Academic Advising

Process Overview (Advisors)

In August 2016, the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning convened a group of academic administrators to discuss barriers to timely graduation. That group identified the major change process as a significant barrier, and established a task force to establish a new process. The goals of the revised process include:

  • Establishing a consistent process across the university.
  • Eliminating unnecessary barriers for students.
  • Helping students make good decisions that lead to timely graduation.

If a student wants to CODO, they start the process by contacting their current academic advisor. Advisors should help ensure that students are making an informed decision before initiating a CODO request. Advisors are also encouraged to be available for students who are interested in learning more about their majors. A student's assigned advisor initiates the workflow request in the Curricular Change Request form in myPurdue to change a student's major.

If a department accepts students on a space available basis, all requests will be held until the end of the term for review regardless of when they are submitted. Students changing their major to a space restricted program, as designated by SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS ONLY, need to have their Curricular Change Request (CCR) submitted by their home college/school by 5pm the Thursday of Finals week for requests effective the following term to be considered.

If a request is initiated during the first two weeks of the semester and the student meets CODO requirements, the request should be processed and made effective immediately.

If a request is initiated any time after the first two weeks of the semester and the student meets CODO requirements, the request should be processed immediately and made effective for the next term. The student would begin working with their new academic advisor as soon as the change is processed.

If a student meets the required GPA, and is enrolled in whatever credits or courses are required to meet CODO requirements by the end of the term, their request will be accepted conditionally. At the end of the term, conditional CODO students will be evaluated. If they did not meet requirements the CODO will be reversed. (See below for additional details on Conditional CODO.)

If a student CODOs effective the next term (conditional or not), they will not be charged any differential fee or have access to major-restricted courses until the effective term.

In some cases, a student is on track to CODO but will not meet course requirements until the end of the term. Rather than making them wait (which can delay registration in key courses), their CODO application can be approved conditionally. They will be assigned to a new advisor and given access to courses restricted by major. However, at the end of the term, a list of conditional CODO students will be sent to each department by the Office of the Registrar for review; those who did not meet requirements will have their CODO reversed and will be dropped from any major-restricted courses by the Registrar.

To be eligible for a Conditional CODO, students must:

  • Meet any minimum GPA requirements
  • Be enrolled in any required courses
  • Have earned 12 graded credit hours at Purdue-West Lafayette
  • Be in good academic standing (not on probation)

Additionally, students are only eligible to Conditionally CODO one time to any one College or School. If a conditional CODO is reversed and the student wants to try again, they will have to wait until grades post to CODO.

Departments should provide timely communication to students about the status of their CODO request. If the CODO is processed immediately, the department should inform the student about the change and identify their new academic advisor.

If the CODO is processed conditionally, the department should inform the student of the conditions that apply and when they will hear if the CODO is reversed.

If the CODO request will be held for grades (either due to space constraints or because the student does not meet the minimum GPA requirement), the department should indicate that the request has been received and when the student can expect to hear if it has been approved.

The Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning has asked the Director of University Undergraduate Academic Advising to serve as process owner. This means that while actual CODO requirements will continue to be set by faculty, the Director of Advising is responsible for coordinating the major change process itself. This involves collecting and publishing CODO requirements each year and acting as a resource for students and staff who have questions or concerns about the process.

CODO requirements are due to the Office of University Undergraduate Advising by April 1st for the following academic year, and should follow the established template. If departments learn that they will have more incoming students than expected and need to modify their requirements so students will be accepted on a space available basis only, they should reach out to the Director of University Undergraduate Advising.

The minimum semesters, credits, and GPA referred to in the “general requirements” section of the template all refer to Purdue University totals.

Students must be evaluated based on CODO requirements that were in place when the student matriculated. However, if the student leaves Purdue-WL and has to go through the re-entry process to return, they can be held to new CODO requirements.

CODO meetings can be made available but cannot be required, either to CODO in or CODO out of a program. However students can be strongly encouraged to attend, or otherwise meet with an advisor. Students can also be required to complete an online information form or watch an online presentation followed by a quiz or survey.