Advising FAQs
The LAS Student Academic Affairs Office supports the academic, personal, and professional development of every student. College advisors can help with changing majors, dual degrees, questions about academic standing, advising holds, and much more.
On this page, you'll find answers to our most frequently asked about topics. If you are unable to find an answer, please contact a college-level advisor by making an appointment or emailing las-studentoffice@illinois.edu.
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Holds are placed on student accounts for various reasons, but the action students need to take is always indicated. If you are confused about why a hold is on your account, contact the LAS student academic affairs office or your departmental advisor to help find answers.
Common reasons for holds include, but are not limited to:
- Academic issues - College and/or Departmental
- Unpaid balance on student account - Financial
- Missing immunization records
A hold will often prevent students from being able to complete important tasks, such as:
- register for classes
- make schedule changes
- request a transcript
- obtain their diploma
- use the library
Holds can be viewed in Student Self-Service by clicking on the “registration & records” tab, then “view your holds.”
Students should contact the office that placed the hold as soon as possible to find out how to remove it.
For questions specifically about major coursework
- Email or schedule an appointment with an advisor in your major
Run a Degree Audit to check your progress
- Contact your departmental advisor or an LAS Admissions and Records Officer if you have questions or need assistance; you can also contact the latter via email or their drop-in hours of 1 pm - 4:40 pm, Monday through Friday in 2002 Lincoln Hall
- Use Course Explorer to find out which courses are being offered
- If you have additional questions, please make an appointment with an advisor
New students
- Please refer to your new student checklist for registration information
Students transferring to LAS from another college at the University of Illinois
- Meet the curricular declaration criteria for your new major
- Complete the ICT Information Session
- Submit the ICT Form (emailed to student) during the posted Curriculum Change Period
- If you have additional questions, please make an appointment with an advisor or visit 2002 Lincoln Hall during our drop-in hours of 1 pm - 4:40 pm, Monday through Friday
Current LAS students changing to another LAS major
- Meet the curricular declaration criteria for your new major
- Submit the Curriculum Change Form during the posted Curriculum Change Period
- If you have additional questions, please make an appointment with an advisor or visit 2002 Lincoln Hall during our drop-in hours of 1 pm - 4:40 pm, Monday through Friday
Students returning to LAS after spending two or more semesters away
- Fill out the Re-Entry form, taking note of the posted deadlines
- For more information, please reach out to the Re-Entry Advisor, Anna Chovanec
Students who want to add a minor
- Complete the minor declaration form
- Meet with the departmental or minor advisor for the minor you want to add
- If you are graduating soon, notify your LAS Admissions and Records Officer
Students who want to add a double major (two majors within LAS)
- Complete the LAS Multiple Major Declaration Form
- If you are graduating soon, notify your LAS Admissions and Records Officer
Students who want to pursue a dual degree (two majors across U of I colleges)
- View our dual degrees page for information
Taking courses at another institution
- Check Transferology to verify your courses are transferable
- Send questions to LAS Admissions and Records Officers
LAS offers over 70 majors, as well as a number of minors and certificates
Changing your major
- Meet the curricular declaration criteria for your new major
- Students already in LAS - Submit the Curriculum Change Form during the posted Curriculum Change Period
- Students transferring to LAS from another U of I college - Complete the ICT Information Session, then submit the ICT Form (emailed to student after ICT information session) during the posted Curriculum Change Period
- If you have additional questions, please make an appointment with an advisor or visit 2002 Lincoln Hall during our drop-in hours of 1 pm - 4:40 pm, Monday through Friday
Adding a double major (two majors within LAS)
- Complete the LAS Multiple Major Declaration Form
- If you are graduating soon, notify your LAS Admissions and Records Officer
Pursuing a dual degree (two majors across U of I colleges)
- Contact Tenaya Reifsteck for information
Learn about research opportunities
Find out about internships
Explore study abroad opportunities
Check out the LAS Honors Program
Learn about LAS Scholarships
Find out about upcoming events
- Subscribe to the LAS Lineup student newsletter
Check to make sure you meet all of the requirements for your degree by checking with your departmental advisor and/or an LAS Admissions and Records Officer.
If your major requires a Major Plan of Study or Supporting Coursework, please work with your departmental advisor to get this completed and submitted to the LAS Admissions and Records Officers.
Add yourself to the graduation list. If it is past the first ten days of the semester in which you plan to graduate, please contact LAS Admissions and Records Officers to be added to the pending degree list.
If you have been pursuing a minor and have not had it officially added to your record, complete the online Minor Declaration Form, then let your LAS Admissions and Records Officer know.
If you have been pursuing a double major and have not had it officially added to your record, complete the online LAS Multiple Major Declaration Form, then let your LAS Admissions and Records Officer know.
Decide if you want to participate in commencement and make sure you are signed up for the ceremonies in which you want to participate:
Your diploma will be mailed to you several weeks after all of your degree requirements are met. After graduation, you can check the status of your diploma order here.
You can order both official and unofficial transcripts.
For help planning your next steps after graduation, please contact:
The LAS Student Academic Affairs Office can assist you if you aren’t sure what to do. Please contact us if you need help.
For mental health-related difficulty, please contact:
**If you are in danger of self-harm or causing harm to others, please call 911 immediately.
Students with ongoing mental or physical health challenges may be eligible for academic accommodations by registering with Disability Resources & Educational Services
If you have questions about academic warning or drop status, please contact LAS Student Academic Affairs.
If you are struggling with one or more of your courses, please reach out to your instructor(s) to let them know and find out how they might be able to work with you.
If you need to reduce your Fall or Spring course load to under 12 credit hours, please submit an underload request.
If you are unable to complete one or more of the courses on your current schedule and it is past the deadline to drop the course(s), please contact LAS Student Academic Affairs to discuss your options.
When required by an instructor, absence letters may be available for students who have missed class due to illness (must have missed three or more days), family illness, injury, or death, religious beliefs, observances, or practices, volunteer emergency work or other extenuating circumstances.
Students unable to complete the current semester may request a withdrawal:
If you need assistance scheduling a conflict final exam, contact LAS Student Academic Affairs.
The LAS Student Academic Affairs Office is ready to assist!
- Visit us during drop-in hours: 1 pm - 4:40 pm, Monday through Friday in 2002 Lincoln Hall
- Email: las-studentoffice@Illinois.edu
- Phone: (217) 333-1705
Location and directions:
2002 Lincoln Hall
702 S. Wright St.
Urbana, IL 61801
* From the Quad side of the building, go up the marble staircase to the second floor and turn right. Elevators are located across from the vending machines to the left of the marble staircase.