Meet with an Advisor
Advisors are ready to help you explore different academic programs, review your general education goals, prepare for a career, and more.
Navigating college is challenging, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. We are here to help you sort through your options and develop a plan for success.
You can meet with an advising professional by scheduling an appointment online at a time that is convenient for you.
If you have questions, please reach out to the department you would like to meet with.
Schedule an Appointment
WSU has a variety of advisors and professional support staff, each with their own areas of expertise. All students are welcome to meet with these staff members for support.
You can choose to meet in person or online. Online advising in convenient for students enrolled in a fully online program or those taking summer classes while living at home.
However, if you are in Winona or within a short driving distance of campus, in-person advising is strongly recommended.
Students in Rochester can also take advantage of the Rochester-based advising resources to meet an advisor in person.
If you are a graduate student and have questions about course registration, contact your assigned faculty advisor.
Here’s how to schedule an appointment using Advisor Trac:
- Log into the Advisor Trac portal with your StarID@go.minnstate.edu and password
- Select the Search for Availabilities button
- Choose the department you want to meet with—aka “Center”—and select your reason for an advising session
- Select Search to find the available advisors, days, and times
- Choose the option that works best for you, enter your phone number, and save the appointment
- Check for a confirmation email
Call at 507.457.5878 and ask a team member to set up an appointment for you.
Let them know if you need an online advising appointment or want to meet in person.
Which Center Should I Choose?
The Warrior Success Center includes professionals from Advising Services, Career Services, and Access Services. They can help you with a wide variety of topics, questions, or concerns:
- Review your DARS and registering for general education requirements
- Explore majors and careers if you are still deciding or want to change your major/minor
- Learn about your academic status, GPA and course completion rate
- Complete an Academic Warning meeting
- Learn about access services or disability accommodations
- Search for a job or internship
- Apply to graduate school
Contact the Warrior Success Center at warrior_success_center@winona.edu or 507.457.5878 for more information.
If you identify as an international student, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with a professional in International Student and Scholar Services.
International Services professionals can help you with a variety of topics:
- Review your DARS and general education requirements (GOALS)
- Explore majors and careers
- Complete an Academic Warning meeting
- Discuss dropping or withdrawing from a course
- Complete an update to your I-20/immigration record
- Help you prepare for upcoming international travel
- Discuss employment options for international students
- Assist with understanding your medical insurance coverage and processing
- Meeting requirements of your scholarship through the Cross-Cultural Outreach Program
- Discuss challenges adjusting to U.S. culture
If you are a current Individualized Studies (INDS) or Healthcare Leadership and Administration (HLA) student, or are considering either of these programs, you can schedule an appointment with Barb Nascak.
Barb can help you with a wide variety of topics and concerns:
- Reviewing your DARS
- Exploring alternate pathways towards degree completion
- Learning about your academic status, GPA and course completion rate
- Campus referrals
Email Barb Nascak at banascak@winona.edu for more information.
If you are a student in the College of Education, you are encouraged to meet with your assigned faculty advisor. In addition, you can schedule an appointment with the Center for Student Success.
The Admission & Advising Coordinator can help you with a variety of topics including:
- Explore majors and careers if you are still deciding or want to change your major/minor
- Learn about your academic status, GPA, and course completion rate
- Learn about access services or disability accommodations
- Review your DARS and general education requirements (GOALS)
- Review COE program admission requirements (DARS)
- Complete program map to graduation
Pattie Thompson can help you with topics such as:
- License and Certification questions
- Post-Baccalaureate questions
- Adding another license
- Getting a license in another state
If you are a student in the College of Business, you can schedule an appointment with a business advisor or contact your assigned faculty advisor for more information.
Elizabeth Schwanke can help you with a variety of topics:
- Review COB program admission or graduation requirements (DARS)
- Discuss dropping or withdrawing from a course
- Complete an Academic Warning meeting
You can schedule an appointment with Elizabeth by:
- Booking an appointment online
- Email: elizabeth.schwanke@winona.edu
- Phone: 507.457.5183
- In person at Somsen Hall 319
If you are a Nursing major, you should meet with your assigned faculty advisor.
If you do not find appointment times listed for your faculty advisor, please email them.
If you are not already a Nursing major but have questions or are considering a switch to nursing, please schedule with Nicole Wohlrab or email her at nicole.wohlrab@winona.edu.
Professionals in the Nursing Department can help you with a variety of topics:
- Advising for Pre-Nursing, Nursing, and RN-to-BS students
- Review your DARS and plan your pre-requisite courses for Nursing program admission
- Discuss dropping or withdrawing from a course
- Review Nursing program graduation requirements and plan upcoming courses
- Complete an academic warning meeting
- Answer questions about clinical locations, schedules, and assignments
- Consider study abroad and faculty-led opportunities
- Explore applying for graduate schools and jobs
If you are a student in the College of Science and Engineering, you can schedule an appointment with Laura McCauley or contact your assigned faculty advisor for more information.
As an advising specialist, Laura can help you with a variety of topics:
- Review program requirements and your DARS
- Discuss dropping or withdrawing from a course
- Complete an Academic Warning meeting
You can schedule an appointment with Laura by:
- Booking an appointment online
- Email: lmccauley@winona.edu
- Phone: 507.457.5387
- In person at Pasteur Hall 154
Rochester-Based Resources
Trent Dernbach is the full-time general advisor for WSU-Rochester. He also serves as the Career Services Advisor and as the faculty advisor for the Individualized Studies program in Rochester.
As the general advisor, Trent can advise undergraduate students until they are officially assigned an advisor in their chosen field of study.
He can also help students review their Degree Audit Program Reports (DARS) and provides support for resumes, interviewing skills, job search strategies and more.
You can schedule an appointment with Trent by:
- Email: wsurstudentservices@winona.edu
- Phone: 507.285.7100
- In person at SS 128