Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 Advising Syllabus

Academic Advisors provide students with specialized, personal contact, and seek to meet student's needs in the following ways:

• Assist students in developing realistic plans compatible with their educational, career and life goals based on the student's abilities and time constraints;
• Provide individualized, proactive academic guidance throughout a student's academic career, including monitoring and follow-up on student progress;
• Aid the student through his or her academic career in developing decision-making skills and in becoming autonomous and self-reliant;
• Refer students to appropriate support services both on campus and in the community.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who participate in academic advising will be able to:

• Read and interpret their degree progress report in Degree Works.
• Develop and communicate an appropriate education plan based on their program of study and educational goals.
• With the guidance of an academic advisor, make effective decisions concerning their degree and career goals.
• Use iROAR to select and register for appropriate classes each semester.
• Identify, locate and use the appropriate campus service to meet their needs (such as Accessibility Services, Tutoring Center, Study Abroad Office, and Career Services).

Roles & Responsibilities - Student

For a successful advising experience, the student needs to be able to do the following:

1. Clarify their personal values, abilities, interests and goals.
2. Contact and make appointments with the advisor when required or when in need of assistance. If unable to keep the appointment, the student will notify the advisor.
3. Become knowledgeable and adhere to institutional policies, procedures and requirements.
4. Be an active learner by participating fully in the advising experience, including arriving at advising sessions prepared with appropriate resources or materials.
5. Follow through on actions identified during each advising session.
6. Ask questions if you don't understand an issue or have a concern.
7. Evaluate the advising system, when requested, in order to strengthen the advising process.
8. Accept final responsibility for all decisions.

Roles and Responsibilities - Advisor

For a successful advising experience, the advisor needs to do the following:

1. Help students define and develop realistic educational career plans.
2. Monitor progress toward educational/career goals.
3. Communicate university instructional policies, procedures and requirements.
4. Discuss all designated educational transactions (e.g., schedule, drop and adds, withdrawals, changes of major, course substitutions and graduation requirements).
5. Identify student's needs and make appropriate referrals to available resources as necessary, including those that may require intervention by other professionals.
6. Develop a caring relationship with advisees.
7. Provide available times to meet with your advisees before registration begins.
8. Maintain an advising file on each advisee.
9. Inform students of the nature of the advisor/advisee relationship.

Trust and collaboration between the student and advisor are essential to the advising process. This includes the need to listen to and respect advisee concerns and maintain confidentiality.

Tips for Making your Advising Experience More Successful

1. Be proactive and schedule an appointment with your assigned academic advisor as soon as possible once you are notified that pre-registration advising has begun, or any other time during the semester when you need assistance.
2. If you schedule an advising appointment, attend the appointment or cancel the appointment as soon as you know you will not be able to attend.
3. Inform your academic advisor whenever you have a change in your educational plan - such as changing your major, adding a minor, deciding to take (or not) take summer courses, withdrawing from courses, etc.
4. Be an active participant in the advising experience. This is your education and you should be knowledgeable about the requirements for your major. For example, before your pre-registration advising appointment, review the Finance curriculum and bring a list of courses that you have selected to take to your advising meeting.
5. Register for your recommended courses as close to your registration time ticket as possible (without skipping class).
6. Although your advisor is available to assist you as you work towards completing the requirements for your major, in the end, it is your responsibility to be aware of your academic standing at all times.