First Year Advising Center
North Foundation Hall, Room 121
318 Meadow Brook Road
Rochester,
MI
48309-4454
(location map)
(248) 370-3227
FYAC@oakland.edu
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Orientation & New Student Programs
North Foundation Hall, Room 105
318 Meadow Brook Road
Rochester, MI 48309-4454
(248) 370-GOLD
gold@oakland.edu
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Academic Advising
Your assigned academic adviser is your "go to" support system as you navigate your first year of college. Advisers guide and make recommendations to help you to find success. FYAC advisers also work with undecided or re-deciding students as they choose a major and look at career options. Here's how you can reach us:
Have a quick question?
View our FAQ first for answers to common questions.
Questions about class meeting times?
View our Understanding Your Schedule tab for details.
Need help with your schedule?
Connect with our student assistants on Zoom in our Virtual Registration Help Room. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8 am - 5 pm. Be sure to check out our quick how-to videos about using Zoom on a mobile device or desktop.
Need further assistance?
Start by using FYAC chat or e-mail your academic adviser. You can also virtually chat with an adviser during drop-in hours.
Looking to schedule your required fall appointment?
Review our required appointments tab and follow the instructions.
Required appointments are 30 minutes of dedicated time with your assigned adviser. Students have two required appointments (one in fall and one in winter) to complete during their first academic year.
How to schedule
- To schedule an appointment with your assigned academic adviser, log-in to the online scheduler using your NetID and password.
- Select "Search Availability”
- Select “First Year Advising Center” in the drop down Center menu on the left of your screen.
- Enter date and/or time range based on appointment preferences. Select “Search.”
- Select the appointment you would like to schedule
- Add your phone number (required) and any notes you want to share with your adviser about the reason for your visit (optional). Select “Save.”
If your current adviser isn’t listed or you need to schedule a Transfer Student Orientation appointment, please call our office at (248) 370-3227 for assistance.
What to do before your appointment
- After scheduling, you will receive a confirmation email to your OU email account. The appointment time will also appear on your Google calendar which is linked to your OU email account.
- You will receive an email reminder via your OU email account two days before your scheduled appointment.
- To get the link to your virtual appointment, follow these steps in order:
- 5 minutes before your appointment login to your OU email
- At the time of your scheduled appointment log in to the online scheduler
- Click on the blue box labelled “Enter ONLINE APPOINTMENT” to open up your Google Meet with your adviser
- If you need to cancel or change your appointment time, log-in to Advisor Trac and click on the "X" after the appointment information in the Upcoming Appointments section on your Main Menu. You can then schedule a different appointment time if needed.
To ensure the privacy of students, other participants such as friends and/or family should not be present. We want time to focus on your success and any questions you might have.
If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, you will have to reschedule.
If you do not show for two of your scheduled appointments, you will need to call (248) 370-3227 in order to make an appointment.
Drop-ins will be available again at the end of the semester for questions about S/U grading. Check back soon for details.
- Classes meeting in-person will show a day, time, and location that includes a room number and building.
- Livestream Online (Synchronous) courses will be listed as ONLINE NRM, but have day(s) and time(s) listed. During these scheduled times, you are expected to join the class virtually.
- Traditional Online (Asynchronous) courses will be listed as ONLINE NRM with no associated days and times. You are able to complete classwork at any time with regularly scheduled due dates.
Earning 28 credits in your first year is important to help you stay on track in your collegiate career. There are 3 key benefits to earning 28 credits. Review them below to stay on the fast track to graduation.
Graduate Faster:
- New students who earn 28 credits will achieve sophomore standing by the start of their second year.
- That means, you’ll be on track toward graduation in four years.
Save Money on Tuition:
- 28 credits is required to renew OU scholarships and to receive new ones. Scholarships = less tuition cost!
- And, the faster you finish your degree, the less you pay in tuition over time.
Other Perks:
- With 28 credits you'll be eligible to apply for on-campus jobs that require sophomore standing - like Orientation Group Leaders!
- The more credits you earn, the earlier you will be able to register for next year’s classes. Earlier registration = better course selection!
Don't withdraw from a course just yet. We can help! Reach out to your adviser via email or phone and make an informed decision.
You can stop by the ID Card Office anytime they’re open to pick up your ID card. If you submitted your photo online your card is printed and ready for you. If you didn’t submit a photo the ID Card staff will take your picture and print your ID card on the spot. Be sure you check the office hours at oakland.edu/grizzcard/, know your Grizzy ID number, and have a picture ID before you go.
- Math placement: Oakland University has adopted a new Mathematics Placement assessment with remote proctoring which students can take from their own home. The test is now available here, and students can follow the instructions to get started and schedule their initial proctored placement assessment. As in the past, students can still be placed into their initial mathematics course by SAT/ACT score, without taking the placement assessment.
- Language Placement: A language placement exam is available on this website. Once you complete the assessment, please send your adviser the results so the correct placement may be noted. Students are still responsible for completing a course from the Language and Culture General Education category. If you score at a higher level, this requirement can be completed with the level on the General Education document, or the level that you place into.
You need to be sure that (1) your adviser has your AP scores and (2) the Office of the Registrar receives your official AP scores. You can do both by logging into your College Board account at apstudents.collegeboard.org. Download your Score Report PDF file and email that to your adviser. To be sure that your official scores have been sent to the Office of the Registrar, view your past score orders. If your most recent scores have already been sent to OU then you’re all set. If not, submit a request through the score reporting portal.
To submit your final high school transcript, review your high school’s website or get in touch with your high school guidance counselor to request a transcript. Final transcripts must include your graduation date and are accepted through Parchment. You may also email your final transcript to oakuniv@oakland.edu.
Many students choose to purchase textbooks before the semester begins, while others wait until the first day of class when they’ve had a chance to review the syllabus with the professor. Remember, you can find the textbooks needed for your course(s) by logging in to your MySAIL account and clicking on the blue "Buy Books" box in the middle of the page.
We recommend utilizing the OU Bookstore, located on campus in the Oakland Center. However, no matter where you purchase your textbooks, just be sure they are the right ones!
Textbooks are used in nearly every class - even online classes! Check your MySAIL account to see what’s needed.
Focus on purchasing required textbooks first, as those are necessary for the course. Reach out to your professors before classes start for more info. Or, wait to review your syllabus when it becomes available in Moodle to learn how your instructor will use the book to make a more informed decision. Professor contact information can be found in your MySAIL by clicking "instructor" under each course.
This comes down to your individual preference and the cost you are willing to spend. Go with whatever will make you feel the most comfortable while studying and fits within your personal budget. You can't go wrong with any of these options!
Log in to our online scheduling system and find a time that works best for you.
Online classes can require specific meeting times just like a traditional in-person class, have no required meeting times, or a mix of the two. This document will show you how to view this information in the schedule of class on SAIL and in your MySAIL.
Contact your adviser if you’re thinking about changing your major. They will provide you with the document used to adjust your intended major and will also recommend classes based on your new program of study.
Professor contact information can be found in your MySAIL by clicking "instructor" under each course.