Undergraduate

Advising

• Mission and Strategic Goals

  The Mission of the Office of Undergraduate Business Programs:

  • To be the destination of first choice for a diverse population of academically talented undergraduate business students;
  • To deliver advising services and solutions that retain and assist our students to graduate in a timely manner and exceed their academic and career goals; and
  • To support academic, leadership, and student development programs so that our graduates become employees of choice for the business community, loyal alumni, and responsible citizens.

  Strategic Goals:

  • Recruit a diverse population of motivated, academically talented students.
  • Improve the undergraduate retention rate.
  • Improve the four and six year undergraduate graduation rates.
  • Create opportunities for students to build a sense of community and develop leadership skills.

• Advising Services Overview

  Bauer College is committed to providing quality professional academic advising services to current and prospective business majors. For a list of undergraduate business academic advisors, populations served, direct contact information, and locations, see: http://www.uh.edu/provost/students/advising/#business.

  Additional resources may be found on the Office of the Provost advising website: http://www.uh.edu/provost/students/.

  Business hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m except during university holidays. General advising questions are answered via email (bba@uh.edu), phone (713-743-4900), or in person at the front desk in 262 Melcher Hall. Current UH students may make an appointment via the mobile phone app called Navigate (see instructions at: https://www.uh.edu/provost/navigate) or via their "myUH" account. Appointment schedules become available on a daily basis for appointment times in the future (during non-peak times, 30 days in advance; during advising campaigns, peak registration times, and orientation, advance posting may be shorter). Prospective students may email bba@uh.edu to schedule an appointment.

  For advising concerns and unresolved issues, students may contact the following:

  Name	Position	Phone	Dept.	Email	Room
  Frank W. Kelley	Associate Dean, Undergraduate Business Programs	713-743-4912	Office of Undergraduate Business Programs	fwkelley@uh.edu	MH 223A
  Brent Spraggins	Director, Pre-Business	713-743-4903	Office of Undergraduate Business Programs	bspraggins@uh.edu	MH 262A
  Asha Thomas	Director, Major Advising	713-743-8963	Office of Undergraduate Business Programs	asha@uh.edu	MH 223D
  Joyce Williams	Program Director, Prospective Students	713-743-3908	Office of Undergraduate Business Programs	joycewilliams@uh.edu	MH 262G
  Sarah Gnospelius	Administrative Director of Bauer Honors Program	713-743-5205	Office of Undergraduate Business Programs	sjgnospelius@uh.edu	MH 250A
  Tiffany Woods	Accounting	713-743-5004	Accountancy & Taxation	tmwoods@bauer.uh.edu	CBB 304E

• How to Contact an Advisor & Appointments

  Advising Transactions: Many advising services such as Filing a Degree Plan & Petitions do not require an appointment and are listed on this website.

  Email an Advisor: UH Academic Advisor emails are listed at: https://uh.edu/provost/students/advising

  Appointments through Navigate: Current UH students interested in business, Pre-business majors, and declared business majors can make an appointment online, by phone, or in-person, through Navigate. For details on how to use Navigate: https://uh.edu/ussc/navigate. Prospective business students who have never taken courses at UH are encouraged to visit our comprehensive prospective student website, which includes step-by-step application guides, downloadable degree plans, transfer equivalency information, mandatory orientation and academic advising information, and more.

  Chat with an Advisor with Microsoft Teams: Current UH students can use Teams for quick questions with UH Academic Advisors. In Teams, go to "Chat" and type in your Advisor's name.

  How to Download MS Teams:

  • Download MS Teams for your desktop, iOS, or Android, at https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads.
  • Sign in with your Cougarnet ID and password (append @cougarnet.uh.edu after your username).

• Degree Plans, Academic Maps & Transfer Guides

   

  Degree Plans with course numbers effective Fall 2021

  • 2022-2023 Degree Plan
  • 2021-2022 Degree Plan
  • 2020-2021 Degree Plan
  • 2019-2020 Degree Plan
  • 2018-2019 Degree Plan

   

  Four-Year Maps for Freshman Students

  Transfer Guides for Transfer Students

   

• Academic and Career Development Timeline

   

  EVERY YEAR

  • For questions throughout your time in Bauer College about your academic and career plans, your Academic Advisor (uh.edu/provost/students/advising/#business) and a Career Counselor (hirebauer.com) are valuable resources.
  • Apply for scholarships each year: http://www.bauer.uh.edu/invest/scholarships.
  • Check out the UH Financial Literacy website: uh.edu/financial/undergraduate/financial-literacy/. The Library System also offers real-world resources at guides.lib.uh.edu.

