Advising Team Leaders

Advising Team Support Specialist

Certified Peer Advisors

The Office of Veterans Affairs assists students who are receiving VA benefits or Hazelwood Exemptions. Your assigned certified advisor will assist you with processing your benefits, developing a degree plan, registering for courses, completing a financial aid appeal, exploring careers, and researching transfer opportunities.

Drop-in Hours
Drop-ins average 30-45 minutes and are first-come, first-served. Wait times may vary depending on student traffic and advisor availability.

Advising Drop-ins
July 27-Aug 22, 2026
In-Person:
Monday-Wednesday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Virtual Advising:
Monday: 2–7 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Wednesday: 2–7 p.m.

Zoom Link

Note: Thursdays are reserved for New Student Orientation – no drop-ins available.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Palo Alto College is committed to ensuring all programs, services, and facilities are accessible to and provide equal opportunities for education to all students. The Student Accessibility Services office coordinates accommodations for students with impairments that substantially limits one or more major life activities (walking, standing, seeing, speaking, hearing, etc.) as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Visit the Student Accessibility Services Website

Email: pac-sas@alamo.edu
Location: Rio Grande 133A
Phone: 210-486-3020

Your assigned academic advisor is available to answer questions that are submitted from your ACES student email. Please include the following information: Name, Banner ID, and phone number in case we need to reach you.

Your assigned academic advisor can answer questions submitted from your ACES student email. The advisor will reply to your message as soon as possible during business hours.

• Advisors will not register you for your classes, but will assist in identifying classes.
• Advisors will not choose your career path, but will provide guidance and resources to help you identify a career path.
• Advisors do not provide mental health counseling but will make referrals when necessary.

To have a productive meeting with your advisor, please consider the following:

• Create a reminder with your appointment date and time on your phone or in your planner.
• Prepare for your meeting by creating a list of topics you want to discuss, such as classes to take, transfer planning, graduation planning, goal setting, and any additional concerns regarding your educational and career goals.
• Meet with your assigned academic advisor every semester to ensure you stay on track. Meet with them early to avoid any issues with registering for future classes once registration begins.
• Create an advising folder to keep yourself organized with advising-related materials [For example, degree plans, schedule plans, and notes from advising meetings] and keep it updated.
• Check your ACES student email regularly, as this is how your assigned academic advisor will communicate with you. Remember that any emails sent from your email may get caught in our SPAM folder, and we will be unable to see them.
• Personal accountability – You must review your grades and GPS degree plan in ACES at the end of each term.

Yes, you can register for a Full Academic Year (Fall, Spring, and Summer simultaneously). Registering for a Full Academic Year secures your classes, reduces stress, and helps you stay on track to achieve your educational goals.

Learn more about Full Academic Year registration

Program of Study (POS) is a U.S. Department of Education requirement stating that only courses included in a student's degree plan are eligible for financial aid. Due to this requirement, any courses you take that are not a part of your official degree plan will not qualify for financial aid.

Review Financial Aid Enrollment Requirements