College of Social Sciences Advising Center

Services Provided

The COSS Advising Center provides the following services for students:

• Academic/Graduation Plans
• Clear Registration Holds
• Class Registration Assistance
• General Education Requirements
• Degree Requirements/Graduation Checks
• How to read your Degree Progress Report (DPR)
• Advising on majors, minors, and certificates within College of Social Sciences
• Change of Major within COSS (change of major outside of COSS, please visit appropriate advising center)
• Assistance with University forms and petitions

Appointment Information

The COSS Advising Center offers both in-person and virtual (Zoom) appointments, each lasting 45 minutes. Students are matched with an advisor based on availability. To meet with a specific advisor, you may select their name when scheduling through Bulldog Connect or contact our office for assistance.

To schedule an appointment:

• Log into Bulldog Connect to schedule with a specific advisor
• Email us at ssadvising@mail.fresnostate.edu
• Call us at 559-278-3422
• Come in person to schedule an appointment (located Mckee Fisk, Rm. 207)

Please have your Fresno State Student ID#/ID Card available if booking an appointment by email, phone, or in-person.

Holds on Student Accounts

Advising holds placed on student accounts can be resolved by meeting with an academic advisor at the COSS Advising Center. Students are notified of any advising holds through their Fresno State email. The email will include a link to schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss and remove the hold. Holds will also appear on the Fresno State Student Portal, specifically in the Student Center.

Advising holds placed by our office:

• 2nd-Semester Freshman Hold
• Transfer Hold (ANTH/PLSI Majors - see faculty advisor)
• Mandatory Hold (ANTH/PLSI Majors - see faculty advisor)
• Probation Hold

There may be other holds on your student account. If you see a hold that is not listed above, please contact the department that issued the hold. For further assistance, you may also contact our office at ssadvising@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559-278-3422. 

Advisor Contact Information

• Fresno State Student ID#
• Major (if applicable)
• Your Fresno State Email 

Ross Whitton - Coordinator:
rwhitton@mail.fresnostate.edu

Isamar Alvarado - Academic Counselor:
isamaralv@mail.fresnostate.edu 

Jessica McVay- Academic Counselor:
jmcvay@mail.fresnostate.edu

Sonya Peña - Academic Counselor:
sonyap@mail.fresnostate.edu

Lisa Vang - Academic Counselor:
lisavang10@mail.fresnostate.edu 

Please allow 2-3 business days for a response. Do not email multiple advisors at once in regards to the same email. If you've been working with a specific advisor in the past, feel free to continue working with them.

Incoming Students (Admitted to Fresno State):

Congratulations on being admitted to Fresno State! We are excited to have you in our college. All incoming students must register for and attend their Dog Days Orientation prior to meeting with an academic advisor at COSS. During Dog Days, students will have the opportunity to meet their COSS advisors and get assistance with classes/registration. 

For questions regarding your admission status and transcripts, please contact the Admissions Office. 

Prospective Students:

Thank you for your interest in Fresno State. We welcome you to visit our college to learn more about our programs and services. You can tour our campus and meet with our Recruitment Counselor, Sonya, to discuss the admission and application process.