Interim Advising

The CNMS Advising office publishes advising assignments once a semester — typically in October and March. As a result, some students will need interim advising support until they are formally assigned to a specific advisor during the next cycle.

Students who may fall into this category are as follows:

  • New, incoming students.
  • Continuing students who have recently declared a natural science major OR who are changing to another major within our college and their previously assigned advisor is no longer compatible.
  • Returning natural science students who have been away from the university for one or more semesters.

Each of these student categories can get in contact with CNMS Advising via CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu. Our office will triage students according to their major, credit status, and need. Additional information — by student category — can be found below.

After you have completed your initial orientation advising session, all questions and concerns can be directed to CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu. Any member of the CNMS Advising Team can assist you in the interim. You can expect to be assigned a specific advisor during the next cycle (October or March). Please monitor your myUMBC account and email for updates.

Students who have declared or changed a natural science major prior to the end of the most recent schedule adjustment period may not have an appropriately assigned advisor during this cycle. In the interim, they will be served by either the CNMS Advising Office via CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu (if under 30 earned credits) OR their respective department’s interim advisor (over 30 earned credits).

DEPARTMENTAL INTERIM ADVISING CONTACTS FOR UNASSIGNED STUDENTS OVER 30 EARNED CREDITS ONLY

BIOCHEMISTRY — Dr. Allison Tracy (atracy@umbc.edu)

BIOINFORMATICS — Dr. Daniel Lobo (lobo@umbc.edu)

BIOLOGY — CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu

BIOLOGY EDUCATION — Dr. David Eisenmann (eisenman@umbc.edu)

CHEMISTRY EDUCATION — Dr. Tiffany Gierasch (gierasch@umbc.edu)

CHEMISTRY — Dr. Lisa Kelly (lkelly@umbc.edu)

PHYSICS & PHYSICS EDUCATION — CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu if PHYS 224 is not completed, Dr. Eric Anderson (andersoe@umbc.edu) if enrolled in or completed PHYS 224

TRANSLATIONAL LIFE SCIENCES TECHNOLOGY — Dr. Elizabeth Friar (efriar1@umbc.edu)

If you have been away from UMBC for a semester or more, your advising assignment may need updating and/or your advisor may no longer be available. If possible, we ask that you follow up with your previously assigned advisor and/or you can seek assistance from the CNMS Advising Team via CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu. We will aim to reconnect you with your previous advisor if/when possible.

Depending on the number of terms that you were away and your standing at the time, you may have to pursue reinstatement or readmission. Specifically, if have interrupted continuous registration for two or more regular semesters you will have to apply for Readmission (if your GPA was over a 2.0) OR Reinstatement (f your GPA was below a 2.0). Additional information about these processes can be found HERE.