Student resources

Below are common resources for CALES undergraduate and graduate students.

Undergraduate student resources

Advisors aren’t mind readers, but they tend to be great listeners and guides. That’s why it’s up to you to schedule appointments at least once a semester, if not more, to ask questions and discuss your progress. Your advisor should be available to answer questions in person, via email or by phone. 

Once you’ve initiated contact, there are a few things you can expect from your advisor:

  • Advice on academic decisions consistent with your interests, values, abilities and goals, and recommendations on academic majors and minors that may be a good fit for you.
  • Accurate and consistent communication about college and university policies and processes, deadlines and campus resources.
  • A responsive listener who will address any questions, concerns or problems you may have, or who will refer you to appropriate support services when needed.
  • Assistance in defining or clarifying your academic and career goals, creating short- and long-term academic plans consistent with those goals, evaluating transfer and study abroad credit, and planning for graduation. 
  • Coordination between you and other individuals on campus who may assist you during your academic career.
  • Respect for confidentially as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 

Your advisor can offer significant support and valuable advice during your college career, but you’re responsible for asking for their help and ultimately making your own academic and career decisions. In a successful advising relationship, you’ll:

  • Read your University of Arizona email daily.
  • Take the initiative to meet with your advisor at least once per semester to discuss your progress.
  • Be prepared to discuss your goals and education plans during meetings by bringing your questions and necessary materials, and being open to suggestions. 
  • Develop and execute an academic plan directed toward completing your degree.
  • Make your own academic and career decisions based on available information and advice, as well as your graduation plan.
  • Develop a working knowledge of policies, procedures, deadlines and campus resources.
  • Review and become familiar with your major/minor requirements each semester and track your progress toward graduation.
  • Frequently visit the CALES Career Center to participate in events and services. 

As you progress through your college career, your discussions with your advisor will change. As a freshman, you may explore potential careers and majors, while as a senior you may be applying for graduate school or interviewing for post-university jobs. 

If you’re not sure what you should be focusing on, or when, our advising timeline may help: 

First-Year

  • Explore interests, strengths and potential careers
  • Make a tentative year-by-year plan of classes
  • Build a resume
  • Get involved with clubs, organizations and volunteering
  • Look into study abroad, internships and/or research opportunities

Sophomore/second year

  • Develop relationships with faculty and mentors
  • Finalize and declare major(s) and minor(s)
  • Update resume
  • Seek internships, research opportunities or study abroad programs
  • Stay involved in activities that suit your interests and goals

Junior/third year

  • Research career options and graduate programs
  • Talk to pre-professional advisors or career services
  • Update resume
  • Continue research, internships, volunteering and club involvement
  • Take graduate exams such as the LSAT, GRE, MCAT, and GMAT (if applicable)

Senior/fourth year

  • Complete a degree check
  • Apply for graduation
  • Finalize career, professional or postgraduate plans
  • Apply for graduate or professional schools
  • Submit resumes and begin interviewing 

Both your time and your advisor’s time are valuable. Following a few simple rules of etiquette for professional behavior will ensure smooth interactions.

Preparing for in-person appointments

  • Schedule well in advance of your registration period for classes.
  • Write down a list of topics and/or questions you want to address.
  • Write down a list of courses you’re considering.
  • Organize all of your advising information in a folder and bring it with you.
  • Bring paper and a pen to take notes.
  • Arrive promptly and check in at the front desk. 
  • Turn off your cell phone before you walk into the advising office.
  • Call ahead to cancel if you’re unable to make it.

Sending an email

  • Use your University of Arizona account.
  • Use a clear subject line, such as “Question about my schedule.”
  • Include your full name and student ID number.
  • Include the course numbers of any classes you’re having difficulty registering for, along with any error messages you may be receiving.
  • Keep your questions clear, short and to the point.
  • Do not be too casual with your advisor when using email. Proofread and use spell check.
  • Allow 24 hours for a response, excluding weekends and holidays.

Leaving a voicemail message

  • Repeat your name, student ID number and phone number with area code twice, and then ask your question. 
  • Be sure to speak slowly and clearly to ensure your message is clear.

It is your responsibility to keep track of the university dates and deadlines. We recommend giving yourself enough time to meet with your advisor before making any changes to your course schedule to help you determine how the changes may affect your graduation timeline.

dates and deadlines

Meet with your advisor before your enrollment appointment date to determine which courses are the best fit for your schedule and graduation timeline.

Course enrollment is only available once your enrollment appointment date has begun. Seats can fill fast — enroll in classes as soon as possible.

Course Registration Tutorial

You can drop a course following the steps below until the drop deadline. After the second week of classes, you can withdraw from the class on UAccess, and you will receive a "W" on your transcript.

After the tenth week of classes, you must file a Late Change Petition with documentation as to why you were unable to meet the drop and withdrawal deadlines. All Late Change Petitions undergo a review process and are not guaranteed.

dates and deadlines

  1. Meet with your advisor early to determine alternative courses and how dropping the course may affect your graduation timeline
  2. Sign in to UAccess Student Center
  3. Select the Enrollment drop-down
  4. Use Add, Drop or Swap Classes to quickly change a course

 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that governs the rights of students and institutional responsibilities with respect to student records.

  • The right to inspect and review their own "education records" (as defined by the statute), with certain limited exceptions, within 45 days after the University’s receipt of a request
  • The right to seek the amendment of their "education records" in certain circumstances
  • The right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in their "education records" in many circumstances
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education about alleged failures to comply with FERPA

FERPa guidelines

CALES is committed to creating a safe learning environment for all students. Please visit the university catalog for more information on formal student complaints.

