Get the Most from Academic Advising

Below are ideas for you to get the most out of Academic Advising.

  1. Come prepared - see a list of suggestions below.
  2. Understand your role in the advising process.
  3. Understand the advisor's role in the advising process.

For more information about scheduling an academic advising appointment, contact the Department's Undergraduate Academic Advisor.

Come prepared:

  1. Make a list of your questions.
  2. Make and bring with you a tentative class schedule if you will be discussing registration.
  3. Think about your academic and career goals. Bring any written academic and career plans you have made to review with your advisor.
  4. Bring your records of previous advising contacts and your updated Degree Audit Report (DARS).
  5. Bring paper and pen to take notes and keep a record of your advising contact.

The advisee's role in the academic advising process is to:

  1. Acquire the information needed to assume final responsibility for course scheduling, program planning, and the successful completion of all graduation requirements.
  2. Seek the academic and career information needed to meet educational goals.
  3. Become knowledgeable about the relevant policies, procedures, and rules of the university, college, and academic program.
  4. Be prepared with accurate information and relevant materials when contacting the adviser.
  5. Consult with the adviser at least once a semester to decide on courses, review the accuracy of the audit, check progress towards graduation, and discuss the suitability of other educational opportunities provided by the university.

The academic adviser's role is to:

  1. Help the advisee to understand the academic and administrative processes of the university and the nature of its academic programs.
  2. Seek to understand each advisee's particular concerns affecting academic progress.
  3. Neither grant nor deny administrative approval for particular academic actions.
  4. Help the advisee to understand the expected standards of achievement and likelihood of success in certain areas of study.
  5. Discuss the educational and career objectives suited to the advisee's demonstrated abilities and expressed interests.
  6. Help the advisee to understand the relationships among the courses, programs, undergraduate research opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, and other academic experiences offered by the university.
  7. Help the advisee to plan a course of study and give advice about courses and the adjustment of course loads. The adviser will inform the advisee about the prerequisites for subsequent courses in the advisee's program.
  8. Refer advisees to other resources when appropriate.
  9. Participate in the adviser training sessions provided by each college or department to keep informed and current.