   

  FIRST YEAR

  • Meet with your Pre-business advisor.
  • Take required UH Core and pre-business Courses. See the Academic Map for the major you plan to pursue at: https://uh.edu/provost/students/new-coogs/uhin4/maps/.
  • Transfer students make sure all courses are on your UH record, and complete any required Transfer Course Equivalency petitions if necessary. For transfer credit information, see: https://www.bauer.uh.edu/undergraduate/advising/transfer.php.
  • Plug into academic resources and workshops to maximize your potential: https://www.bauer.uh.edu/undergraduate/advising/resources.php
  • Unsure about your major? Consider assessments and a meeting with a career counselor in the Rockwell Career Center at hirebauer.com.
  • Research and join student organizations and other leadership development programs at Bauer: bauer.uh.edu/leadership.

   

  SECOND YEAR

  • Complete BUSI 3302 as soon as you meet the prerequisites to explore majors and career options.
  • Explore The Rockwell Career Center at hirebauer.com located in Cemo Hall, 2nd floor.
  • Upload your résumé onto Bauer Career Gateway at hirebauer.com.
  • Research majors relating to your career interests that you are passionate about.
  • Meet with your Pre-business advisor prior to registration for junior level business courses to request a Mixed Program (a one semester transition as students complete freshman-sophomore courses needed to file a degree plan).
  • Request an advising referral to meet with a Major advisor.
  • Meet with your career counselor in The Rockwell Career Center.
  • Attend Internship Mixer.
  • Attend Résumé ER/Round-Up.
  • Attend Volunteer Fair.
  • Attend Career Fair.

  Note: Transfer Students need to “fast-track” the actions listed for First and Second Year.

  THIRD YEAR

  • Consider an internship to gain experience.
  • Consider volunteering to build your résumé.
  • Get involved with a student organization that interests you.
  • Develop your network with past colleagues, friends, family, professors, and employers.
  • Update your resume and schedule an appointment with your career counselor for any concerns or questions.
  • Meet with a major advisor to go over advising tracks and options within the major, and the most appropriate electives or combinations of majors and minors and determine your anticipated graduation date.
  • Attend Internship Mixer.
  • Attend Résumé ER/Round-Up.
  • Attend Volunteer Fair.
  • Attend Career Fair.
  • Participate in Mock Interview Days.
  • Apply for On-Campus Recruiting position on Bauer Career Gateway.
  • Explore learning abroad opportunities at uh.edu/learningabroad.

   

  FOURTH YEAR

  • Continue to research and apply for positions on Bauer Career Gateway.
  • Apply for graduation and complete all requirements as you meet with your academic advisor.
  • Attend Graduation Orientation with UBP.
  • Update your résumé and schedule a mock interview with your career counselor.
  • Participate in Mock Interview Days.
  • Attend Internship Mixer.
  • Attend Résumé ER/Round-Up.
  • Attend Volunteer Fair.
  • Attend Career Fair.
  • Update and continue to build your network. Brand yourself as a recent college graduate.

• Dean's List

  To qualify for this recognition, undergraduate business students must earn a 3.50 minimum grade point average (the grade of S is not counted) on twelve or more semester hours completed during the semester. Students who earn a grade of I (except in a senior honors thesis course), D, F, or U during the semester are excluded from consideration for the Dean's List. Students are recognized by a letter from the Dean.

  Dean's List Reception for Students with a 4.0 Semester GPA

  Students on the Dean's List with a 4.0 semester grade point average who have not yet graduated are invited to a dean's reception and receive a certificate of recognition. In order to encourage timely graduation and recognize academic excellence for part-time students, students who have not yet graduated who complete 9 or more hours in each of the previous two regular semesters and 6 or more hours in summer for a total of 24 semester hours with a 4.0 are also invited to the reception and receive a certificate of recognition.

  

• Business Writing Evaluation (BWE) Requirement

  Because effective business writing is critical for academic and career success, Bauer College requires a minimum score (currently a score of 2 out of a possible score of 4 points) on a business writing evaluation (BWE). The BWE is administered as part of a required course, BUSI 3302. The UH Writing Center provides guidelines and an informational video on how to prepare for the BWE through the BUSI 3302 Blackboard shell (for a student re-taking or making up the BWE are loaded into a BWE Blackboard shell with the same materials and receive email instructions by the second week of the fall or spring semesters after the student takes BUSI 3302). Evaluation of the BWE is provided by the UH Writing Center based on prompts, rubrics, and calibration provided by faculty representatives from each department on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee in Bauer College.

  Students Who Do Not Clear the BWE or did not take the BWE as part of BUSI 3302

  Students who need to re-take the BWE or did not take the BWE as part of BUSI 3302 are expected to take the BWE the following fall or spring semester (the BWE is not administered during the summer). Students who meet all degree plan filing requirements except the BWE will be allowed to file, but are expected to re-take it or make it up the following fall or spring semester, when instructions are provided. Failure to re-take or make-up the BWE the following regular (fall or spring) semester may result in a registration hold.

  Students re-taking or making up the BWE should prepare by attending two BWE writing consulting sessions with the UH Writing Center. In the first consulting session, students re-taking the BWE have an opportunity to go over their BWE and areas they could improve, along with recommendations for free online resource guides to study. Students re-taking it or making up the BWE would be given a sample topic for a practice paper during that session. In the second follow-up session the writing consultant would go over the practice paper and provide feedback. Students are limited to one administration of the BWE per semester unless in their graduating semester, and a total of three attempts unless approved by the Office of Undergraduate Business Programs. Students in their graduating semester should contact Frank Kelley, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, at fwkelley@uh.edu for a special administration.