Graduate student resources

Resources for Caregivers

Graduate Assistants/Associates may be eligible. FMLA offers unpaid, job-protected leave to graduate students for one of the following reasons:

  • For the birth and care of the newborn child of an employee
  • For placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care
  • To care for an immediate family member (spouse, child or parent) with a serious health condition
  • To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition

For more information, see the university's graduate resources and the university policy.

Graduate Assistants/Associates (GAs) who meet certain criteria are eligible for parental leave for up to 12 weeks. For more information, see the graduate resources website in relation to benefits of appointment and the leave request form.

UA Childcare Choice is designed to help students pay for current, qualifying coursework-related childcare occurring in Arizona. For more information, see Life & Work and GPSC.

This service provides a caregiver at a subsidized rate to care for your child in your own home while you attend class. Registration in the program is required prior to contracting for services at $5/hour; incremental time is billed in five-minute increments; two-hour minimums. For more information see Life & Work.

Equal opportunity policies

The goal of the DRC is “to ensure that disabled students, employees and visitors have a similar, if not identical, experience to that of their non-disabled counterparts.” Whether you are a student with a disability or you encounter an individual in your classroom who requests accommodations or modifications, the DRC can support you. For more information
see the Disability Resource Center site.

Among the values upheld by the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences are trustworthiness, responsiveness, compassion and respect. To be an inclusive campus, we must feel comfortable to responsibly call out behaviors that don’t adhere to our values.

Do you feel that you have been treated unfairly? The first step is to discuss the situation with the individual responsible for the unfair action and attempt to find a resolution. Graduate advisors, directors of graduate studies or unit heads may be a useful resource in these situations. If this step is unsuccessful, then the next step is filing a formal grievance. For more information, see the grievance policy.

  • Survivor Advocacy offers confidential services to university undergraduate and graduate students. Meeting with advocates never obligates you to any further action. Sessions can focus on Title IX reporting, academic accommodations for impacted schoolwork, housing changes, medical support and more.
  • Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA) offers confidential counseling services, a 24/7 bilingual hotline support and crisis services for individuals and families impacted by sexual trauma.
  • Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse offers multilingual hotline services, safety planning and an emergency shelter for survivors of sexual and domestic abuse.
  • Anti-Violence Project is an LGBTQ+ survivors of violence and harassment helpline available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Connecting with student groups can be a valuable support network. See a list of communities and groups on campus that graduate students participate in.
Financial management & funding

Community activities

These centers focus on specific identity groups and shared life experiences.

Find your community among the Greek Fraternity & Sorority Programs, or in one of the 600+ clubs on campus. 

Check out the rec center for working out, group classes, intramural sports, guided outdoor trips and more.

Check out high-level collegiate sports and cheer on your Wildcats.

ZonaZoo - Student section and student-ticketing program for University of Arizona athletics

Participate in clubs around your academic passion. 

Medical & health services​​​​​

  • All enrolled students are eligible to use CAPS (under the umbrella of Campus Health).
  • A variety of insurances are accepted at CAPS: Aetna Student, Aetna Commercial, BCBS, Campus Health Supplemental, Health Net, and United Health Care.
  • Nominal fees are charged for most services; you can pay via cash, check, credit card or post to your Bursar’s account.
  • Cost of being seen at CAPS
  • You can join applicable group therapy (e.g. Feeling Good in Grad School).
  • "Helping Distressed Students" presentation from Mia Zamora (PDF)
    Helping Distressed Students - Spring 2019.pdf
  • Are you concerned about a friend or co-worker? Call and consult CAPS at (520) 621-3334.

  • Crisis text line: Text "home" to 741741 to be connected to a trained crisis counselor via text.
  • CALES Life Management Counseling and Consulting Services: CALES staff and faculty can receive mental wellness consultations. All services are virtual, no-cost and confidential.
  • Resilient Arizona for emotional support, crisis counseling and access to community support.
  • The Science of Well-Being is a course offered at no charge by Yale University. Learn how to successfully incorporate specific wellness activities into your life.
  • QPR training: A one-hour online training that will provide you with the tools to learn about depression and suicide prevention, understand what the warning signs of suicide are, and how to get help for someone in crisis. Go to qprtraining.com/setup, enter organization code ARIZONAQPR, and then select "Create Account" and complete and submit the student registration form (you are the student).
  • Life and Work Connections Website

Graduate Assistants/Associates may be eligible. FMLA offers unpaid, job-protected leave to graduate students for one of the following reasons:

  • For the birth and care of the newborn child of an employee
  • For placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care
  • To care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition
  • To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition

For more information, see the graduate student resource website and Arizona policy site.

Other support services

Arizona International Student Services connects students to a variety of resources to support academic success. For more information, see the international students website and the graduate student resources website.

See the Eligibility Requirements for being able to apply for Compassionate Transfer of Leave.

GAs do not accrue vacation, and therefore are not eligible to apply for CTL. Some Fellowship Graduate Students may be employed as an Appointed Professional, and therefore may be eligible.

See the registrar website for more information about establishing residency.

Navigate to list.arizona.edu. Log in with your NetID to see all lists subscribed to with the email address listed as your official university email address. Information and FAQs about the email list service are available on the IT website.

The student's guide to surviving your PhD, developed by the University of York PhD students: "Survive your PhD" booklet (PDF).