Advising
WHAT IS ACADEMIC ADVISING?
Academic advising is an ongoing collaboration between student and advisor that helps students clarify and choose their educational and career goals and then chart a workable plan for achieving these goals. Making this process work is the joint responsibility of both the student and the advisor. Throughout the process, the advisor assists students in evaluating their degree progress and helps them select appropriate courses and other educational experiences tailored to their personal goals. Ultimately, students are responsible for making decisions and fulfilling published requirements.
Students should develop a continuing relationship with their advisors. In other words, they should bond with advisors, seeing them frequently throughout the semester, not just during registration time. However, students need to recognize that no one faculty or staff member can answer all their questions, so they may be referred to other individuals on campus who can help with personal or academic problems. Students should be prepared to work with many individuals--faculty; college staff; counseling, career, and health center staff--all of whom may help with student concerns. Although the ultimate responsibility for knowing and completing graduation requirements rests on the student's shoulders, it is very wise to seek the assistance offered by advisors.
Expectations
Advisors:
- Understand and effectively communicate information about the curriculum and graduation requirements as well as university and college policies and procedures
- Help students define and develop realistic goals and educational plans
- Inform students of available resources and services on campus, making referrals as needed
- Maintain confidentiality
- Be reasonably accessible through multiple forms of communication including telephone, email, appointments, and walk-in hours
- Guide students through the registration process
- Monitor and accurately record student progress toward meeting their educational goals
- Encourage students to understand their responsibility in their educational planning and the fulfillment of degree requirements
Students:
- Arrive on time for their appointment and give advance notice if they are unable to keep the appointment
- Come prepared to each appointment with any materials requested by the advisor and bring questions they might have
- Be active learners by participating in the advising experience
- Ask questions if they do not understand something an advisor says
- Consider carefully and, if appropriate, follow through on all recommendations from their advisor
- Gather all information that is relevant to any decisions they have to make
- Provide their advisors with accurate information about their progress in their courses and about their interests, abilities and goals
- Utilize the academic resources available to them to become familiar with college programs, policies and procedures
- Update their Academic Success Plan if and when necessary
- Accept responsibility for their actions and decisions