Online Undergraduate Advising
Personalized Support from Start to Finish
Every student in our online undergraduate program is supported by two dedicated advisors throughout their academic journey:
- Professional Advisor – Your go-to resource from acceptance through graduation. They’ll help you with academic planning, course selection, and staying on track toward your degree.
- Faculty Advisor – A mentor from your major who offers career guidance, industry insights, and support as you explore your professional path.
With this dual-advisor model, you’ll have the academic and career support you need to succeed—every step of the way.
Academic Support Resources
- Office of Undergraduate Advising – Through collaborative relationships with advisors, we encourage students to explore their academic interests, skills and personal values.
- Career Resources – resources are available online through the Office of Career Development and Employer Relations.
- Library Services – The Library is here to support you in your learning. Whether you're brainstorming a topic or finishing an assignment, we have what you need and look forward to helping you.
- Starfish – Starfish is a tool created to promote student success and retention through building community and improving communication between students, instructors, advisors and campus support offices.
- Tutoring Center – We offer tutors in many disciplines as well as specialists in study skills and time management.
- Writing Center – We foster academic excellence by providing writing support and resources that meet the needs of graduate and undergraduate students.
Student Development and Support
- Accessibility Services – The Office of Accessibility Services is a strategy-based service that supports students in their academic endeavors both on the ground and online.
- Military & Veteran Services – Simmons is thankful to all veterans for their service and welcome you and your eligible dependents and spouses to Simmons University.
- Student Assistance Program – COMPSYCH™ is our Student Assistance Programs that support students in accessing basic needs and mental healthcare.
Billing and Student Financial Services
Detailed information on billing and tuition for the Online Degree Completion program along with frequently asked questions.
Technology
Support
- Technology at Simmons
Computer Requirements
- Use either Mac (OS X 10.9 or higher) or PC (Windows 7 or higher)
- At least 4GB RAM
- 2 Ghz dual – core faster processor
- No chromebooks or Surface Pros – they have limited functionality for some features in the Online Campus
- Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are the recommended browser
Resources
- Moodle: Moodle is the learning management system used for online students. Login information will be the same username as Workday with your password.
- Simmons Zoom: This is the live session platform that will be used for your weekly class sessions.
- Google Suite: For help getting started with Google Suite, visit Google's Workspace User guides.
System Links
Meet with an Advisor
If you would like to schedule an appointment (phone or via Zoom) with your academic advisor for the upcoming weeks, log into Starfish and follow these steps:
- Click “My Success Network” in the menu on the left.
- Click “Schedule” at the bottom of the yellow “Academic Advising (Undergraduate)” box.
- Search the calendar for available appointments.
Or send us an email if you cannot find a time that works for you. We look forward to meeting with you soon!
Cindy Firestein
Assistant Dean, Academic Advising and Career Development
Christine Henningson
Associate Director for Online, Adult Learner, & Edge Programs
Academic Planning Worksheets
Academic Planning Worksheets are a useful tool to review with your advisor(s). Check out this how-to guide for using planning worksheets. Worksheets for online undergraduate majors can be found below.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
2025-2026 Academic Planning Worksheets
- Applied Psychology
- Business and Management
- Business (Minor)
- Computer Science
- Computer Science – Software Development (Minor)
- Computer Science – Technology & Cybersecurity (Minor)
- Computer Science – Web Development (Minor)
- General Studies
- Healthcare Policy and Management
- Human Services
- Information Technology & Cybersecurity
- Psychology (Minor)
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Applied Psychology
- Business and Management
- Business (Minor)
- Computer Science
- Computer Science – Software Development (Minor)
- Computer Science – Web Development (Minor)
- General Studies
- Healthcare Policy and Management
- Human Services
- Information Technology & Cybersecurity
- Information Technology & Cybersecurity (Minor)
- Psychology (Minor)
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Applied Psychology
- Business and Management
- Business (Minor)
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Computer Science – Software Development (Minor)
- Computer Science – Web Development (Minor)
- General Studies
- Information Technology
- Information Technology & Cybersecurity (Minor)
- Marketing
- Psychology
- Psychology (Minor)
- Public Health
- Public Relations & Marketing Communications
- Social Work
PLAN Requirements for Online Undergraduate Students
PLAN (Purpose Leadership ActioN) is the Simmons undergraduate general education program. Some PLAN requirements can be fulfilled with courses required for this major, as indicated below. Additional PLAN requirements may be fulfilled through electives. PLAN requirements, with the exception of the capstone, are waived for students who have an associate’s degree from an accredited instruction. We highly recommend that you work closely with your advisor(s) to choose all of your courses.
PLAN: Purpose, Leadership, ActioN The General Education Program at Simmons
| Plan Courses | Courses in the Disciplines | Essential Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
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For more information on PLAN please contact either Christine Henningson, Academic Advisor, Online Undergraduate Degree Completion Programs at [email protected] or Urshila Sriam, Director of General Education at [email protected].
Credit for Prior Learning
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is awarded for college-level learning gained through work or life experience. Online undergraduate students studying fully online may earn up to 24 CPLs. For more information please contact Academic Advisor, Christine Henningson. A one-time portfolio review fee of $1500 must be paid at the time the portfolio is submitted for review. If the student is awarded fewer credits than the equivalent of $1500 in tuition, the remaining portfolio fee is applied as a credit (tuition waiver) towards the student’s remaining coursework in online undergraduate programs. Refunds are not granted for unused tuition waiver credit.
Alpha Sigma Lambda
Alpha Sigma Lambda Academic Honor Society is a nationally recognized honor society for adult learners. Chi Pi is Simmons University’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda which is managed by the Office of Undergraduate Advising.
Inductions:
Undergraduate adult learners are invited to join Alpha Sigma Lambda if they meet the membership criteria and are in the top percentile of those eligible to join. Reviews of eligibility take place each spring semester.
Membership Criteria:
The criteria to be invited to join Alpha Sigma Lambda is set by the national headquarters and utilized by the Office of Undergraduate Advising to determine who is eligible to be inducted.
- Adult learners at Simmons are identified as Dix Scholars or enrolled in Online Degree Completion programs
- Adult students who have earned 24+ credits at Simmons University
- Students who have 12 or more credits in liberal arts and sciences (may include transfer credits to complete the distribution requirements)
- Students who have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher
- Top 20% of adult learner students who meet the criteria listed above.
View the full Constitution of Alpha Sigma Lambda that outlines the criteria.
Cords & Certificates:
All students who are inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda will receive graduation honor cords and certificates. Note: lost cords or certificates will not be replaced by Simmons.
Scholarship Opportunities:
All undergraduate adult learners will be contacted each spring semester via email about Alpha Sigma Lambda scholarship opportunities. Any adult learner is eligible to apply for a scholarship regardless if they are inducted into the society.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Please view FAQs about Alpha Sigma Lambda. Feel free to email [email protected] with any questions regarding Alpha Sigma Lambda.
Advising Newsletters
Office of Undergraduate Advising
We partner with faculty advisors, academic departments and other Simmons support staff to encourage academic and personal development of all students.