Academic Advising
Due to high volume, scheduled appointments are limited, but you can still drop in for advising support virtually or in person at one of our campus advising offices during regular business hours. For virtual support, please call (757) 822-1111 or fill out this form for advising support via email.
- Come prepared to each appointment with questions and/or materials for discussion.
- Keep a personal record of advising sessions and progress toward academic goals.
- Clarify personal values and goals to identify skills, interests, and abilities.
- Be aware of the academic calendar deadlines for each academic session.
- Become familiar with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations.
Academic advising is essential during your time at Tidewater Community College. TCC’s academic advisors will help you develop an academic plan, stay on track for your degree program, and make decisions about your educational and career goals.
New college students (who have not attended another college after high school completion) should attend a New Student Group Advising session. This includes the following students:
- Recent high school or GED graduates, including those with dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits
- Adult learners with no previous college or military experience
International students seeking to study in the US on F-1 visas should follow these steps.
To prepare for your group advising session, students should:
- Determine academic placement by completing the Direct Enrollment Placement Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, keep a copy of the English and Math score reports for your records.
- Students who have taken SAT, ACT, GED, AP, or IB exams should bring a copy of score reports to review placement into college-level courses.
- Students should also resolve any admissions or domicile holds.
To schedule a New Student Group Advising session, review the instructions below. If you cannot access Navigate Student, need assistance registering for a group advising session, or are an online student, call 757-822-1111 for assistance. Due to limited spacing in the computer labs, only students are guaranteed space to attend the group advising session.
New Student Group Advising Session Registration Instructions
- Log into myTCC using your username and password.
- Launch the EAB Navigate Student – TCC icon on the main screen.
- Select Appointments from the left-hand side menu.
- Click on Schedule an Appointment.
- Select Advising for type of Appointment.
- Select a Service (Group Advising).
- Click Find Available Time.
- Choose from the available locations.
- Select the day and time that works best for you.
- Review Appointment Details and Confirm your appointment information (this information will be emailed to you).
- Select Schedule to finalize the appointment.
New students should also register for a New Student Orientation session. More information regarding orientation can be found here.
Students new to TCC, who have completed coursework at another college or university, should meet with an advisor for a walk-in advising session or virtually by uploading an official transcript to this virtual advising request form.
To prepare for a walk-in advising meeting:
- Determine academic placement by completing the Direct Enrollment Placement Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, keep a copy of the English and Math score reports for your records.
- Students who have taken SAT, ACT, GED, AP, or IB exams should bring a copy of score reports to review placement into college-level courses.
- Students should also resolve any admissions or domicile holds.
We recommend arriving on campus no later than 30 minutes before closing.
Students new to TCC, who have earned college credit through military experience, should first email their Joint Services Transcript (JST) to veritas@tcc.edu for an unofficial evaluation. Students may also visit credits2careers.org for additional information.
Once the JST has been evaluated, students may meet with an academic advisor for a walk-in advising session or by completing this virtual advising request form.
Students requesting an Official Degree Plan for Military Tuition Assistance (TA) or MyCAA should contact military@tcc.edu.
To prepare for a walk-in advising meeting:
- Determine academic placement by completing the Direct Enrollment Placement Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, keep a copy of the English and Math score reports for your records.
- Students who have taken SAT, ACT, GED, AP, or IB exams should bring a copy of score reports to review placement into college-level courses.
- Students should bring the JST evaluation provided by the Veritas liaison and an unofficial copy of their college transcript(s). Students may also submit official transcripts by following these instructions.
- Students should also resolve any admissions or domicile holds.
We recommend arriving on campus no later than 30 minutes before closing.
Current and returning students can use their Advisement Report in the Student Information System (SIS), along with curriculum guides, to review the required courses needed to complete their academic program. Learn what the designated Passport courses mean on the Advisement Report here.
To connect with a student’s assigned academic advisor, log in to MyTCC, then select Navigate Student. Additionally, contact information for a student’s TCC Success Team can be found under Resources.
- Contact advisors via email or by visiting any campus.
- Don’t see an assigned advisor in Navigate Student or your assigned advisor is out of the office? Connect with an advisor either through a walk-in advising session or virtually by completing this virtual advising request form.
We recommend arriving on-campus no later than 30 minutes before closing.
Students who are planning to transfer are encouraged to meet with an advisor to align TCC coursework with their transfer school’s requirements. For more transfer advising recommendations, click here.
Prepare to successfully transition into college by attending New Student Orientation. Attending an orientation session will help students build a solid foundation for success and acclimate to the TCC community.
Learn how to navigate campus and locate important resources and services, like libraries, academic support, food pantries, and computer labs. Find answers to questions about starting and succeeding in college, including academic advising, mental health counseling, and military-related student support.
Register for in-person New Student Orientation or log in to MyTCC to complete TCC Online Orientation.
Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university after their time at TCC should review transfer agreements and requirements each semester with an advisor. Students may use the following resources to guide their transfer research:
- Transfer Virginia Portal
- Virginia Community College System Guaranteed Admissions Agreements
- TCC Articulation Agreements
- Virginia’s Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program
- Transfer Preparation Checklist
- Common App for Transfer Video
Admissions representatives from TCC’s four-year partner institutions visit campus each semester. See the Transfer Events calendar for information related to campus visits, workshops, and college transfer fairs.
At TCC, we want our students to feel prepared to enter the workforce. For students who have not decided which career pathway is best for them, TCC advisors can assist in career exploration. Students who would like assistance with narrowing down a career pathway can:
- Complete the Career Coach Assessment and save the results.
- Meet with an advisor to discuss their assessment results during a walk-in advising session or by scheduling an appointment for career advising in Navigate Student.
For more information about employment resources and career preparation, visit TCC Career Services.
Current, returning, and visiting students can connect with advisors virtually – either via email or by receiving a same-day returned phone call, for the following services.
Receive virtual advising support for the services below by completing an online form. Click the link to access the form and receive an email response within 48 hours:
- Unofficial Transcript Review: Learn how credits from another college or university may transfer into TCC based on intended academic program or major.
- Academic Planning: Receive an academic plan with suggested courses for the next 1-2 semesters based on academic program or major.
- Curriculum Change Request: Request to change an academic program or major.
- Prerequisite Waivers: Receive authorization to enroll in a class based on coursework at another institution or through an exam completion.
- Graduation Review: Review readiness to apply for graduation.
- Confirmation of Enrollment in Correct Classes: Stay on track for degree completion by allowing an advisor to review enrolled classes.
- SAP Academic Plan: Not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress? Receive an academic plan from an academic advisor to share with a financial aid advisor.
Receive virtual advising support for the services below by speaking with an academic advisor via phone. Call 757-822-1111 to be placed on a list for an advisor to return your call the same day.
- Academic Planning: Discuss an academic plan with suggested courses for the next 1-2 semesters based on academic program or major.
- Curriculum Change Request: Discuss changing an academic program or major before completing the online request form.
- Graduation Review: Discuss readiness to apply for graduation.
- Confirmation of Enrollment in Correct Classes: Stay on track for degree completion by speaking with an advisor and reviewing enrolled classes.
For any other advising needs that require more time, plan to meet with an advisor for a walk-in advising session or schedule an appointment through Navigate Student. We recommend arriving on campus no later than 30 minutes before closing.
Monday and Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
We recommend arriving on campus no later than 30 minutes before closing.