Advising FAQ

Academic and completion advising, at Howard Community College, as a teaching and learning process, seeks to engage students in a holistic and developmental process. In partnership with an advisor, students will engage in the clarification of their life/career goals and in the development of educational plans for the realization of these goals. Through the advising process, students learn to become members of the higher education community, to prepare to be educated citizens of the world, and to learn to critically think about their roles and responsibilities as students.  

During the advising process, students will engage in a decision-making process to discover their maximum educational potential through communication and information exchanges with an advisor. Additionally, advising is ongoing, multifaceted, and the responsibility of both student and advisor. 

Think of your advisor as your go-to person for guidance, mentoring, and information at HCC. Advisors have the most current and thorough knowledge regarding learning programs (areas of study), transfer requirements, the college's policies, procedures, and the requirements that apply to you in your specific situation. Therefore, it is very important to make academic decisions with input from your advisor.

Most students are assigned to HCC's Office Advising for their advising services. Some students are assigned staff advisors or to the Student Support Services Office.

Beginning in Fall 2024, all new first-time in college students will be assigned to an advisor. The assignment is available in Self-Service>Student Planning>View Your Progress within MyHCC.

Office of Advising

Advising Appointments and Drop-In Services are available in person and virtually.

• Appointments with your assigned advisor can be made for the following:
  • Academic Completion Plans
  • Academic Exploration
  • Navigating College Challenges
  • Transfer from HCC
  • First-Term Accepted HCC Students
• Drop-In is available for the following:
  • Graduation Application Assistance
  • Area of Study Change Form
  • Course Waivers/Exceptions
• Student Planning, Progress, and Course Search Assistance is available at the Front Desk

Completion Services Office 

• Appointments

Academic Support Programs 

• Contact Advisor Directly

It depends. Your advisor’s office location is available on myHCC. You can also find it in our staff directory, located under the Tools and Resources link at the top of the website, or the Office of Admissions and Advising or the Welcome Center can always direct you.

Following are some basic location guidelines:

• Office of Advising - The Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall, second floor 
• Completion Services - The Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall, third floor (RCF-302)
• Academic Support Programs- Invitation Programs, Your specialized program advisor will contact you, in addition to your Office of Advising Advisor.
  • Ambiciones 
  • Howard P.R.I.D.E.
  • Howard R.I.S.E.
  • Parent Scholar Program

Please refer to our Advising Timeline for more specific information about when you should meet with your advisor.

You should consider meeting with your advisor at least once a semester. 

There are many other important reasons to meet with your advisor such as:

• transfer preparations,
• academic concerns,
• uncertainty about your current program or progress,
• interest in a referral, and
• just to share how the semester is going.

Get the most from your advising session by preparing ahead of time whenever possible. Here are some tips:

• Think about and jot down what you would like to discuss.
• Review your area of study or program requirements, and your academic plan.
• Discuss your academic standing.
• Discuss plans regarding transfer and/or graduation.
• See a list of things to consider in the Advising Timeline.
• Identify courses you may be interested in for the upcoming term and year. Check Course Availability on myHCC or the Schedule of Credit Classes for availability.

In addition to any other questions you may have, it is good practice to discuss many of the following questions and topics when you meet with your advisor:

• Is my information (name, address, birth date) correct in the college's records?
• Is my area of study (learning program) correct in these records? How do I change my area of study (learning program)?
• What courses do I need to register for to complete my area of study (learning program)?
• What are the prerequisites for the courses I plan to take?
• I would like to discuss my academic goals.
• What do I need to know about transferring?
  • How far in advance do I need to apply to the transfer institutions I'm considering? Are there deadlines?
  • Is my area of study (learning program) a limited enrollment program or one with special prerequisite requirements?
  • Are transfer scholarships available?
• I need help paying for college. How do I find out about HCC's financial aid, scholarships, the payment plan, and other resources?
• I need a tutor. How do I find one? Do you have other services that will help me reach my goals?
• I need to work. How can I arrange my classes around my work schedule? How will working impact my studies?
• I am interested in participating in extracurricular and  co-curricular activities. Can you help me develop a plan that helps me reach my academic goals as well as participate in the college experience?

