by CNRE and student clubs. Start building your professional network by joining a professional society associated with your major (or field of study).
- Consider participating in an alternative spring break trip through VT Engage.
Engage in meaningful experiences
- Thinking about applying to graduate school? Improve your chances of admission by getting involved in undergraduate research. Talk to faculty members to ask about opportunities and to learn about graduate programs.
- Not considering graduate school? Try to gain more career-related experience through field studies, internships, and LinkedIn Learning!
Plan for life after college
- Collaborate with a faculty mentor to build a professional network.
- Create your LinkedIn profile. Start thinking about who could provide you a letter of recommendation, if needed.
- Work with the director of employer relations to explore internships and jobs.
- Prepare your resume and elevator pitch in preparation for meeting with employers. Get your resume reviewed by Career and Professional Development.
- Research requirements for graduate schools. If needed, prepare to take any required tests and get help thinking about grad school from faculty mentors.
Chart your academic path
- In your final year, you will have your last opportunity to take courses related to your academic program. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. If you need suggestions for relevant coursework, reach out to a faculty member who works in your area of interest or your academic advisor.
- Check your DARS before the start of your final year to make sure you don’t miss any final requirements. If you have questions, meet with your academic advisor.
Build connections and community
- Thinking about graduate school? Start reaching out to faculty members in programs that interest you and check out our Exploring Graduate School resource in the CNRE Advising Canvas site.
- Attend the CNRE Graduation Celebration.
- Connect with recent CNRE alumni to learn more about careers and employers.
- Connect with Virginia Tech Alumni Relations.
- Check out the Virginia Tech Commencement site to get ready for your graduation celebration.
Engage in meaningful experiences
- Investigate requirements for full-time jobs or other opportunities related to careers of interest.
- Make sure your resume is as strong as possible by having it reviewed at Career and Professional Development.
- Attend the CNRE Career Fairs to connect with potential employers and check Handshake regularly for opportunities.
Plan for life after college
- Apply to jobs or graduate schools or make plans for other adventures.
- Get help from Career and Professional Development or the director of employer relations with job searches, resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
- Get help with graduate school personal statements or cover letters from the Writing Center.
- Be sure to complete Career and Professional Development’s First Destination Survey.
Student and Faculty Forms
How to submit a form electronically
All forms require a FERPA passcode. If you do not have your own FERPA passcode, you will need to create one using the step-by-step guide. Please note that you will only need to create your passcode one time; you can use it throughout your academic career at Virginia Tech.
DocuSign forms
Most Advising Center forms can be submitted online through DocuSign. Students can initiate a form by clicking on the appropriate button in the accordion below and then entering their name and email where prompted. Once a form is completed and signed, the form will use the information supplied to route it to the appropriate individuals via email for electronic signatures.
Other forms
Forms not currently available through DocuSign are available in the accordion below as fillable PDFs that can then be emailed. Please follow these instructions when submitting PDF forms:
- Open the form you wish to complete; download and save the form before typing your responses.
- Complete and save the form.
- Open a new message in your VT email account.
- You must include your FERPA passcode in the body of your email.
- Do not include your student ID number in the form or in the subject line or body of the email. Your advisor will add your ID number upon receipt.
- Digital signatures will be accepted, as will scanned signatures and/or email confirmation statements from VT email addresses (e.g., “I agree to the terms in the attached form; please accept this email as a signature.”).
- Send your completed form as an email attachment from your VT email account per the instructions on the form.
Student Forms
Please note that all forms require basic student information such as your full name, ID number, name of academic advisor, major, anticipated graduation year, etc.
Certain forms may also require additional information that you may not know or may not have close at hand. This additional information is listed below, along with a description of each form, so you can gather what is needed before completing the form.
All CNRE academic forms are due by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline.
This form is used by College of Natural Resources and Environment students who wish to appeal their academic suspension for reasons other than medical issues. If your appeal is based on physical, psychiatric, or disability/learning disability reasons, you will need a letter of recommendation from the appropriate office, as noted on the first page of the form: Schiffert Medical Center, Cook Counseling Center, or Services with Students with Disabilities.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- A statement explaining your basis for the appeal, which includes the following questions:
- What extraordinary circumstances beyond your control contributed to your academic performance falling below minimum university eligibility standards?
- Why should you be given special consideration?
