Academic Advising Resources
Please visit SSHA Advising, our primary venue for supporting students and faculty. The page you are currently viewing is geared to quickly communicate the office's fundamental services. Also email ssha.advising@ucmerced.edu for further inquiries.
Mission
In keeping with UC Merced Academic Advising's mission, the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (SSHA) advising program strives to empower students to develop sound educational plans that are consistent with their personal values, goals and career plans, and provide a supportive atmosphere that guides students toward becoming self-directed learners and decision-makers.
Goals
- Promote appropriate progress-to-degree for undergraduate students;
- Provide students with advising resources and materials that are accurate, current and understandable;
- Provide interactive advising in formats that meet student preferences and needs in timely and efficient ways;
- Provide advising that is reflective of our diverse student populations and unique research environment;
- Facilitate student learning and self-advocacy in relation to reaching academic goals and career plans; and,
- Support implementation of faculty-approved curriculum changes for courses and academic programs.
Services for Students:
- Clarify university and school policies, regulations, programs and procedures.
- Discuss academic performance and implications of student performance on undergraduate program and degree completion (e.g. progress to degree).
- Notify students of significant changes to university or school policies.
- Be available to meet with students each semester to discuss class registration and degree progression.
- Help students explore interests, abilities and goals and how these translate into academic majors.
- Offer advice for course selection and satisfaction of degree requirements.
- Facilitate appropriate referrals to faculty members within each student's area of interest.
- Assist students facing difficulties that affect their education.
- Refer students to appropriate university support services as needed.
Services for Faculty:
- Facilitate the review and implementation of academic course articulation.
- Collaborate on and implement curriculum offerings, revisions and requirements.
Forms
For official university forms, please visit the Office of the Registrar's website.
- Office of the Registrar Student Forms that require instructor consent (e.g. add/drop, course withdrawal, etc.)
- Course Approval Form — Intended for students who plan to complete coursework at an institution other than UC Merced and need to have that coursework reviewed for applicability to their major, minor, or general education.
- Multiple Major Process — Students planning to complete multiple majors at UC Merced will find information about how to proceed here.
- General Petition Form — This form is for use when petitioning for course substitutions, exceptions to school policies, or other requests not covered by the other forms listed on this site.
- Academic Internship Learning Work Plan — Fall/Spring Semester
- Academic Internship Learning Work Plan — Summer Session — Students who are completing internships and intend to obtain college credit for their work should complete this packet.
- Petition for Excess Units — Intended for students who wish to complete more than 18 units during the fall and spring semesters, and more than 12 units during summer session.
Policies and Support Materials
- Academic Honesty Policy (campuswide)
- Enrollment Procedures (campuswide)
- Faculty Report Form for Academically-Related Misconduct (campuswide)
- SSHA Advising Services for Students and Faculty (SSHA-specific)
- SSHA Academic Advising Website
Contact
Academic Advising Staff: | Staff Functions: |
Megan Topete
Assistant Dean, Student and Instructional Services
P: 209-228-4594
|
|
Brenda Maldonado-Rosas
Director of Student Services E: bmaldonado-rosas@ucmerced.edu P: 209-228-0037 Office: COB1, Room 223
|
|
Lauren Brackett
Senior Academic Advisor, Student Success Coordinator
E: lbrackett@ucmerced.edu P: 209-228-0042 Office: COB1, Room 221
|
|
Linda Safer
Academic Advisor, Office: COB1, Room 213
|
|
Sandra Torres
Academic Advisor,
Career Success Coordinator
E: sandratorres2@ucmerced.edu
P: TBD Office: COB1, Room 216
|
|
Carolyn Barranco
Academic Advisor,
Student Engagement Coordinator
E: cbarranco@ucmerced.edu P: 209-228-0038 Office: COB1, 204
|
|
Evelyn Cardona
Academic Advisor
Office: COB1, 215
|
|
Valeria Salcedo Lomeli
Academic Advisor
P: 209-228-0164
Office: COB1, Room 218
|
|
Elizabeth Whitmyre
Academic Advisor, Office: COB1, Room 214
|
|
Maria Sifuentes
Academic Advisor, Office: COB1, Room 214
|
|
Destiny Dias
Student Services Assistant
P:
Office: COB1, Room 226
|
|
Last Updated: March 2024.
Academic Advising Questions: Please contact Brenda Maldonado-Rosas.