What is an Advising Hold?

advisor and student working together

As you gear up for your next semester as a new student at Kennesaw State University, we want to shed some light on what the Advising Hold is. This registration hold is specifically designed for all new, first-semester students (if you start in the Summer, you will receive a hold to meet with advising in the Fall semester).

So, what is the purpose of the Advising Hold?
Think of it as a friendly check-in with your advisor to ensure you have a smooth transition into your next semester.

You and your advisor will discuss:

  • How your current semester is going and review the requirements of your major.
  • Your registration plans for the upcoming semester.
  • Referrals to any on-campus services, opportunities, or tutoring that may benefit you.

How do I remove my Advising Hold?

  • Once Advising Holds have been placed, your assigned advisor will send you instructions on how to remove the hold to your student email.

  • You can visit your advising office during their "Drop-In" advising hours! Drop-In hours offer both in-person as well as virtual options.

    See below for information on completing the advising hold module.

  • That is okay! While the advisor of your current major will still be reaching out to you with information on how to remove your hold, you can instead meet an advisor in your new major. To do so, you can:

  • No! This hold is only placed one time, but you are encouraged to meet with your academic advisor every semester so that you stay on track for graduation!

Advising Hold Online Module

To offer another option for removing your new, first-semester student Advising Hold during our high traffic times, you may be eligible to do the Advising Hold Modules which will require you to go through information and submit an academic plan that will be vetted through Advising.

There is no requirement that you complete the modules if your preference is to attend advising. If appointments availability is currently scarce, please check our drop-in and/or express advising information! We encourage you to come and see us, if you have questions about major, various resources to get involved in, or ways to help you be successful at KSU.

Some student circumstances are better supported through a 1:1 interaction.  Because of this, please check the following eligibility requirements for the Advising Hold Modules:

  • KSU GPA 2.5 or above
  • Cannot be in an undeclared focus area (Owl Advising wants to meet with you to discuss your major decision!)
  • Cannot be a Music or Music Education (because of the intricacy of performance/ensemble/symposium course assignments)

The module cannot be used to remove the following holds:

  • Business Advising Hold
  • Dual Enrollment Advising Hold
  • Probation Advising Hold
  • Warning Advising Hold.

Please see our Probation Hold page for more information on removing a Warning or Probation Hold.

Access the Advising Hold Module

What happens if I do not remove my Advising Hold?

An Advising Hold on your Owl Express account will prevent you from registering for classes.

By not meeting with an advisor to remove this hold promptly, you risk encountering delays when it comes to registering for classes in the upcoming semester. These delays could potentially impact your access to preferred courses, schedules that align with your commitments, and even your overall academic progress.

We strongly recommend addressing the Advising Hold as soon as possible!