Advising Numbers

The University of Montana (UM) requires that all undergraduate students meet with their advisor at least once per semester to make certain that the student is on track with university and major requirements. The mandatory advising session usually takes place prior to registering for the next semester’s classes. After the advising session, the advisor will give the student an advising number to show their endorsement of the plan of study. The advising number, which changes each semester, is a randomly generated number that allows the student to register for classes on Cyberbear

Every semester the Undergraduate Advising Center coordinates with the Registrar’s Office as to when the advising numbers are generated in Banner for the next semester’s registration period. Once the Registrar’s Office has generated the advising numbers in Banner, the Undergraduate Advising Center distributes lists of advising numbers to the major departments and the College of Technology prior to the next semester’s priority registration advising period.

The advising number lists contain all undergraduate students currently in the major department as listed in Banner. They include all currently enrolled undergraduate students, undergraduate students who attended UM within the past twenty-four months, and new undergraduate students accepted to UM who will start the next semester. The lists do not include graduate and post-baccalaureate students because they do not need advising numbers to register for classes.

The advising number lists contain several pieces of information along with the advising number. It contains the student’s name, ID number and major/option. It also includes the student’s class status and the number of credits the student has taken. Both of these include in progress credits, which determines when the student will register for classes. Finally, the list includes the student’s advisor if one is entered into Banner.

It is recommended that departments utilize either Banner or Cybear for Faculty & Advisors, as they contain the most up-to-date information on the student. This becomes important as students turn in their Change of Major form to the Registration Center in Griz Central, after the distribution of the lists. The Banner screens that are useful are SPAAPIN (shows the advising number) and UGASTDN (shows the students current major).

If a student does not show up on the list, check Banner (UGASTN) or contact the Registration Center in Griz Central (x6077) to determine the student’s official major. Students should be directed to their official major as listed in Banner to receive their advising number. If a student does not have an advising number listed, contact the Registrar’s Office (x2997). For questions about the advising number distribution process, contact the Undergraduate Advising Center (x2293).