Advising
The Department of English advises majors through the Advising Office, which is staffed by several faculty members. Students are welcome to drop into the Advising Office in 118 Colson Hall anytime during advising office hours to discuss course selection, plans of study, requirements, or any other advising matters. Any one of our advisors can help a student; we do not assign students to a specific advisor. By having several dedicated and trained advisors among the faculty, we aim to maximize advising consistency and availability. English advisors are: Professors Gwen Bergner, Jonathan Burton, Rosemary Hathaway, and Adam Komisaruk. Administrative Assistant Marsha Bissett advises during the summer and at other times when faculty advisors are not available.
Advising office hours vary each semester, depending on our advisors’ teaching schedules. Fall 2008 hours are as follows:
Monday 9:00-10:15 (Adam Komisaruk); and 10:30-12:30 (Rosemary Hathaway)
Tuesday 10:00-11:00 and 2:30-3:30 (Jonathan Burton)
Wednesday 9:00-10:15 (Adam Komisaruk); and 1:30-3:00 (Gwen Bergner)
Thursday 9:00-11:00 (Jonathan Burton); and 11:30-2:00 (Gwen Bergner)
Friday 9:00-10:30 (Adam Komisaruk)
While advisers counsel and keep records of the student’s academic progress as an English major, the student is responsible for ensuring that all University, College, and Department requirements are met. We encourage students to read very carefully the information in the WVU Undergraduate Catalog under “Regulations Affecting Degrees” regarding graduation requirements and procedures. The student must pay a graduation fee and complete an “Application for Graduation and Diploma” at the beginning of the semester in which he/she expects to graduate.
Pre-Registration
Each semester, during the period of pre-registration when students must see their advisors to get PIN numbers and select courses for the following semester, we schedule advising appointments rather than using the walk-in system. You will be notified by email through the Majors Listserv when pre-registration appointments start. We then post appointment sign-up sheets outside the Advising Office in 118 Colson Hall. Students must come to the office and sign up for an appointment in person. We recommend that you sign up for an appointment well in advance of your priority course registration date.
Pre-Majors
A student is considered a “pre-English major” during his/her freshman year and is advised through the Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Advising and Student Records located in room 206 Student Services Center. After completing 24 hours of University coursework and maintaining a 2.0 grade point average minimum, students should have their records transferred to the Department of English, where they will be advised by the Department’s undergraduate advising team. Freshmen whose records are located in Arts and Sciences Advising are welcome to speak to an English adviser at any time.
General Information
The Department of English Advising Office is a clearinghouse for information about departmental courses, university requirements, career information, internship information, scholarships and fellowships, and departmental activities (including guest speakers, workshops, and field trips).
The Advising Office uses two venues to communicate information to the English majors: Major News, an email newsletter, and the English Majors Listserv, an email communication. Major News is published several times throughout the semester and spotlights current activities, announcements, and opportunities. The English Majors Listserv provides weekly updates of departmental activities and serves as a discussion list for student queries. If you are a pre-English or English major and would like to receive Major News or be on the listserv, contact Dr. Jonathan Burton at jonathan.burton@mail.wvu.edu.
The Advising Office also coordinates the English Orientation course, English 199, to introduce students to the major. This one-credit hour, optional course introduces students to the faculty, course offerings, requirements, and opportunities associated with an English major.