Academic Advising focuses on the development of students to assist them in achieving their academic, career and personal goals while at Blackhawk Technical College.
Students are encouraged to consult with their assigned academic advisor about any academic or personal problems. Their advisor can help them explore their aspirations and interests. Services include academic planning and goal setting; career exploration and guidance; referrals to on-campus and community resources; and support with academic and/or personal concerns.
Academic advisors are located within the Student Services Department at the Beloit-Janesville Campus and at other locations.
Students can schedule an appointment with an academic advisor through the "My Student Appointments" card in MyBTC, by calling 608-757-7668, or emailing advising@blackhawk.edu.
Advising, Registration, and Onboarding (ARO) Process
New program students are required to complete the Advising, Registration and Onboarding (ARO) process prior to registering in courses. During the ARO process, students will receive an introduction to Blackboard, which is Blackhawk's learning management system. Students will also learn more about policies, procedures and resources at Blackhawk, receive assistance with technology, meet with advising and financial aid staff, and register for courses.
In the first semester after completing the ARO process, students will be required to meet with their assigned academic advisor to review and update their Master Academic Plan (MAP). Students are encouraged to work closely with their assigned academic advisor to create a plan that will help them reach their goals.
University Transfer Programs and Articulation Agreements
The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees and established articulation agreements are pathways to bachelor's or advanced degrees. Students should connect with an advisor or admission counselor at their receiving institution and participate in parallel advising to ensure the courses align with bachelor's degree requirements. It is the student's responsibility to establish and maintain that relationship with the receiving institution.
Pathway Checkpoint
Pathway Checkpoint sessions occur during the registration period each semester. These sessions are optional but provide students with an opportunity to meet with an advisor, check their progress toward their degree and register for courses. Students are encouraged to review their Master Academic Plan (Degree Audit and Student Education Plan) in the ‘Degree Audit’ card in MyBTC. These tools are personalized and created in partnership with a student’s academic advisor that can serve as a road map for the completion of required courses.
Alerts, Kudos and Referrals
Blackhawk Technical College is committed to supporting student success through early intervention, encouragement, and coordinated support. Faculty and staff play a critical role in identifying students who may need assistance, recognizing achievements, and connecting students with campus resources. Alerts, kudos, and referrals provide a streamlined way to communicate concerns, celebrate progress, and obtain access to important resources.
Students who need academic support should seek help immediately. Faculty identify attendance and/or other academic concerns early in the semester. These concerns can lead to an alert being submitted when a student is experiencing academic challenges that may impact their success. Examples include:
- Excessive absences or lack of participation
- Missing assignments or declining academic performance
- Concerning academic performance, that may result in a failing grade
When an alert is submitted, the student and the appropriate support staff (such as Academic Advising, Student Success, or other designated offices) are notified and will review the information and conduct outreach to the student. Students are encouraged to first work directly with their instructor based on the details of the alert. The goal is proactive intervention and outreach connecting students to resources before challenges become barriers to completion. Alerts are not punitive. They are intended to provide timely support and promote student persistence and well-being. Outreach to students can be by email, text message, and/or phone call.
Submitted alerts will be cleared after the student has been contacted or attempted to contact. The support staff members will identify how they reached out to the student providing any resolution details. All interactions will be tracked.
Faculty and staff can also submit kudos. Kudos recognize positive student performance, improvement, or engagement. Students are notified of kudos by email and there is no follow-up needed. Faculty and staff are encouraged to submit Kudos for students who demonstrate:
- Academic excellence or significant improvement
- Consistent attendance and participation
- Positive contributions to the classroom or campus community
A referral is used when a student would benefit from a specific campus service or resource. Referrals may be made by faculty and staff members to offices such as:
- Academic Advising
- Financial Aid
- Counseling or Support Services
- Tutoring or Academic Support
- Career Services
- Access and Accommodations
Referrals help ensure students are connected directly to the appropriate department for follow-up. In many cases, staff will reach out to the student directly after a referral is submitted either by email, text message, or phone.
Students can request more information about any concerns that they have. By using the ‘Student Support Resources’ card in MyBTC, students can connect with their academic advisor or to other basic needs resources on and off campus. Students can choose different needs ranging from adding, dropping, or withdrawing from a class to requesting help with technology concerns to needing assistance with food or housing. Students are encouraged to use this tool if they have concerns and don’t know where to go. Support staff will connect with students by email, text message, and/or phone to assist as quickly as they can.
Text Messaging
Text messaging is one of the most effective and timely ways to provide outreach related to alerts, kudos, and referrals. Students are strongly encouraged to keep text messaging enabled (not opt-out) to ensure they receive important support communications and time-sensitive information designed to help them stay on track and succeed.