Advising Responsibilities

While students have the responsibility for making decisions about their university experiences, the advisor plays a key role in students' educational growth. Planning ahead, appropriate time management, taking advantage of campus and community resources and being pro-active are the keys to student success. The advising process must be individualized to the needs of your students. Advising is an on-going process and may take place in your office, after class or in the Trojan Center during lunch.

Advisors have the responsibility to:

• be knowledgeable of departmental and university requirements and policies
• understand the general education requirements as well as requirements for the academic program of the advisor's discipline
• provide students with needed materials including catalog, forms, etc.
• advise students in matters relating to changes in current registration and pre-registration for the succeeding semester, including important dates associated with the academic calendar
• maintain adequate office hours throughout the semester
• meet with advisees a minimum of once a semester
• take appropriate steps to initiate contact as needed
• provide a respectful, supportive atmosphere
• meet with advisees who have midterm deficiencies, monitor academic progress, and recommend appropriate resources to answer questions or solve problems related to academic, career, and personal matters
• maintain confidentiality according to established standards
• keep current records on each advisee, including:
  • a current advising check sheet
  • substitution forms
  • correspondence related to academic status (e.g., ADA
  • information, placement testing, conditional admission,
  • disciplinary actions)
  • correspondence related to financial aid
  • copy of transcript of previous college coursework, if available
• be familiar with forms associated with academic advising that require the advisor's signature, including:
  • internship request form, teacher education application
  • registration form, if applicable
  • request to Change Academic Program
  • request to Change Academic Advisor
  • request to Change Finals Week Schedule
  • request for Change in Registration (Drop/Add)
  • request for Course Substitution
  • withdraw from Class

Students have the responsibility to:

• be proactive - ask questions!
• meet with academic advisor at least once a semester
• keep scheduled appointments and follow through on advisor recommendations
• discuss information which affects academic performance
• be responsible for planning a course of study and fulfilling all necessary requirements and regulation by accepting ultimate responsibility for decisions
• be familiar with degree programs and requirements at the university
• make use of all campus resources
• be knowledgeable of career options
• discuss information which affects academic performance

Because it is important that advisees have appropriate expectations toward advising, you may want to review the above student/advisor responsibilities with each advisee during the initial meeting.