Academic Advising

The Office of Veterans Affairs assists students who are receiving VA benefits or Hazelwood Exemptions. Your assigned advisor will assist you with processing your benefits, developing a degree plan, registering for courses, completing a financial aid appeal, exploring careers, and researching transfer opportunities.

Location: Palomino Center, 116

Drop-in/Walk-in Hours

September 3–November 15

Monday: 2 p.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
(check-in cutoff times are 30 minutes to an hour of closing time, depending on traffic and advisor
availability).

Zoom Link

Remote/Virtual advising provides the same quality advising service virtually via Zoom. To schedule a virtual advising session, you will still request an advising appointment through AlamoNAVIGATE during the semester (not allowed during walk-in times) and indicate the virtual option. You are not required to create a Zoom account or download the Zoom app to your personal device (phone, tablet, or computer) to use the link.

• Advisors will not register you for your classes but will assist in identifying classes.
• Advisors will not choose your career path but will provide guidance and resources to help identify a career path.
• Advisors do not provide mental health counseling but will make referrals when necessary.

An advisor will be assigned once you have enrolled for classes for the semester. The advisor assigned to you is dependent on your degree plan or program of study.

All students can schedule an appointment with their assigned advisor through AlamoNAVIGATE (during the semester) via their ACES portal. Appointment times fill quickly; please plan accordingly.

Appointments are scheduled for 45 mins – 1hr periods and must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. Same-day appointments are not available. If you cannot keep your appointment, please contact your advisor via phone or email to reschedule as soon as possible or the front desk at 210-486-3300. Arrive on time (in person or remotely) and check in at the Academic Advising. You may be asked to reschedule if you arrive 5 minutes or later for an appointment. Bring all necessary documents to your appointment, including a valid photo ID.

Need help? View this Step by Step Guide to schedule an appointment in AlamoNAVIGATE.

Your assigned academic advisor can answer questions submitted from your ACES student email. In emails to advisors, please include the following:

• Your first name.
• Last name.
• Student Banner ID number.
• A detailed description of what you need.

Your advisor will return your message as soon as possible on a first-come, first-served basis. Remember that your advisor may take up to 24-48 business hours to respond, so please be patient. If a question is of high importance, please call 210-486-3300. If you require more time, we recommend you schedule an appointment with your assigned advisor through AlamoNAVIGATE via the ACES portal.

To have a productive meeting with your advisor, please consider the following:

• Create a reminder with your appointment date and time on your phone or in your planner.
  
  
• Prepare for your meeting by creating a list of topics you want to discuss, such as classes to take, transfer planning, graduation planning, goal setting, and any additional concerns regarding your educational and career goals.
  
  
• Meet with your assigned academic advisor every semester to ensure you stay on track. Meet with them early to avoid any issues with registering for future classes once registration begins.
  
  
• Create an advising folder to keep yourself organized with advising-related materials [For example, degree plans, schedule plans, and notes from advising meetings] and keep it updated.
  
  
• Check your ACES student email regularly, as this is how your assigned academic advisor will communicate with you. Remember that any emails sent from your email may get caught in our SPAM folder, and we will be unable to see them.
  
  
• Personal accountability – You must review your grades and GPS degree plan in ACES at the end of each term.

If you're encountering registration holds, please review the information below to learn how you can solve some of the holds:

1. Bacterial Meningitis (BM)- The Texas State Law (SB 1107) established the requirement for students entering any Texas institution of higher education to provide proper documentation showing that they have received the bacterial meningitis vaccination within five years and at least ten calendar days before the start of the semester. To submit your BM documentation, please follow these steps.
   
   
2. High School/College Transcripts- All official transcripts may be mailed to:
   

   Palo Alto College
   ATTN: Enrollment Services
   1400 W. Villaret BLVD.
   San Antonio, Texas 78224
   
   

3. Testing - TSI is a state-mandated program that measures reading, writing, and mathematics skills to determine students’ readiness to enroll and perform in entry-level academic coursework. Students are required to test and to be advised based on the results of their TSI assessment scores. Visit the Testing Center for more information.

Students on academic probation who earn a semester grade point average below 2.0 will be placed on academic dismissal. As per the Alamo Colleges District policy, students placed on Academic Dismissal must remain out a period of time as dictated by level of academic dismissal. Upon completion of the sit-out period, students must complete the petition process by the set deadlines listed below.

• Students on their 1st or 2nd Academic Dismissal must sit out one full 16-week semester prior to petitioning.
  Only students on 1st Academic Dismissal have the option to complete the petition process without sitting out at least one full 16-week fall or spring semester. 
• Students on third (3rd) or Permanent Academic Dismissal must sit out one (1) full academic year (spring, summer and fall) prior to initiating the petition process. 
• Transfer Students must include a copy of their transcript(s) from the last college/university attended with their petition packet at time of petitioning and adhere to sit out periods indicated above.
• Transient Students referred to take courses by their home institution advisor will need to provide signed documentation including recommended courses and eligibility to return to that home institution in the subsequent semester.

Petitions must be received by the date listed below according to term of enrollment. Submission by the Priority deadline is recommended due to limited interview sessions and course availability.

Dismissal Petitions for the summer semesters are not accepted.

Academic Dismissal Petition Packet

Yes, you can register for Full Academic Year (Fall, Spring, and Summer simultaneously). Registering for Full Academic Year secures your classes, reduces stress, and helps you stay on track to achieve your educational goals. Learn more about Full Academic Year registration.

CPOS (Course Program of Study) is a requirement that states only courses that are part of your degree plan or certificate can count towards your total enrolled hours for receiving financial aid.