  Instructions for Re-Taking or Making up the BWE

  By the second week of fall or spring classes, students needing to re-take or make-up the BWE will be sent instructions on making an appointment with a writing consultant and will be loaded into a BWE Blackboard shell available on their student account, which will have instructions on how to take the BWE, along with additional resources to prepare.

  For assistance in the UH Writing Center, you may contact:
  Mark Sursavage, Writing Center, Executive Director
  mdsursav@central.uh.edu; 713.743.3017; writingcenter.uh.edu

  For all other questions, you can contact me at:
  Frank Kelley, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Business Programs
  713-743-4912; fwkelley@uh.edu

• Students on Probation, Suspension, or College Academic Notice

  Advisors provide information by appointment only about the requirements and limitations of probation, suspension or CAN status, as well as related support services.  Advisors also provide general advising for course selection and registration, degree audit printing, troubleshooting, and general information.

• Learning Abroad

  Students interested in learning abroad may begin their journey by visiting the Learning Abroad "Start Here" website to learn about program options, application processes, and funding resources. Students should also be aware of current travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Students may check the UH Learning Abroad Office website for their advising service options, and begin conducting research and narrow down program choices. Business students may schedule an online appointment in Navigate (selecting the *Business Learning Abroad option) to discuss courses and the credit petition process.

• Accelerated Pathway Programs

  Accelerated pathway dual degree programs provide academically outstanding students an accelerated pathway to complete an undergraduate and a master's degree in a reduced period of time. Accelerated pathway programs provide undergraduate students permission to take a specified number of master’s level courses as electives toward completion of their bachelor’s degree. The students then apply to the graduate degree program, and if accepted, the previously completed graduate coursework during the senior year is counted as transfer credit toward the completion of the master’s degree. Bauer College accelerated programs include:

  • Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Public Policy
  • Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Science business degrees

  For inquiries, contact Asha Thomas, Director of Major Advising, at asha@uh.edu.

 

Online Services

• Request to Become a Business Major

  All currently non-business UH students who wish to switch their major to business must fill out an online form (available during specific time periods each semester) and meet all requirements in order to be officially declared as “Pre-business”.  Approved requests are effective for the semester following application.

• Request to file Degree Plan

  All current Pre-business majors who wish to declare their specific major must fill out a degree plan form (available during specific time periods each semester) and meet all requirements in order to be officially declared.  Approved requests are effective for the semester following application.

• Request to make Degree Plan changes

  Current business majors with degree plans on file who wish to make changes to their declaration must fill out a degree plan form (available during specific time periods each semester) for the change to occur. Approved requests are effective for the semester following application.

• Application for Graduation

  Business students who wish to graduate in a given semester must meet all requirements to graduate and should consult the online graduation checklist.

• VA Paperwork

  Business student veterans in need of required signatures and paperwork related to their VA benefits should email their paperwork to bba@uh.edu Please allow at least 5-10 business days for processing.

• Financial Aid and/or Scholarship Appeals

  Business students in need of required signatures and paperwork related to financial aid or scholarship appeals should email their paperwork to bba@uh.edu. Please allow at least 5-10 business days for processing.

• General Petition Process for Policy Exceptions

  Students requesting a policy exception must fill out a General Petition (at: https://uh.edu/academics/forms) with any other necessary documentation, and email a scanned copy or photo of it to bba@uh.edu. Please allow 5-10 business days for processing.

• Enrollment in Independent Study courses

  Independent study courses (called “Special Problems” courses on the General Petition form) are available to juniors and seniors with the approval of the instructor, the department chair and the Office of Undergraduate Business Programs. It is the student’s responsibility to seek a faculty member to help design the independent study course and supervise it. No more than six semester hours of independent study courses may count toward the business administration degree plan; only three of these hours may be in the student’s major. The other three semester hours of independent study course work may count as elective credit.

  To take an independent study course, the student must first obtain a General Petition form, complete the form, and have it signed by the faculty member who will be supervising the course and the department chair. The petition must include a description of the course and indicate the term and year in which the study will take place, along with the number of credit hours. Email a scanned copy or photo of the form to bba@uh.edu or turn it into the Office of Undergraduate Business Programs at least five working days prior to the enrollment (registration) or add/drop period of the term in which the course will be taken in order to assign a section number, which is required for enrollment (registration).

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Forms

  International business students who wish to participate in Curricular Practical Training in need of their academic advisor’s signature on their form should email their form to bba@uh.edu. Please allow at least 5-10 business days for processing.

• Internship for Credit

  Business students who wish to participate in BIP should consult the Rockwell Career Center website for details on the process and required forms. RCC will coordinate with your academic advisor for their approval. An appointment is not required. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing.