School of Management Advisement Center

The School of Management Advisement Center (SOMAC) provides students with the guidance and resources necessary to:
* Assess their career goals in an effort to determine their academic objectives,
* Make informed decisions as they strategically plan their academic path to meet their career goals, and
* Take advantage of opportunities to intern, study abroad, and interact with business professionals through seminars, forums, networking, etc.

At present, the SOMAC:
* Coordinates registration for the students and faculty of the SOM
* Provides advisement for all freshmen and sophomores (Pre-Management Majors) in the SOM
* Maintains the advisement files of all students in the SOM
* Serves as a liaison between SOM majors and the University’s Offices of Career Planning and Placement, Student Services, Counseling, and the Registrar
* Apprises students of current trends in and the many facets of business and industry
* Provides students with scholarship, internship, study abroad, full-time employment, and graduate school information
* Coordinates professional development activities including professional development courses, forums, and seminars providing students the opportunity to interact with business professionals
* Guides students through a broad spectrum of professional development models and courses to assist them in making smooth transitions from academia to the workplace
* Addresses issues of retention

ADVISEMENT PROCEDURES

As of the fall 2004 semester, all incoming freshmen accepted by the University for a major in the SOM will be accepted as Pre-Management Majors. All students in the Pre-Management phase will be advised by the director and career and academic advisors of the SOMAC.

To advance from the Pre-Management Phase, students must meet the following criteria at the end of the first semester of their sophomore year:

* A grade point average of 2.50 or better overall
* A grade of 2.00 or better in all business related courses
* A grade of 2.00 or better in all English and Math courses
* A minimum of 45 credit hours

The SOMAC will review student records during the second semester of the sophomore year and make recommendations to the Department Chairs and the Dean regarding advancement or denial.

Upon entering the junior year, a student may be declared a SOM Major. The SOMAC will then assign the student to a faculty member who will serve as a mentor/advisor for the remainder of his or her matriculation. In the senior year, a SOM major must meet with the respective department chairperson to prepare a senior audit. (Senior audits ensure that a student is on track to complete course requirements to graduate. This information is forwarded to the SOMAC and then to the Records Office.) Students are welcomed to maintain the mentor/advisor relationship with the faculty member initially assigned by the SOMAC.