Starting college can feel like learning a whole new language.
General education requirements, major courses, transfer credits, registration, graduation requirements and academic policies can all start blending together pretty quickly.
That is where an academic advisor comes in.
At Fresno Pacific University, advisors help students understand how their degree works, build a plan to graduation, choose and register for classes and figure out what to do when something gets off track. They can also connect students with other campus resources when the help they need goes beyond academics.
They Help You Understand Your Degree
One of an advisor’s biggest jobs is helping you make sense of all the requirements that lead to graduation.
Kelly, who works with traditional undergraduate students, said students often need help understanding the difference between general education and major requirements, how upper-division units fit in and how all of those pieces add up to the 120 units needed for a bachelor’s degree.
Louis does the same with degree completion students. He walks through each student’s progress and breaks down what has already been completed and what still remains.
For students, that means you do not have to look at a degree audit and try to figure it all out by yourself.
They Help You Build a Plan
Advising is not just about telling you what class to take next.
Kelly works with students to map out what they still need and how to complete it.
“We make a plan together on how they will tackle what is left,” she said.
That plan can also take real life into account. Traditional undergraduate students may need to work around athletics or jobs. Degree completion students may be balancing school with full-time work, family and other responsibilities.
Your advisor can help you look at the bigger picture and make a plan that makes sense for your situation.
They Help You Navigate Registration
Registration can be confusing, especially when you are new.
Students ask Kelly when registration opens, which courses they should choose, whether they will continue meeting with their advisor each semester and even how to actually register for a class.
Advisors continue working with students throughout their academic journey. They can help you understand what you need next, how those classes fit your degree and how to use tools like Sunbird Central to keep track of your progress.
They Help Make Sense of Transfer Credits
For transfer and returning students, previous coursework can raise a lot of questions.
Louis regularly helps students understand why some community college courses apply toward their FPU degree and others may not.
Different colleges have different degree requirements, so transfer credit is not always as simple as counting every class you have taken.
Louis walks students through their coursework and can use ASSIST, California’s transfer and articulation resource, to look at individual classes and explain how they may transfer.
His goal is not just to tell students what counts. It is to help them understand their options and what comes next.
They Can Help When Things Get Hard
Advisors are also there when college does not go according to plan.
Kelly wants students to come to her if they are struggling in a class, having difficulty with a professor or dealing with something outside of school that is affecting their academics.
Louis takes a similar approach. If a student is falling behind, he starts by finding out what is happening and then helps connect the student with the right support.
One degree completion student was struggling with writing but could not fit in-person tutoring into an already busy schedule. Louis helped connect the student with a writing tutor through Zoom, giving the student a way to get help that worked for them.
They Help You Figure Out Your Options Before You Make a Big Decision
One thing Louis tells students often is:
“Don’t just drop your courses, communicate with me, reach out.”
If you are behind in a course, overwhelmed or thinking about dropping a class, your advisor can help you understand your options before you make that decision.
That might mean looking at deadlines and policies, talking with your instructor or figuring out whether there is another path forward.
Reaching out early gives your advisor more opportunity to help.
They Connect You With Other Support
An advisor does not have to personally solve every problem.
Part of the job is knowing where to send you.
Louis may connect students with tutoring, counseling or financial aid, depending on what they need. Kelly described advisors as a connection point between students and the rest of the university.
That can be especially helpful when you know you need help but are not sure who to ask.
When Should You Contact Your Advisor?
You do not need to wait until registration or until there is a problem.
Reach out when you have questions about your degree, transfer credits, classes or graduation plan. Contact your advisor if you are falling behind, if your schedule is becoming difficult to manage or if something outside of school is starting to affect your coursework.
And if you are not even sure what kind of help you need, that is okay too.
Your advisor can help you figure out where to start.
Connect With an Advisor
Questions about your degree, classes or next steps? Reach out to an academic advisor for guidance and support.
Louis Rodriguez
Academic Advisor, Degree Completion
Louis Rodriguez serves as an academic advisor for degree completion students at Fresno Pacific's Visalia regional campus, specializing in social work and social welfare. A proud FPU alumnus who completed the social work degree completion program, he brings firsthand experience as a graduate of the same pathway he now supports. With a background in admissions and outreach, Rodriguez is dedicated to guiding adult learners and working professionals through their educational journeys, helping them balance academic goals with life responsibilities while fostering student success in a supportive Christian university environment.
Kelly Stoltenberg
Academic Advisor
Kelly Stoltenberg serves as an academic advisor at Fresno Pacific University, partnering with students as they make informed decisions about their degree pathways, navigate personal and academic challenges and step into their calling. With a background in ministry, she brings a holistic approach to advising that supports students’ overall well-being alongside their academic success. Stoltenberg is passionate about building supportive relationships and helping students navigate college with confidence and purpose. She also studied abroad in New Zealand for a full semester during college and encourages students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities when they can.
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