Advising Information
Advisors
Candidates are assigned an advisor when they enter the Program. Advisor office hours are posted each semester. In addition, each candidate has a computerized screen of advisement comments. Candidates are encouraged to check this screen every semester—especially during the junior and senior years—when this screen may contain important information about progress towards graduation. In RamPortal, click "degree audit" and scroll to the bottom to view your advising notes.
Scheduling
All majors in the Program are required to contact their advisor at least two weeks prior to their enrollment appointment each semester. Each semester, an enrollment appointment, set by the Office of the Registrar, indicates each candidate’s access date for course enrollment. It may benefit candidates to see their advisors twice during the semester. Appointments can be made with advisors during their office hours.
Bring to your meeting with your advisor:
- a current printout of your degree audit from Ramportal.
- your colored degree guidance sheet, and
- your proposed schedule of courses for the next semester.
Once your advisor has seen you and has approved your schedule, they will open access to scheduling for you. You may then use Ramportal to schedule via the computer terminals on campus or on-line through any computer with Web access at www.wcupa.edu.
Declaring a Minor
Candidates are encouraged to apply their nine credits of electives towards fulfilling the requirements for a minor. The University offers minors in many fields, such as languages, dance, creative writing, and computer science. Candidates interested in completing an education minor might consider Autism, Literacy, Special Education, PK-8 Mathematics, or Science Education. Requirements for all minors are available in the Undergraduate Catalog. To ensure completion of the minor, candidates should submit the application and plan their coursework no later than their fourth semester on campus.
Graduation
Graduation from West Chester University is not automatic; candidates must apply. Candidates are urged to keep current regarding the graduation procedures and timelines that are published on the Office of the Registrar’s website. To graduate, EGP majors must have the minimum cumulative GPA as stipulated by West Chester University, provide evidence of taking the PDE mandated specialty tests, and have completed all requirements for graduation, with a minimum of 120 credits, including the required writing-emphasis, speaking-emphasis, interdisciplinary, diverse communities, and ethics courses, and professional requirements. Candidates must pass all PDE mandated tests for certification.
When a candidate applies for graduation, a Graduation Analyst in the Registrar’s Office reviews the academic record to ensure completion of general education requirements; candidates are notified via email and through an advisor comment posted on their Degree Audit. When a candidate attends a student teaching pre-registration meeting, the Department of Early and Middle Grades Education initiates a review of the academic record to ensure completion of all professional course requirements. Candidates are notified via email to enroll in remaining courses in the major. It is the responsibility of each candidate to respond to the reviews of both the EMGE Department and Office of the Registrar and to complete all requirements.