- Explain how the circumstances that you cited as causing your academic difficulties will have changed to allow success if your appeal is granted
- A list of the courses you plan to take in the next term of enrollment
- Total credits and quality points (this can be found on your unofficial transcript in HokieSPA)
- Anticipated semester GPA
- Anticipated overall GPA at the end of term
This form is used by College of Natural Resources and Environment students who would like to take a course at another U.S. college or university for transfer credit. If the domestic course is not listed in the transfer guide, you will need to submit a course description or a syllabus for the course with your completed form.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Overall GPA (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- The institution where you plan to take courses and its city and state
- The course code, title, and credits for each course you plan to take
- The equivalent course(s) at Virginia Tech
This form is required for College of Natural Resources and Environment students who are planning to study abroad with another institution. Please note that you must also meet with the Study Abroad Office and your academic advisor.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Overall GPA (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Institution where you plan to study abroad and its city and country
- Website for the institution
- Type of study abroad program
- Institution issuing your transcript
- Number of credit hours required for your primary degree and how many credits you have left to complete
- Number of credit hours completed at Virginia Tech
- Number of credits you are currently enrolled in at Virginia Tech
- Number of credits you are requesting to transfer back to Virginia Tech
- Courses you intend to take at host institution and the equivalent at Virginia Tech (please work with your advisor to determine this information)
Major Course Substitution Request (DocuSign)
This form should be used by College of Natural Resources and Environment students who would like to request to use a course to satisfy a specific requirement for their major. Course substitutions can be requested when circumstances prevent a student from completing a requirement on their checksheet.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- The proposed course and the required course you wish to substitute
- The reason for the request and an explanation of the request
Minor Course Substitution Request (DocuSign)
This form should be used by students who have a minor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and who would like to request to use a course to satisfy a specific requirement for their minor. Course substitutions can be requested when circumstances prevent a student from completing a requirement on their checksheet.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- The proposed course and the required course you wish to substitute
- The reason for the request and an explanation of the request
This form is used by a College of Natural Resources and Environment student completing a Field Study/Internship (X964) course. These courses are work experiences (“internships”) that are approved by some departments and selected to augment traditional classroom activities. The student is evaluated by their site supervisor and academic department on the knowledge and skills acquired as a result of the experience. Emphasis is placed on the academic and practical value of the work.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Overall GPA (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Total hours passed (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Total credit hours planned for semester and year indicated (including this request)
- Whether or not you are requesting experiential learning credit for your degree from this experience
- Department offering course and course number
- CRN (CRN corresponds to the course number and Virginia Tech instructor of record; if you do not see a CRN listed for your course number and instructor, contact your academic advisor.)
- Grading method (A-F or P/F), determined in conjunction with your Instructor of Record
- Site supervisor’s name and email address
- Organization name, address, and phone number of where you’ll be conducting your field study/internship
- Project/position description, modeled from the examples included below
This form is used by a College of Natural Resources and Environment student who wishes to request an exam change due to having three or more exams within a 24-hour time period or two exams at the same time. Students should discuss their exam conflicts with their instructor(s) prior to completing the Exam Change Request form.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Reason for the requested change
- The list of exams impacted
- The exam you would like to change and the new day/time
- The instructor’s name and email
This form is used for any student at Virginia Tech who would like to request a force add for a course in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. A student may request to force add a class if the class is full or if it has restrictions which the students does not meet. It is not guaranteed that instructors will approve a force-add request, and we suggest communicating with the instructor ahead of filling out this form.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Course code
- CRN (CRN corresponds to the course number and Virginia Tech instructor of record; if you do not see a CRN listed for your course number and instructor, contact your academic advisor.)
- Course credit hours
- Title of the course
- Grade mode
- Reason for the request
- The instructor’s name and email
This form is used by College of Natural Resources and Environment undergraduate students who need to request an incomplete grade in one of their courses. A grade of "I" (Incomplete) may be given when, for a reason satisfactory to the instructor, the requirements of the course have not been completed. Students should consult with their instructor prior to filling out this form.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- Course CRN, course subject, and course code
- Reason for request
- Detailed description of assignments, quizzes, exams, etc. (this section should be completed by the instructor)
- Final date for completing work and submitting change of grade (this section should be completed by the instructor)
This form is used by a College of Natural Resources and Environment student completing an Independent Study (X974) course. These courses generally involve extensive reading and tutorial sessions with the faculty supervisor and may involve written papers or other learning assessments. The subject of independent study is usually a continuation in greater depth of a topic covered in a regular course, allowing students to study topics of a particular individual interest.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- Overall GPA (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Total hours passed (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Total credit hours planned for semester and year indicated (including this request)
- Whether or not you are requesting experiential learning credit for your degree from this experience
- Department offering course and course number
- CRN (CRN corresponds to the course number and Virginia Tech instructor of record; if you do not see a CRN listed for your course number and instructor, contact your academic advisor.)
- Grading method (A-F or P/F), determined in conjunction with your Instructor of Record
- Plan of study description, modeled from the examples included below
This form is used by any student at Virginia Tech who would like to add a secondary major in the College of Natural Resources and Environment or for a student in the College of Natural Resources and Environment who needs to declare their major option.
