Draft 2 - proposed
CALIFORNIASTATEUNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE
ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT AGREEMENT
Date:October 11, 2006
Authored by:Associated Students, Inc; CSU Northridge
Academic Advisement Ad Hoc Committee
The students of CaliforniaStateUniversity, Northridge deserve the highest quality of academic advisement services possible from their faculty and staff advisor. We, the Associated Students, CSU Northridge, Inc., on behalf of the student body, bring forth this document to the university administration as an outline of the types of services and relationships we feel characterize the level of service we have a right to expect, and a responsibility to participate in. We recognize that the relationship between a student and their advisor is one of shared responsibility, and would like to recognize those Colleges that already meet or exceed these expectations and encourage them to continue developing their advising programs.
FACULTY AND STAFF ADVISORS
While the roles of a faculty and staff person may differ in their respective positions; the are of advisement requires for an incredible effort on both the advisor (faculty or staff) and students part. The collaborative efforts of faculty and professional advisors are crucial and conducive for student success. The information within the document lays the ground work for all advisors and students to expect and understand.
A student should be prepared in the same manner regardless if seeing a staff or faculty advisor, and should expect the same professional services when it comes to advisement from their respective advisors. For an increase in student success, California State University Northridge needs to take action and steps to provide resources and appropriate training to ensure that all parties: faculty, staff, and students are successful.
HOLISTIC ADVISMENT
Holistic Advisement is a student-centered approach that focuses on the “whole” student. It requires a collaborative relationship between students, faculty, and/or their advisor to be developed through a mutual trust, shared responsibilities, and a commitment to helping the students in their academic, career, and life goals.
Through holistic advising we hope to have graduates who posses not just a degree, but also the knowledge, experience, and skill to be confident critical thinkers.
To this end, holistic advisement begins with an assessment of the students needs. Proportionately, the more the student express their needs the better those needs can be met. Thus, increasing student success. This type of service should be expected and permeate the very fabric of advisement at California State University Northridge.
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ACCURATE ADVISEMENT
The student has the right to academic advisement throughout their tenure as a student at CaliforniaStateUniversity, Northridge that is accurate, and designed to encourage and foster a student’s success in achieving graduation. While advisors should be realistic when goal setting with students in no way should they display a discouraging attitude towards the student’s academic goals. The student has the right to be informed of the necessary documents they are expected to bring to their advisement session.
The student has the responsibility to know and understand the terms of their academic contract with the university as outlined in the university catalogue for their major, and to work cooperatively and as a co-participant with their academic advisor towards a successful graduation from CSU Northridge.
ACADEMIC PLAN
The student has the right to coordinate an academic plan for his/her anticipated course of study with their academic advisor, and to receive an updated version of that planfollowing each advisement session.
The student is co-responsible with the advisor for developing their academic plan. The student has the responsibility to follow that academic plan and notify his/her advisor if it has been amended at their next advisement session.
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ASSIGNED ACADEMIC ADVISOR
The student has the right to be assigned an academic advisor, and to be notified who that person is and where/how they can be reached. In the event of any changes with your assigned advisor, the student has the right to be notified by email announcement in advance of the change taking place. The student has the right to be notified of the new advisors contact information, and the policies and procedures for making an appointment. Each College should have a contingency plan in place to provide continued service to students in the event of an advisor’s absence/leaving.
The student has the responsibility to make themselves aware of whom their advisor is, and to be accepting of changes in assigned advisors. Students have the responsibility of ensuring that the university has their correct, updated contact information. Students have the responsibility to request another advisor if they are not getting the needed assistance.
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REPLY AND RESPONSE
The student has the right to an academic advisor who replies to email, phone messages or other forms of communication within 2 business days, barring unusual circumstances. (Unusual circumstances may include absences of faculty advisors during winter and summer sessions when faculty may be on leave.)
The student has the responsibility to meet with his or her advisor in person to resolve significant issues, and to be appropriate in their communication with their advisor. The student has the responsibility to follow up with their advisor if a response is not received within a timely manner.
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APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING
The student has the right to be informed of the dates of Advisement Cycle (i.e. when advisement for registration begins and ends). The student has the right to a convenient and prompt appointment scheduling system with less than ten (10) business days of waiting time for appointments, excluding periods of class registration where walk-in advisement should be available. Academic advisor will hold sufficient and consistent office hours for scheduled appointments and walk-ins. Scheduled appointments should be a minimum of 30 minutes, and walk-in appointments a minimum of 10 minutes.
The student has the responsibility to observe academic deadlines, make and keep scheduled appointments, to arrive prepared with any paperwork necessary for their appointment (such as a MAP/DPR report, transcripts, and/or a list of questions for their advisor), and to work cooperatively and interactively with their academic advisor. Students have the responsibility to cancel or reschedule their advisement appointment at least 24 hours prior to their scheduled appointment. Students must accept personal responsibility for identifying and achieving their academic goals within the university.
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WALK-IN ADVISMENT
Students have the right to receive advisement in their collegeon a walk-in basis if an appointment with their assigned advisor is unavailable within 10 business days and/or during the periods of registration. Walk-in advisement will be a minimum of 10 minutes. Students have the right to know the hours and procedures for walk-in advisement. While Students have the right to walk-in advisement, it should be used as a last resort. Walk in advisement should be available during peak time’s weather by faculty or professional advisors. If faculty are unavailable during summer/winter sessions students should seek their respective EOP satellites to address any advisement concerns.
Students have the responsibility to come prepared with materials and questions that will allow an advisor to work effectively with them in a walk-in setting. Students have the responsibility to make themselves aware of the walk-in hours and procedures of their departments. Students have the responsibility to make a follow up appointment if any advisement issues went unresolved during their walk-in session.
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PRE-PROFESSIONAL ADVISEMENT
The student has the right to request pre-professional advisement regarding admission to medical, law, business or graduate schools from a qualified advisor from their academic department and/or the career center. The student has the right to be informed about their advisement option by their academic advisors.
The student has the responsibility to declare his/her intentions to follow these career paths to their advisor as early as possible to receive these resources.
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CENTRALIZED ADVISEMENT WEBSITE
The student has the right to a centralized academic advising website (with a suggested URL of which includes an up-to-date directory of all academic advisors for each College, Department and Student Service Centers/EOP Satellites, standardized information about advisement that applies to all advisement sessions, frequently asked questions, direct links to College, EOP and Department websites, and all documents and policies related to academic advisement.
The student has the responsibility to use this website as a resource and to check it regularly.
HOW TO MAKE COMPLAINTS
In the event that a student feels that any of their rights have been compromised the student has the responsibility of contacting the Associate Dean of their college to make complaints. Those students who have not yet declared a major can contact the AcademicResourceCenter to resolve any advisement issues.
Second draft dated: January 19, 2007
First draft dated: October 11, 2006.