First Year Advising
First year students with a primary major in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) are assigned a First Year Advisor (FYA). Our FYAs advise clusters of CNS majors and are experts in helping students navigate the transition from high school to college.
Your FYA can help you:
- Register for classes
- Navigate UMass and adjust to college life
- Explore majors and academic opportunities
- Connect with campus resources and support services
At the end of your first year, your FYA will help you transition to an Upper-Level Advisor, who will support you from sophomore year through graduation..
Students in our A.S. degrees are advised by their major department right away.
You'll be assigned to a First Year Advisor based on your primary major—and your assigned FYA may change if your major changes. To view your assigned advisor, log in to SPIRE. Select the Academics tile and then Advisor & Academic Summary to view your advisor.
Contact CNS First Year Advising
Lederle Graduate Research Tower (LGRT) Room 122
cnsfirstyearadvising [at] umass [dot] edu (cnsfirstyearadvising[at]umass[dot]edu)
Add/Drop Advising
During the first week of classes appointments aren’t available through Navigate since the window is so short. Instead, we offer Drop-In Advising.
What is drop-in advising?
A short (about 15-minute) conversation with an advisor focused on schedule changes before the September 8 deadline.
Where and when to get help:
Visit the First Year Advising Office – 122 Lederle Tower – Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM.
We’ll be offering drop-in advising all week—no appointment needed.
How long will I wait?
It varies. Peak times are usually right after classes end, so you may experience a wait. We’ll work hard to see you as quickly as possible, and in some majors, peer advisors will also be available to support you.
Making an advising appointment
Schedule an in person or virtual appointment through Navigate.
- Click the blue "Make an Appointment" button.
- Under what type of appointment would you like to schedule? select Advising.
- Choose the reason for the appointment. When in doubt, choose Academic Advising.
- Select a date then click "Find Available Time" to see your assigned advisor's calendar.
Make scheduling even easier by downloading the Navigate app!
Delcaring a CNS major or changing your current CNS major
Any undergraduate student who wants to declare, change, or add a CNS Major should complete the CNS Change of Major Form. This includes:
- CNS students changing from one CNS major to another
- Students from other schools/colleges who want to switch into a CNS major
- Any student who wants to add a secondary major in CNS
This form should not be used to declare a minor.
We will review your request and get back to you with next steps, which may include scheduling an advising appointment.
CNS First Year Advising Directory
Tonya Blundon
Tonya Blundon is the Director of CNS First Year Advising.
Emily Rodgers
Emily Rodgers is an Office Manager for CNS First Year Advising.
Aly Kosteva
Aly Kosteva is a first year advisor in CNS First Year Advising.
Anna Ostow
Anna Ostow is a first year advisor in CNS First Year Advising.
Brian Strauss
Brian Strauss is a first year advisor in CNS First Year Advising.
Lyn Broyles
Lyn Broyles is a first year advisor in CNS First Year Advising.
Madeline Wood
Madeline (Maddie) Wood is a first year advisor in CNS First Year Advising.
Maia Valcarce
Maia Valcarce is a first year advisor in CNS First Year Advising.
