What is CAAS?
CAAS stands for the Center for Advising and Academic Success, and serves all residential and online students during their time here at NCSSM. The purpose and function of the Center is to provide individual, ongoing and real-time academic support and guidance for all students.
Some of the CAAS services include:
providing guidance and advice for students on course choices and placement
providing academic consultation for students
developing and managing academic support plans
communicating directly with student support teams
communicating/collaborating with Counseling on academic support
providing administrative support for Enrollment Services/Registrar
Q: Who are the CAAS Advisors?
Meet the CAAS Leadership Team here! In addition to our leadership team, CAAS is also supported by NCSSM Faculty Advisors from each of the academic departments.
Q: Do I have an assigned CAAS Advisor?
Not typically. The CAAS Leadership Team is present on both NCSSM Campuses and generally, students will work with either of the CAAS Advisors located on their campus.
In some cases, a student may need to be assigned to a specific Advisor for additional ongoing support, at that time the student and their families will be notified.
Q: What are the CAAS Office Hours?
CAAS Advising is available Monday – Friday. Hours vary by Advisor but there is generally availability from 9am-5pm. However, students may contact CAAS via email at caas@ncssm.edu at any time. Students may also request an advising appointment at any time by completing the CAAS Student Appointment Request Form. Please allow 2 business days for a response to both email and appointment requests.
Q: Where is CAAS located?
Durham Campus: Watts 106 and Morganton Campus: Academic Commons 1102/1008
Q: How do I contact an Advisor if I have a quick question but don’t need an appointment?
You may contact CAAS via email at caas@ncssm.edu at any time with quick questions. You may also drop by *in-person to chat with an advisor (*as availability allows).
Q: How do I schedule an appointment with a CAAS Advisor?
Students may request an advising appointment at any time by completing the CAAS Student Appointment Request Form. Please allow 2 business days for a response to appointment requests.
Q: What events are CAAS hosting this semester?
CAAS Workshops and Events can be found on our NCSSM Academic Resources page. There are also flyers posted on the digital displays around both campuses!
Q: I would like to request Academic Relief. What steps do I need to take?
CAAS cannot grant academic relief. Students needing to request academic relief should refer to the NCSSM Handbook and follow the required steps through their Instructors/Academic Programs for major assignments relief or through their assigned Counselor for course underload requests.
Q: Can CAAS change my course placement level?
No. Students concerned about their course placement should consult directly with the corresponding Dean for feedback/support regarding course placement level.
Q: How can I request a schedule change?
Students needing to inquire about a schedule change should consult with the Registrar's Office for support.
Q: How do I know when I should connect with CAAS vs. another department/someone else (i.e. Counseling, Registrar’s Office, Community Coordinator, Instructor etc.)
There are many Student Support Resources and Services available to NCSSM Students. The goal of your student support team is to work collaboratively to ensure that you have all the support you need to succeed academically and enjoy your time here at NCSSM. As such, many times the support services may overlap, however, here is a general rule of thumb for where you should start:
CAAS: Academic Support (i.e. Accountability support, Help with time management, study skills & note taking, Assignment Prioritization, Campus/Resource navigation, Goal setting while at NCSSM, Help navigating the course request process, Navigating academic concerns etc.)
Instructor: Course Content Support (i.e. Review of course material, Assignment help, Tutoring etc.)
Counseling: Wellness, College or Career Support (i.e. Mental Health/Wellness concerns, Accessibility inquiries, College Counseling, SAT/ACT inquiries, Career Advising etc.)
Registrar’s Office: Academic Administrative Support (i.e. Course registration, Transcripts, Graduation Requirement inquiries, Attendance concerns etc.)
Admissions: Admission Support (i.e. Any questions regarding the NCSSM Admission or Recruitment process. *Additionally, for current students any questions regarding the NCSSM Financial Assistance Program)
Community Coordinator: Dorm/Hall Support (i.e. Any inquiries or concerns regarding Dorm placement, accommodation or curfew requirements or Roommate concerns)
Other Student Services Support Team Members: Student Services Support (i.e. Any student activity, event, organization inquiries and Service Learning/Campus Service inquiries etc.)
Though this is by no means a comprehensive list of resources/services provided by each area it should be a good starting point for you. If you still aren’t sure where to go for the help you need, contact CAAS for additional support!