Tag: appointments

How do I make an appointment with a chemical engineering advisor?

If you need help with schedule planning, minors, co-ops, study abroad, changing majors, or degree audits then you will need to schedule a meeting with Katie Torrey using your Michigan Tech Google calendar.  Advising meetings are usually 30 minutes long and can be in-person or over Zoom.  Be sure to indicate in your meeting invite how you plan to meet (in-person or Zoom).

Appointments will not be available during busy times because there will be virtual walk-in advising hours instead.  Walk-in advising times and Zoom links are posted on Katie’s Google calendar.  No appointments are needed for walk-in hours.  Go to the Zoom link to get in line.  You are welcome to stop by Katie’s office to meet in person for these walk-in hours if you are on campus.

Please come prepared to your appointment.

Directions for using your Google calendar to find an available time and scheduling a meeting are below:

  1. Login to your Michigan Tech Google account.
  2. In the list of Google Apps, click on Calendar.
  3. Create a new event by clicking on your calendar.
  4. Enter a title for your meeting.
  5. IMPORTANT – Find an available appointment time.
    1. Click on “Edit event”.
    2. Click on the “Find a time” tab.
    3. Add a guest to your appointment.
      1. Located on the far right hand side of the page.
      2. For an appointment with Katie, enter kt@mtu.edu.
      3. The calendar for your guests will appear with busy and free (blank) times indicated.
    4. Modify event date and time to a time when you are both available.
      1. Event date and time are located at the top of the page.
      2. If you do not see any available times, try another day.
      3. Most advising appointments are a half hour long.
      4. The proposed appointment time will show up on the calendars as a box with moving dashed lines.
  6. Click Save.
  7. You will be asked if you want to send your guests an invitation.  Say “yes”.
  8. The appointment will show up on your calendar.  Check that it is at the day and time you intended.
  9. The person that you’ve invited will receive notification of a meeting request.  You will receive notification if they can or cannot attend.

How do I figure out which classes to take next semester?

You need two items to figure this out:

  • Your transcript. Go to Banweb to see your unofficial transcript.  It is extremely important to look at it and know exactly what classes are on it.
  • A flowchart or sample schedule for your catalog year.  All of our advising handouts are available on the Degree Requirements page, sorted by catalog year.

Start by crossing off the classes that you have completed and are currently enrolled in. Run your online degree audit on Banweb to see if it matches. If you see anything that doesn’t match then see your academic advisor to find out why.

Choose classes that are next on the flowchart/sample schedule. It’s usually useful to plan for several semesters out. Review your plan with your academic advisor. It really helps to have a second set of eyes look at your plan.

What are Katie’s office hours?

If you are looking for the flowchart or other advising handouts, these are available on the Degree Requirements and Advising Documents webpages.

If you are having problems registering for courses that are not chemical engineering courses, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Also check out our FAQ’s for answers to many common questions.

Fall and Spring Semesters

During fall and spring semesters I am usually available for meetings during walk-in advising times or by appointment.

Walk-in advising is open during busy times, which are at the beginning of the semester and registration weeks.  During walk-in advising you just stop by.  You do not need an appointment.    Walk-in times, along with the Zoom links are posted on my Google calendar.

During all other times of the semester you may meet with me by requesting a meeting using your Google calendar.

Summer Semester

During summer semester priority is given to emergency issues in need of immediate attention because of limited work hours.  If you have an issue during the summer, email cmadvise@mtu.edu;  your patience is appreciated!  Regular advising hours resume two weeks before fall semester starts.

How does a virtual advising meeting work?

Schedule a meeting with me using your Google calendar.

At your designated time, open your Google Calendar in a browser window.

  • Click on the meeting/appointment.
  • Click on Join Hangouts Meet.
  • Allow access to your microphone and camera. These are typically built into a laptop.
  • Click on Join Now.
  • If you do not have a computer or a microphone on your computer then you will need to email me your phone number.

I will join the meeting as soon as I am done with my previous meeting. If you have difficulty send me an email.

How can I do better in my classes?

To help students who hope to do better in their academics, there are resources available at Michigan Tech through the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success, located on the first floor of the Administration building.

One option is to set up a regular appointment with a student peer success coach. This is coordinated through the Wahtera Center.  We have  had several students participate in thisprogram throughout the years and they had pretty good things to say about it. Mainly the coach served to help them find ways to stay on track.  For more information see the Wahtera Center’s website.



Do I need to bring anything to my appointment?

Yes.  Please be prepared.  Before your appointment, take a look at your transcript on Banweb.  It is important that you know exactly what classes are on it.

Bring the following with you to your appointment:

  1. The flowchart with classes crossed off that you’ve already completed and are currently taking.
  2. A list of any classes on your transcript that you don’t know where they belong on the flowchart.
  3. A list of classes that you plan to take next semester and beyond, even if it is a rough draft.  The semester planning worksheet will help with this.
  4. Anything we worked on during previous appointments.
  5. The folder containing advising handouts that you got during orientation or when you changed majors.

Copies of the advising handouts are also available on the department’s Advising Handouts webpage.  Appointments with an advisor may be made using the University email system.

I am a new transfer student. Do I need to meet with an advisor?

Yes!  We strongly encourage all incoming transfer students to meet with an advisor. We use this time to review transfer credit and to develop an expected graduation date based on remaining degree requirements, scheduling and prerequisite constraints, and your individual goals.

Walk-in office hours for new transfer students are scheduled during the fall transfer student orientation, which is held the Friday before fall classes start.  The transfer student orientation is highly recommended.  If you are not able to attend during this time or are transferring in during the spring or summer semesters, email cmadvise@mtu.edu to schedule an in-person or phone appointment with an advisor.