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Science Academic Advising

Academic advising is a collaborative relationship between a student and an academic advisor. Academic advising is available to all Faculty of Science students. Regular contact with an academic advisor, individuals who can assist you with developing and achieving meaningful educational and career goals, is recommended.

An academic advisor may assist you with:

  • Developing a personalized academic plan;
  • Changing your major or declaring a second major;
  • Exploring the requirements for a minor or option;
  • Verifying that you are meeting program requirements;
  • Ensuring that you are meeting GPA-based progression requirements and are on track to meet graduation requirements;
  • Clarifying academic regulations, policies and procedures;
  • Discussing academic challenges;
  • The petition process for exceptions to academic regulations; and
  • Exploring and planning for graduate studies.

The academic advisor that you should contact depends on your year of study, program of registration, the type of inquiry and the complexity of your academic circumstances.

Note: Although academic advising is available within each department and the Dean of Science office, it is solely the responsibility of students to ensure that they are properly registered and meet course requirements and the requirements of the program for which they are registered.

Academic Standing Registration Guide Petitions Exam Deferrals

Faculty of Science Academic Advisor

The academic advisors in the Dean of Science office, Maureen Coulter and Khaleel Hosein, provide general academic advising for students registered in the Faculty of Science. The advisors are the primary contacts for:

  • Year One students in the Core Sciences foundational pathway (without major).
  • Senior students with no major
  • Students in a General BA/BSc without designation program.
  • First-year and senior students experiencing general academic difficulties, including those who have extenuating personal circumstances (e.g., transition issues, physical or mental health, family/relationship issues, etc.) that are impacting their academic performance.
  • Students on academic probation.
  • Students who have been readmitted to the Faculty of Science following a period of absence.
  • Students registered in post-degree studies in the Faculty of Science.
  • Students registered in another faculty interested in transferring to a Faculty of Science program.

Scheduling an Appointment

There are currently three ways to speak to an advisor in the Faculty of Science: Dean's office.

1) Booked appointments - are typically available Tuesday and Wednesday mornings only (although days and times may vary during periods of high demand).  To book an appointment using the online calendar, select surnames A to K: Maureen Coulter or for surnames L to Z:  Khaleel Hosein

In-person appointments are preferable.  Phone appointments are available for students who are unable to travel to campus.  If you require a phone appointment, book an appointment and provide (in the description area) a phone number where you can be reached.

2) Drop-in appointments are typically available on Mondays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Additional drop-in advising will be available during peak times.)

3) Telephone appointments (NEW for Summer 2019) - Students will be able to have prearranged telephone conversations with their advisor.  Every Thursday between 9:00 and 11:30 a.m., academic advisors will contact students for brief academic advising or to answer questions which do not need a full appointment.  To receive a telephone call, complete the Academic Advising by Telephone form.  Details are outlined at the beginning of the form.

Note that each student’s needs vary. As a result, the advisor may occasionally be behind schedule; plan your schedule with a possible 10-minute or more delay for the start of the appointment time.

Contact Information

The academic advisors can be contacted by email at scienceadvising@wlu.ca or directly at the following:

Maureen Coulter, Academic Advisor

  • By phone: 519.884.0710 x3052
  • Office location: Science Building, N1048

Khaleel Hosein, Academic Advisor

  • By phone: 519.884.0710 x4342
  • Office location: Science Building, N1048

Appointment Cancellations

If the advisor needs to cancel your scheduled appointment, you will be contacted via your myLaurier email account. Monitor your inbox. While the advisor will attempt to give as much notice as possible, you may receive a cancellation notice as late as the morning of the appointment date due to unforeseen circumstances.

If you need to cancel or change your appointment, do so as early as possible to open the appointment time for another student. You may cancel or change your appointment online (at least 24 hours in advance of the appointment) by accessing the self-booking appointment calendar. Students are able to hold only one booked appointment at a time. If you change an appointment, it will automatically cancel the appointment which was scheduled first.

If you need to cancel your appointment on the meeting date, contact 519.884.0710 x2425.

Appointment Tips

  • If you have a brief general question, for which an appointment is not necessary, email scienceadvising@wlu.ca. Send correspondence from your myLaurier account only, and include your Laurier ID number. The scienceadvising@wlu.ca email account is monitored regularly, and every effort will be made to respond to your inquiry in a timely manner, on the basis of priority. If your question cannot be answered directly, we will provide you with the contact information of someone who can better assist you.
  • To make the most of your appointment, arrive on time and fully prepared to discuss your academic issues.
  • Bring a list of questions, or notes on items that you wish to discuss.
  • Plan to take notes during your appointment.
  • If you are a student who is on academic probation, be prepared to discuss how you plan to overcome your academic obstacles.

Forms

  • If you are a Brantford campus student who would like to take a Faculty of Science course at Laurier's Waterloo campus, you will have to fill out a Waterloo Campus Override Request Form.
  • If you are Faculty of Science student who would like to take more than 2.5 credits in one term, see your individual program pages. The course overload form will be found on the program academic advising page or the course offerings page.
  • If you are a Faculty of Science student with no designation who would like to take more than 2.5 credits in one term, see "Senior Students with No Major / in a General Program" above.

Note: In all the above cases, filling out the form does not guarantee entry into the course.