Advising Information

Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their academic adviser to help plan their course of study and discuss career options. Students with academic difficulties should contact their adviser to discuss strategies for success.

Current students can check eLion for their adviser.

Incoming students, including change-of-assignment students and pre-majors, should contact either of the undergraduate academic advisers.

Ms. Brenda Eissenstat, M.S., RD, LDN

Instructor/Academic Adviser

119C Chandlee
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802

bre2@psu.edu

To make an appointment, call 814-863-0806.

Ms. Shawnee M. Kelly, M.S., RD, LDN

Instructor/Academic Adviser

119E Chandlee Lab
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802

smc28@psu.edu

To make an appointment, call 814-863-0806.

Tips to make the most out of academic advising

The advisers' goal is to provide a high-quality advising experience to all Nutritional Sciences students.

Students should arrive to the meeting prepared with:

  1. A list of questions
  2. A tentative class schedule, if discussing registration
  3. Any written academic and career plans
  4. Records of previous advising contacts and an updated degree audit report (DARS)
  5. Paper and a pen to take notes

Students' Role

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

Advisers' Role

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