Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success

The Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success (CLASS) exists for the purpose of supporting underclassmen who are exploratory or need to complete prerequisite requirements for admission to their desired major. Professional staff equipped with various academic resources and tools guide first- and second-year students on their journey filled with exploration, passion, engagement and success. The CLASS team is committed to helping every student transition to college, select a major aligning with their career interests, build an academic plan of study and eventually declare a major offered by one of West Virginia University's (WVU) 11 colleges and schools. This is accomplished through a combination of appreciative advising, coaching/mentoring and tutoring.

Academic Advising

The Advising Center is home to underclassmen admitted to WVU into a guided pathway. Students enroll in one of eight guided pathways designed to promote exploration, complete the General Education Foundations requirements and work toward satisfying requirements for admission to a major. Every student is assigned a professional academic adviser who specializes in one or more pathways. In addition, the conditional admission program supports students who are provisionally admitted to WVU. All CLASS students are supported by the Advising Center until they reach junior class standing or are admitted to an academic college or school. Once admitted to an academic college or school, a student is assigned a faculty or professional adviser in the college or school that confers their intended degree and major.

First-Year Experience

The First-Year Experience office assists students in transitioning to college by providing tools and resources to establish a foundation for academic success. This is accomplished through building professional and social relationships, developing critical thinking skills and creating a holistic plan for success. The staff serves as the central contact for all First-Year Seminar faculty, including curriculum consultation, instructor resources and professional development.

High School ACCESS Early College Program

The High School ACCESS Early College program offers traditional or home-schooled high school sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to jump start their college career by enrolling in college courses. Students who possess a 3.0 or higher high school GPA may complete courses online, on campus or on-site in participating high schools. Students may enroll in courses that fulfill general education requirements at most West Virginia public colleges and universities.

REACH Student Success Office

The REACH Student Success office helps all WVU students regardless of major reach their potential through free academic support including success coaching, outreach, tutoring and workshops. Programming and outreach is provided for specific populations including students in CLASS, first-generation college students (neither parent has graduated from a four-year institution in the US), rural students, and students receiving the Pell grant.

Student Support Services/TRIO

Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded TRIO program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. SSS helps under-resourced students persist and graduate from WVU. To qualify for the program, students must meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria: Be a first-generation college attendee (neither parent/guardian has earned a four-year college degree); be income eligible as determined by the federal government; have a documented disability (and registered with the WVU Office of Accessibility Services). SSS provides participants with academic instruction and tutoring, advising, mentoring, financial aid application assistance, financial literacy education, graduate school preparation and other supports necessary to earn a post-secondary education. The program is voluntary and participants are selected through an application process, as spaces are limited.

Upward Bound/TRIO

Upward Bound (UB) is a federally funded TRIO program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. UB assists income-eligible high school students who will be the first in their families to go to college. Specifically, UB assists high school students with overcoming academic, social and cultural barriers to higher education, with the goals of being successful in high school and college enrollment, persistence and completion. UB must meet federally established objectives and provides both academic year and summer services to the students in the program.

Admissions

First-time freshmen, continuing students or first-time transfer students who are exploratory (undecided) or not eligible for admission directly into the college or school that houses their intended major may enroll in CLASS.

First-Time Freshmen

Students apply to WVU as either an undecided student or directly to the major they are interested in pursuing. All undecided students, as well as students not directly admitted into a college or school, are supported in one of the eight guided pathways within CLASS. Students are allowed to remain in a guided pathway until they have accumulated 45 earned credit hours. By the end of the next regular term of study, students have to enroll in a college or school for which they meet admission requirements. If students do not meet admission requirements for their preferred major, college or school, their academic adviser will assist them in identifying one for which they do. Students in the Exploratory Pathway may remain undecided for up to one year or until they have accumulated 30 earned credit hours. Once an undecided student earns 30 credit hours they must transition into a guided pathway within CLASS or transition to a college or school.

Current Students (changing majors within WVU)

Current WVU students changing their major may be admitted into a guided pathway within CLASS if they have fewer than 45 earned credit hours. Students with 45 or more earned credit hours will need to secure admission to a college or school at the end of the next regular term of study.

First-Time Transfers

First-time transfer students with 45 or fewer earned credit hours may be admitted into one of the guided pathways within CLASS. Students with 45 or more earned credit hours need to secure admission to a college or school for which they meet admission requirements and enroll in courses counting toward a bachelor's degree.

Guided Pathways

The eight guided pathways are designed to help students explore complementary majors and careers. Students receive professional academic advising and other support services to ensure they are enrolling in and successfully completing courses that count toward their intended or a parallel major.

Guided pathways provide students with the latitude to explore a variety of different majors at WVU, earn a bachelor's or professional degree and begin a professional career. Many majors can lead to desired career ambitions; therefore, some majors may fall under multiple pathways. CLASS's website has additional information on guided pathways, including majors and careers to help students who are uncertain about their academic journey at WVU.

Agriculture and Natural Sciences Pathway

From sustainable crop and food production to protecting natural resources, Agriculture and Natural Sciences Pathway students can start their own business, launch their own product lines, or work in growing industries like food science, veterinary medicine and soil and water conservation.

Business and Communications Pathway

Majors in this pathway prepare for rapidly evolving business and media fields. Graduates can pursue their own business ventures, climb the corporate ladder or innovate new products and services. Career paths include accounting, information technology, project management, fundraising and technical writing.

Exploratory Pathway

Many students start college as undecided/undeclared students, and all of them explore their paths to fit their interests. With over 120 undergraduate majors, a CLASS adviser will assist students along their journey.

Healthcare Pathway

Students entering this pathway want to help people, whether they are diagnosing medical conditions, treating patients, curing diseases, or analyzing health data. This pathway is the academic home for students completing admission requirements for biomedical laboratory diagnostics, immunology and medical microbiology, occupational therapy or pharmacy.

Liberal Arts and Humanities Pathway

This broad range of majors is the gateway to an even broader range of careers. Students gain in-depth knowledge in one area, plus skills like communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking that apply to many disciplines. Career fields in copy writing, translating, law and museum conservation are all popular.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Pathway

STEM majors solve everyday problems and help build a better future. From aerospace engineering to physics to cybersecurity, these majors require a passion for thinking outside the box and the willingness to tackle big questions. Careers include petroleum engineering, software development, fraud examination, chemistry and physics.

Social Sciences Pathway

One part science and one part art, this pathway is for students who want to help change lives for the better. These majors are all about studying and analyzing human behavior and society while looking for ways to improve how we think and act. Careers vary from clinical psychology to human resources to politics.

Visual and Performing Arts Pathway

These majors fit every dream, from the future record producer to the budding Oscar winner. With a museum and creative arts center, students have plenty of inspiration. Graduates work across a broad spectrum of fields, from creating art to performing on a stage to education.

Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success