If you are seeking to change your primary major, that process is completed in HokieSpa, using the Change of Major Application (Undergraduate) by the designated change of major deadlines. View change of major dates and instructions.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- CNRE major and/or option you would like to add or drop
This form is used for any student at Virginia Tech who would like to declare a minor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- CNRE minor you would like to add or drop
This form is used by College of Natural Resources and Environment students who would like to take more than 19 credits in the fall or spring semester, more than six credits in the winter session, or more than 18 credits in the summer. Students should list all of the classes they are taking, including the courses that will cause the overload. Students are responsible for adding the extra courses if the request is approved, unless it is a variable credit hour course.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Overall GPA (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Hours requested
- Justification for request
- A plan on how you plan to manage this course load
- A list of all the classes you plan to take in the semester for the request
This form is used by a College of Natural Resources and Environment student completing an Undergraduate Research (X994) course. These courses are individual research projects carried out by students under faculty supervision. The student defines the research topic and objectives, proposes a methodology, conducts the research, and creates a tangible deliverable such as a paper, presentation, or technical product.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not a someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Overall GPA (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Total hours passed (available on unofficial transcript in HokieSpa)
- Total credit hours planned for semester and year indicated (including this request)
- Whether or not you are requesting experiential learning credit for your degree from this experience
- Department offering course and course number
- CRN (CRN corresponds to the course number and Virginia Tech instructor of record; if you do not see a CRN listed for your course number and instructor, contact your academic advisor.)
- Grading method (A-F or P/F), determined in conjunction with your Instructor of Record
- Undergraduate research plan, modeled from the examples included below
- Whether or not you will need conflict of Interest training and if your project receives PHS (Public Health Service project) funding
Course Withdrawal (“W” grade) is available after the last day to drop a course through the last day of classes for each term. A final grade of a “W” is awarded for each course where a Course Withdrawal is applied. Students are permitted to Course Withdraw from up to three courses during their academic career at Virginia Tech.
Information you will need to fill out the form:
- FERPA code (your student FERPA code; not someone else’s FERPA code for you)
- Course code
- CRN (CRN corresponds to the course number and Virginia Tech instructor of record; if you do not see a CRN listed for your course number and instructor, contact your academic advisor.)
- Course credit hours
Faculty Forms
University resoures to help you succeed
Advising and registration FAQs
Course substitutions are approved on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to request a course substitution, talk with your academic advisor and then fill out the appropriate Course Substitution Request Form through DocuSign, which can be found under the “Student Forms” section above.
During the first six weeks of the semester, you can drop a course via Hokie SPA.
After the drop deadline, consider applying the “W” grade policy, which allows you to withdraw from up to three courses throughout your time at Virginia Tech. The deadline to withdraw from a course is usually the last day of classes for the semester (before Reading Day).
Students interested in withdrawing from a course are required to meet with their advisor. During this meeting, you can discuss the pros and cons of withdrawing and your plan for re-taking the course, and fill out a course withdrawal form.
When a class is full, the only way you can add it is by “force-adding.” To do so, you must have permission from the department offering the class or the instructor.
Some departments have specific force-add procedures. If the department does not have its own procedure, then contact the instructor of the class. If he or she agrees to add you to the class, you must get that instructor’s signature on a force-add form.
Once the instructor signs the form, submit it to the department for processing (for example, if it is a PSYC class, turn the form in to the Psychology Department). You do not need your advisor to sign the form.
To force-add a class in CNRE, fill out the Force-add Request Form through DocuSign, which can be found under the “Student Forms” section above.
If you are taking courses elsewhere, you must fill out the Authorization of Transfer Credit Form through DocuSign, which can be found under the “Student Forms” section above.
You will need to check the Transfer Equivalency Database to see whether any courses have transferred from the institution in the past. Regardless of whether a course is listed, submit the Authorization of Transfer Credit Form so your advisor can confirm whether the course is equivalent to a Virginia Tech offering and, thus, transferable.
Please be aware that grades do not transfer, only credit hours. Also, you must earn a grade of C or better for the credits to transfer to Virginia Tech.
See the information on our Change Majors page.
See the information on our Change Majors page.
See the information on our Change Majors page.
DARS is short for Degree Audit Report System. A DARS report will show you which graduation requirements you have completed and which requirements you still need to complete.
Before you can runs a DARS report, however, you must apply for your degree in the first semester of your junior year (or when you have earned 60 credit hours). To apply for your degree, go to Hokie SPA and click on the “Degree Menu.” Then enter when you plan to graduate and your major(s), option(s), and minor(s), if applicable.
After applying for your degree, you can request a DARS report in the same degree menu. Once you have your report, you should review it with your advisor. It is important to request a new DARS report at least once a semester or whenever something changes.
If you are not yet eligible to apply for your degree, you can run a “what if” DARS report. This is a hypothetical DARS report based on any major you choose. You can find the “what if” DARS in the same degree menu.
Students who earn at least a 3.4 GPA while taking 12 or more credit hours attempted are named to the dean’s list. Pass/fail hours do not count toward dean’s list eligibility, and dean’s list honors are not extended to summer sessions. Students who are named to the dean’s list will be notified via email.
Once you reach junior standing (or have earned 60 credit hours), you should apply for your degree. To do so, go to Hokie SPA and click on the “Degree Menu.” Then enter when you plan to graduate and your major(s), option(s), and minor(s), if applicable.