Oct 13, 2025

News/Notes for Undergraduate Academic Advisors: Holds - Limit Registration Activity/Provide Information | Preparing Students to Meet with a Tutor | Spring 26 Course: Applied Writing: Proposals & Grants | Majors in Minutes

Holds - Limit Registration Activity/Provide Information
  • As we approach the upcoming registration Spring 2026 semester period, please be aware of the types of holds that limit registration activity or are informational which can help you better support students during advising sessions.
  • The Student Athlete Drop Hold prevents drop and withdrawal transactions only.
    • Due to NCAA requirements, student athletes with this hold must work with their athletic academic advisor prior to dropping courses.  A student should contact their athletics academic advisor in Athletes Administration.
  • Other registration holds that are informational and do not prevent registration include (use this link for a complete list and details on each hold)
    • Academic Alert or Academic Probation - These indicators are placed on the records of students on Academic Alert or Academic Probation due to academic performance. These holds are only removed at the end of the term if the student's academic status changes. Contact the Office of the Registrar at 319-273-2241 or registrar@uni.edu.
    • Accessibility - These service indicators are for informational purposes only to assist in ensuring accessibility needs are met.  Contact Student Accessibility Services at 319-273-2332 or accessibilityservices@uni.edu
  • How can I (or a student) know if they have a hold?
    • The Holds and Service Indicators page from the Office of the Registrar provides a list of information including major/program, plan code, department and additional information on which students would have the hold.
    • See the "Holds" information box on the right side of the individual's Student Center.  Click on "Details" for specific information.                                                                                                Holds Image
Preparing Students to Meet with a Tutor 
  • When should students go see a tutor?  When they have a question about:
    • How to write a paper | Homework | A concept/idea from class | How to study for a test | How to deal with test anxiety | How to take notes | How to read a text
  • What should students bring when they meet a tutor?
    • Text, notes, problem sets, homework
      • Tutors will not do the student's homework for them!  They can talk about the concept the student has a question on.
    • Specific questions
      • They can be big questions, but should be more focused than, "I don't understand anything in the class"
  • What can students expect from a tutor?
    • Tutors are trained to “know what they don’t know”.  In other words, they may not have an answer to your question.
      • If that happens, the goal is to help the student find a tutor/time when someone can help.
    • Tutors are trained to help the student work through a problem, not simply give them an answer. 
Spring 26 Course: Applied Writing: Proposals & Grants
  • English 4770/5770 Applied Writing: Proposals & Grants will be offered on Monday/Wednesday from 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. in the Spring 2026.
  • Prerequisite(s) or corequisite(s): MGMT 2080 or ENGLISH 2770 or consent of instructor; junior standing.
  • This course will give students non-hypothetical practice in composing a grant proposal by working with organizational clients to produce needed proposals. Students will learn techniques for finding grant donors, creating grant content, and responsibly using AI and other technological tools.
  • Note: Students who are graduating by/before May 2027 can request to substitute English 4770 for English 4785 in the Writing Minor - Professional Writing option requirements.
Majors in Minutes
  • Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Maucker Union Ballrooms
  • At Majors in Minutes, students can hear from seniors representing each of UNI's 90+ majors.  In ten minute group rotations they can learn about classes, research, and internship/career opportunities as well as have the opportunity to ask their own questions. When the time is up, a student can choose to either stay at the table or move on to learn about a different major. Students can visit as many or as few majors as they would like!
  • This event is hosted during the fall semester by the Office of Academic Advising. 
Is Your Student Questioning their Current Major?
  • Help them Pivot with Purpose by referring them to the Office of Academic Advising. Advisors offer personalized support to help students explore:
    • Major, minor, and certificate options | Reasons for changing majors (e.g., lack of interest, career goals, academic challenges) | Self-assessments like FOCUS 2 or Strong Inventory | Goal-setting and decision-making strategies
  • Encourage students to schedule an appointment or complete the Academic Discuss Your Major Options Request Form.
  • As a faculty or staff member, you can complete this referral form to start the outreach to a student considering changing their major.
Institutional Academic Advising Vision & Mission Statement (revised Spring 2016) [See Academic Advising Mission, Vision, Goals & Outcomes webpage]
  • Vision Statement: UNI aspires to create the best possible advising experience for each student.
  • Mission Statement: Academic Advising is a critical component of the teaching and learning environment at UNI. Advising is a personalized educational experience, empowering students to explore, articulate and achieve their academic, career and life goals.