Student Services Center

The Student Services mission is to aid in the education and overall growth and development of future leaders of the world by providing an environment that fosters engagement, enrichment and empowerment.

Students at the 2006 Welcome picnic. To earn a degree at the University of Illinois, students must meet requirements set by their university, college and department. The Student Services Center in the College of Media is the hub where all of those requirements meet and can be discussed. The staff coordinates academic life in the College so students have the information they need to set and fulfill their educational goals. The Center serves students every step of their way from high school through college and on to alumni status.

The Student Services Center is located in Room 18, the middle wing of the basement, across from the vending machines.

Course scheduling, records and advising questions are welcome 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. We're open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but if you desire a conversation, please come in during the prime hours. We can be reached at 217-244-4329 or media-ssc@illinois.edu.

The Student Services Center also assists faculty as they schedule courses and submit grades for the student record.

For more information on student services offered by the College, see details below.

Academic advising

Academic advising is a partnership between the adviser and the student. An academic adviser's role is to enlarge the pool of information about courses, degrees, careers and other opportunities. Advisers are resources but not the answer to every question or the action takers. Students are charged with seeking out needed information, following up on suggestions and taking the necessary action to become successful students at the University. Through this partnership, the Student Services Center's goal becomes achievable — empowering students to make the choices that provide them with the greatest benefit.

As a College of Media student, you are assigned an academic adviser with whom you must meet at least once each semester before registration. This is to ensure you are making good degree progress. After your meeting and after your time ticket becomes active, you register for the appropriate courses.

In addition to your mandatory advising session, you may meet with your adviser during his/her walk-in hours or by making an individual appointment. If you're not sure who your academic adviser is, please call the center at 217-244-4329 or send e-mail to media-ssc@illinois.edu.

After you have met with your academic adviser and after your time ticket becomes active, you can register for courses.

Degree Audit Reporting System

Through the Degree Audit Reporting System, every student also has access to an unofficial individualized degree progress report that is updated nightly. If a class is added today, it will show tomorrow on the system, known as DARS. Students are responsible for fulfilling degree requirements as described in the Programs of Study at courses.uiuc.edu/programs/undergrad/communications/about_com.html. The DARS online is just one tool. Any questions about it or other student resources should be discussed with an academic adviser. Generate a DARS audit online at www.oar.uiuc.edu/current/dars/generate.html.

Tutoring

Students looking for extra help with course work can start by talking to their instructors. Sometimes departments offer tutoring or study sessions. Students who live in University residence halls can use tutoring offered in their residences. See the Weston Exploration Program at www-students.housing.uiuc.edu/floors/westonex/tutors.htm.

Forms & petitions

All forms and petitions should be filed with your academic adviser or the Student Services Center receptionist. The following forms are in PDF (some in editable format) or MS Word.

Student code

The Student Code is the online starting point for policies on student academic standards and grades: www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/.

Staff

Contact information:
18 Gregory Hall
810 S. Wright St.
Urbana, IL 61801
217-244-4329
media-ssc@illinois.edu

Kalee Mourer
Office support associate

Mourer provides general administrative support to the Student Services Center, performs secretarial and receptionist duties and greets students and visitors in the Student Services Center.

Michele Andrews
Office manager/Course scheduler

Andrews works with the College's academic departments to maintain the College's course schedule. She also performs other secretarial duties and greets students entering the Center.

Melvin B. Leach Jr.
Academic adviser

Leach helps College of Media undergraduate students select their courses and chart their academic paths. Previously at the University he served as an admissions counselor and recruiter, a counselor for Minority Student Affairs and a facilitator for leadership programs.

He also produced a radio music show on Rejoice 102.3 FM in South Chicago, and currently conducts a local church choir in Champaign.

Walk-in meetings are on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Appointment meetings are available.

Glenn Pence
Data & records administrator

Pence is the College's chief information and technology officer. He is responsible for directing academic recordkeeping, including degree audits, student academic and career counseling records, course scheduling, strategic planning and other areas. He formerly was assistant director of the University's Office of Admissions and Records.

Megan Tucker Zwilling
Director of student services

Tucker Zwilling is responsible for the day-to-day operations in Student Services. She is the James Scholar Coordinator for the College of Media and is involved with the advising, admissions, records and recruiting operations for the Center. She has also served as an academic adviser with the College since February 2006. She previously worked in graduate admissions at Illinois. Tucker Zwilling earned a master's degree from Colorado State University and a bachelor's degree from Illinois College.

Walk-in meetings are on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Appointment meetings are available.

Adrienne Harris
Director of undergraduate academic affairs

Harris is dedicated to helping students envision and achieve realistic goals while at Illinois. Her areas of professional interest are undergraduate international engagement, leadership development through student programming, and retention. She earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Illinois and enjoys reading and writing short fiction.

Where we are

Room 18 is a recently renovated space that is centrally located in the basement of Gregory Hall. An accessible entrance to the building is located at the northeast corner. The new Student Services Center is down the hall and around the corner to the left, and a lift is available. The elevator to upper floors in the building is located in the basement hallway near the northwest entrance. Metered parking is available on Wright Street, some of the neighboring streets and in a small lot on the north side of Gregory Hall.

See the University map for the campus location of Gregory Hall.

For faculty

The Student Services staff are happy to help College of Media faculty members find resources they need — especially for submitting grades or scheduling courses. Forms may be needed by faculty for items such as Independent Study Proposals and Incomplete Grades. See the list of Forms & Petitions above.

The Office of Admissions and Records has rounded up resources for faculty, especially explaining grades and student privacy rights at www.oar.uiuc.edu/staff/.

As part of the UI Integrate system, the Web for Faculty at apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice/ is the door to class rosters and grade submissions. Faculty need to select the campus name before trying to log in.

The Office of the Provost provides a Senior Administrative Orientation guide with links to policies and handbooks that cover all aspects of life on campus. See the complete list at www.provost.uiuc.edu/resources/sao/policies/. See also the Student Code, the starting point for policies on student academic standards and grades at www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/.

The Campus Administrative Manual at www.fs.uiuc.edu:1503/fsindex.html is one of several policy manuals for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Use this manual as a reference for creating new courses or for research protocol.