Navigating Success: An Overview of CALS Student Services
Supporting student success is at the heart of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) mission. Preparing students for their professional lives involves ensuring their experience is both rewarding and impactful. CALS provides a comprehensive network of services designed to guide students from application to graduation, fostering personal, academic, and professional development.
Academic Advising: Your Guide to Iowa State
Your academic advisor is your go-to guide for your Iowa State experience. Every major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has dedicated academic advisors, and they each structure their advising activities in unique ways to best serve the students in their major. Acting as a mentor, they are typically there for you both in the office and in informal settings like student clubs, learning community activities, and even in the classroom. The better your advisor knows you and your goals, the better able they are to help guide you to the opportunities that will help you best reach those goals. Similarly, when you encounter challenges to your goals, letting your advisor know can help connect you to solutions more quickly.
Your academic advisor is here to promote your personal and academic development - to work with you to reach your professional goals. In addition to providing you with guidance and help with registration, your academic advisor is well positioned to connect you with the wealth of people and programming within the Iowa State community that can be useful to you. Making the most of your Iowa State experience usually starts with your academic advisor.
Change of Major or Minor
It is not at all uncommon for students to change majors at the end of their first or second years at the university. Selecting a different major sometimes involves changing from one undergraduate school or college within the university to another. Provided a student is in good academic standing and that space is available in the new area of study selected, requests for a major change are, in most cases, easily accommodated, even when a school or college change within the university is involved. Students should submit a change of major form through their MyUVM student portal.
Although CALS does not require that students declare a minor to graduate, many students declare a minor during their time here at UVM. A minor is typically 15-18 credits (or 5-6 classes). Students can declare a minor within CALS or from another college/school. Students should submit a change of minor form through their MyUVM student portal.
Read also: Agriculture at Cornell
Addressing Personal and Health Issues
Sometimes life happens. If you are experiencing any other personal or health issues, we are here to help and can connect you to other helpful resources such as the Center for Health and Wellbeing, Counseling and Psychiatry Services (CAPS), or Student Accessibility Services.
Attendance and Absences
If you anticipate an absence from class, you will need to work with that instructor to discuss their expectations in reference to your absence. You should be able to find the attendance policy in your course syllabi. We will notify the instructors for you and copy you on the correspondence.
Academic Standing: Probation Guidelines
At the end of a semester if your semester or cumulative GPA is below a 2.00, the CALS Studies Committee will meet to discuss your situation and decide what your status will be for the following semester. Please review the complete academic probation guidelines. Your status in CALS is determined by the level of your probation.
Credit Load and Full-Time Status
UVM considers full-time status as 12-19 credits per semester. However, some students with accommodations via Student Accessibility Services may receive a waiver to enroll in less than 12 credits but still be considered full-time students. Undergraduate students enrolled in more than 19 credits per semester will be charged the per credit hour tuition rate for each additional credit above 19.
Senior Records Check
CALS seniors who are eligible to graduate must submit a Senior Records Check (SRC). To submit an SRC, students should meet with their academic advisor who has access to the form. SRCs for May graduates are due March 1st.
Read also: Student Accessibility Services at USF
Study Abroad Opportunities
The CALS study abroad team will help you prepare for your international learning opportunity.
Supporting Student Success: A Holistic Approach
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has an extensive team to support your career in the making from application to graduation. Your college experience goes well beyond the classes you take. We strive to increase awareness of campus resources, foster community formation and student belonging, develop skills to build and reach personal and academic goals, and build major commitment and marketable skills. We support high impact learning opportunities by integrating students’ holistic academic careers into a purposeful academic journey.
Withdrawal from a Course
From the eleventh day of instruction until the second business day after the 60% point in the semester, students may withdraw from courses (this date is found on the UVM academic calendar for each semester). To do so, students must use the registration system to withdraw from the course. The student's advisor(s) and dean(s) will be notified. The instructor(s) will be aware of the withdrawal by the Withdraw status on the class roster and the presence of a grade of W on the grade roster. What does it mean when I withdraw from a course? See UVM's withdrawal policy.
Accessing CALS Services
All CALS services are scheduled via Navigate. If you aren't sure what specific program or resource you need, visit our "What Do I Need" page to get a custom contact list or see an overview of how our programs can assist you.
Resources for Prospective Students
If you are a prospective or incoming student, we hope to see you on campus soon!
Read also: Guide to UC Davis Student Housing
CALS Events and Initiatives
Off the Shelf features new releases in both physical and digital media, exhibitions, and highlights larger system-wide programs. We hope this publication serves our patrons by providing current news about our collection- the foundation of all great libraries. The Six Bridges Book Festival is accepting submissions from February 2 to March 20, 2026. The 23rd annual Fest will take place Sept. 27 to October 4, 2026. Submissions are shared with the Festival’s talent committee. Event Rock It! Rock It! The CALS Spring Speaker Series will host a dynamic lineup of voices from literature, journalism, and beyond. February is Library Lovers Month, and we’re celebrating the role CALS plays in our community. The Little Rock City Board has approved a resolution to improve the greenspace at 2nd and Cumberland streets. Strong grassroots support from the community played an important role in moving the project forward. Efforts are now underway to raise the funds needed to transform the space into a fully functioning park next year.
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