What is academic advising?

Academic advising is an important part of the Nevada State College experience. NSC provides you with academic advising to help ensure a successful experience on the road to completing a college degree. An academic advisor is a partner in your success and in the completion of academic goals. Academic advising is confidential and must follow FERPA guidelines regarding the release of personal and academic information.

As a nursing student, you should not drop or add courses without the approval of your nursing advisor. Dropping or adding a required course may result in administrative withdrawal from the School of Nursing. It is your responsibility to make appointments with your advisor to review course and program requirements. Self-advising is not an option.

The best way to communicate with your advisor is to schedule an appointment by using one of the following methods:

Pre-Nursing
Centralized Advising Academic Center (CAAC)
Phone: 702.992.2160
Email:  CentralizedAdvising@nsc.edu

RN to BSN
Phone: 702.992.2048
Email: RNtoBSNadvising@nsc.edu

Advising in the School of Nursing is broken down into two parts – pre-nursing advising and, once you are admitted into the nursing program, faculty advising.

What to Expect from Your Advisor

Academic Advisors can assist students in different ways: 

• Understanding the college requirements for your degree program 
• Choosing a major 
• Planning course selection and registration 
• Dropping and adding classes 
• Becoming familiar with the college and available resources 
• Assisting students with keeping track of academic progress 
• Completing Student forms

 Academic Advisors will be happy to discuss the following with students: 

• Progress towards degree completion 
• Strategies to improve your GPA 
• Building a course of study 
• Academic difficulties 
• Identifying career interests 
• Studying skills

Pre-nursing

When you are admitted to NSC, the Office of Admissions provides you with your pre-nursing advisor’s contact information. If you do not know the name of your advisor, please contact the Centralized Advising Academic Center at (702) 992-2160 to reach an advisor.

If you are working on the pre-requisites to apply to the nursing program, you are advised by a professional pre-nursing advisor. They provide support as you transition into college and continue through your core curriculum, pre-requisite courses and the application process into the School of Nursing. The pre-nursing advisor also are available to provide you support, clarification and direction if you are not accepted into the nursing program.

RN to BSN

When you are admitted to the RN to BSN program, you should receive the following contact information for your advisor:

Phone: 702.992.2048
Email: RNtoBSNadvising@nsc.edu

Your advisor will discuss with you the courses you need to complete in order to earn your BSN. Your advisor will also help you develop a plan of study to assure you are meeting all the requirements necessary for graduation. The advisor will also offer support when needed throughout the program.

Faculty Advising

During orientation, once you are accepted into the the BSN program, you are assigned a faculty advisor and will receive their contact information. Faculty advisors remain the same throughout your nursing studies. It is important that you communicate with your advisor to discuss your academic progress and also to review your Degree Audit to make sure the information is in alignment with your records.

How to Prepare for an Academic Advising Session

It is important for each student be prepared with the paperwork and information that will be necessary to answer questions and proceed with a successful degree plan. Please prepare by completing the following list before contacting an Advisor. 

• Be sure that you have requested that your official transcripts to be sent to Nevada State College Enrollment Services prior to making contact with your advisor. After transcripts are received at NSC, they will be evaluated and a Degree Audit will be generated. This audit should be included in the acceptance packet that is mailed out. Please have this audit readily available whenever speaking with an academic advisor.
• If you transferred any college level credits, carefully read over your Degree Audit, highlighting any questions or problems you might find there. If you have not received your Degree Audit, this is the time to make sure it is available in your student account. If you cannot access your Degree Audit, contact the Office of Admissions & Records.  
• Come prepared with a list of classes you are interested in taking, as well as questions and concerns you might have. Don't be afraid to ask questions. 
• Upon transferring to NSC, bring course descriptions for any course that has not been applied to your degree that you believe is equivalent to the NSC degree requirement.

It's important to be open and honest with your advisor. Consider outside commitments, family and work when deciding how many credits to take and whether to attend school full time or part time. We anticipate that students will have a positive and rewarding experience at NSC, but if you have any concerns feel free to discuss them with your academic advisor.