We expect you to...  

• Be an active learner by participating fully in the advising experience.   
• Be proactive rather than reactive to challenges you may encounter.  
• Learn to locate accurate and credible information to aid in your academic program planning process.  
• Be familiar with the requirements of your degree, and schedule courses each term based on those requirements.  
• Be proactive and take the initiative to contact an advisor. 
• Work collaboratively with academic advisors and develop strong advising relationships. 
• Be honest, open, and willing to receive and act upon recommendations from faculty and advisors.  
• Prepare a list of questions and bring pertinent materials before each meeting with an advisor. 
• Ask questions if you do not understand something during your advising session; such as tutoring, accessing resources, academic standing, college policies, FAFSA requirements, financial aid notices, testing requirements, etc.  
• Keep the Howard CC email account current and check it regularly.  
• Always demonstrate academic integrity and ethical behavior .
• Comply with academic deadlines for registration, adding courses, withdrawing from courses, etc.  
• Take steps toward your transitional goal (graduation, employment, or transfer).  
• Register for courses via MyHCC Student Planning (preferred) or in-person in Records, Registration and Veterans’ Affairs (RRVA): RCF Second Floor

Advisors can assist students in defining academic, career, transfer, and personal goals.

They can also assist you in the development of an academic plan and accessing services that will help you explore and identify your academic and career interests. 

Meeting with an advisor can help you avoid costly errors while you are trying to make important decisions.

Students may also contact Career Services for assistance when exploring areas of study and future aspirations. 

HCC has multiple ways for you to determine your eligibility for English and mathematics. 

Please read the Placement Testing information prior to meeting with an advisor.

If you need to take a Placement Test, you should do so prior to meeting with an advisor.

Under Maryland's College Completion and Readiness Act, all students seeking to complete an associate degree and who place as ready for college-level courses must enroll in a college-level English and math course within the first 24 credits.

The Office of Advising hosts two major transfer fairs each year. Transfer representatives from most Maryland four-year colleges and universities and many out-of-state four-year institutions attend these fairs and are available to meet with students. Several specialized transfer programs for students majoring in fields such as business, technology, nursing, and teacher education also take place each year. Workshops and other special programs are also conducted for students interested in programs such as engineering and medicine.

In addition to these events, transfer representatives from individual institutions visit the campus during the year and are available to meet with students. Pre-transfer advisors are available at their home institutions and at HCC to meet with students considering transfer to certain programs at certain institutions. To find out more about meeting with transfer representatives, consult our website or visit the Office of Advising. 

After you have applied and been accepted at HCC you may register for courses as a visiting student.

You are not required to see an HCC Advisor to register for courses as a visiting student.

To receive a prerequisite waiver/course clearance, you must fill out the Prerequisite Course Waiver Request Form. * You will be required to load an unofficial transcript, for verification, that you took the necessary prerequisite. Please upload copy of your current college or universities transcript on this form.

*You must be logged into myHCC to access the form.

Your home institution's consent to take a course does not result in a waiver of HCC's requirements, policies, and procedures.

You should provide your home institution advisor or registrar with a course description of the course you plan to take and a course outline, if necessary. In this situation, it is up to you to get written consent from your home institution advisor regarding the course you plan to take at HCC, along with a written guarantee that it will transfer back (most institutions have special forms for this). You have the ultimate responsibility of ensuring you are taking the correct course and that your home institution has approved it.

At HCC, these services are distinct from each other and are provided by two different offices.

Academic Advising focuses on promoting student success by empowering students to take responsibility in developing meaningful academic and personal plans that are consistent with their aspirations, interests, skills, career goals and life values. Academic Advisors are not licensed in counseling.

Mental Health Counseling provides a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space where students can feel free to explore a wide variety of concerns and issues. We offer a variety of services to assist all HCC students.  We are here to help students maintain and develop their emotional well-being and achieve their educational and personal goals.