SAMPLE – Undeclared-Student Advising Syllabus
Advisor: Dr. Advisalot, Associate Professor of My Discipline
Office: Room No., x1234 Home: 804-123-1234 (9am-8pm only)
E-Mail:
Overview:
Many elements are combined to create a successful college experience for students. One of the most important elements is the relationship between the student and the academic advisor. During our time together we will explore the University of Richmond and all that it can offer you. We will also consider opportunities beyond the classroom, such as research work, study abroad, summer school options, and/or internships. It will be our joint goal to work together to find the best path for you, be it toward a particular class, resources that could help you, graduate school or employment, or simply discovering more about yourself.
In order to be successful in our work, it will take focus and commitment on both our parts. To that end, the list below tells you about my responsibilities as your academic advisor:
- To listen and help you develop a course of study that reflects your academic background and strengths, your personal interests, and your educational and vocational goals.
- To understand the curriculum, graduation requirements, and university policies. If I cannot answer your question regarding any of these points, I will refer you to someone who can.
- To stress that my role is as your advisor not as your decision-maker. It is my goal to help you assume increasing responsibility for your decisions and actions.
- To be accessible to you in my office and via e-mail or phone wherever possible.
- To help you explore connections between your career interests and your academic plans and skills.
- To keep appointments, or call to change or cancel if necessary.
- To help you identify useful University resources.
- To provide you with accurate information.
- To keep accurate records of your academic progress, and to take notes during our meetings so that I can stay informed regarding your University activities.
- To respect your confidentiality and to release information about you only if you have signed the FERPA card. The only exception to this is a crisis situation or a situation where your health may be at serious risk. In addition, I will inform your coordinate college dean’s office if I am concerned about you for any reason.
As I have responsibilities to the academic advising process, so too do you. Here are your responsibilities as an advisee:
- To be informed and stay attentive to deadlines, including add/drop deadlines and exam policies. You should also keep track of graduation requirements.
- To be prepared for our advising meetings. Please come to our meetings with questions prepared, any materials you will need, and where appropriate, possible class plans laid out. I encourage you to also bring questions that concern other aspects of University life.
- To be responsible for making your own decisions. I am here to help you navigate your way through the University, though I will not take the lead – that is up to you.
- To be flexible when making course decisions. The perfect course that you would love to take may not be available in the semester and/or at the time that you would love to take it.
- To think long and hard about choosing your major. Your major should be an area of study in which you excel and which you find compelling. Not only will you have a more satisfying experience if you are studying a subject that appeals to you, but you are likely to do better academically when you find the subject engaging. Ultimately, this may well result in higher grades, more involvement in co-curricular opportunities (like research or internships), and greater success as you pursue employment or graduate school after graduation.
- It will be your job to locate and make use of University Services. There are many resource offices across campus that can help you. I will help you identify them, but it is up to you to make use of them.
- To be open and honest about academic matters.
- Remember that advising is about a relationship. Advising involves a relationship between the student and advisor in which the advisor assists and supports the student in developing his or her academic potential and in forging connections between interests outside of class and what occurs inside the classroom. Do not be shy about contacting me outside of scheduled meeting times or simply dropping in during my office hours.
This year I am planning that we will meet a number of times each semester, sometimes as a group and sometimes one-to-one. Here is my plan for our scheduled meetings:
FALL SEMESTER MEETINGS
Orientation – Group Meeting
Purpose: To meet together as a group, get to know one another, and go over general questions and issues. We will also schedule individual appointments for meeting individually tomorrow and plan to get together as a group soon.
Orientation – Individual Meeting
Purpose: To get to know one another more personally, and to go through your fall schedule together.
Assignment: Go over your academic schedule on your own, look at the days/times of courses and at the combination of courses to see if this seems like a workable schedule. If you do not yet have a full schedule, or if there are changes you think you might want to make, use BannerWeb in preparing some alternatives and possible changes. Also, please be prepared to tell me: 1.) something about yourself that really gets to the heart of who you are and 2.) why you chose to attend the University of Richmond.
Group Meal Together – We’ll do this during the 2nd week of classes.
Purpose: To continue getting to know one another. To find out how your first few weeks have gone academically. To offer you an opportunity for questions.
Week Six – Individual Meeting to Discuss General Advising Issues
Purpose: To take a few minutes to look ahead over the next four years and beyond (including the role of the CDC). To talk about other available university services. To talk about creating a more intentional education. To assess your progress so far.
Pre-Registration/Advising Period – Individual Meeting to Prepare for Spring
Purpose: To discuss your spring semester schedule.
Assignment: Bring your planned schedule with you, including alternate courses if you don’t get your first choices. Be prepared to talk about your academic experience so far and to discuss the following questions: What has gone as you expected it to? What has surprised you? What have you learned about yourself?
IMPORTANT FALL DATES:
End no fee add/drop period
Last day to withdraw from a class
Pre-registrationAdvising Begins
Spring registration
Last Day of Fall Classes
(Update using the official university calendar, available on the Registrar’s website.)
SPRING SEMESTER MEETINGS
Week One/Two – Group Lunch Meeting
Purpose: To get reacquainted and talk about the first semester adjustment, highs/lows. (Some of my second-year advisees may join us as well to add their perspective.)
Week Six – Individual Meeting to Discuss General Advising Issues (Feb)
Purpose: To assess academic progress thus far. To discuss any progress toward choosing a major. To review summer plans, and consider co-curricular/extra-curricular programs for year two. To discuss topics such as undergraduate research, the Center for Civic Engagement, Study Abroad, pre-law/pre-health/pre-business/pre-LDSP advisors, etc…
Pre-Registration/Advising Period – Individual Meeting to Prepare for Fall (March)
Purpose: To discuss your spring semester schedule.
Assignment: Bring your planned schedule for fall with you, including alternate courses in case you don’t get your first choices. As always, be prepared to talk about your academic experience thus far.
IMPORTANT SPRING DATES:
End no fee add/drop period
Last day to withdraw from a class
Pre-registrationAdvising Begins
Fall registration
Last Day of Spring Classes
(Update using the official university calendar, available on the Registrar’s website.)
References:
Advisor/Advisee roles – produced by Westhampton College
Heidi Koring, Lynchburg College
Western Kentucky University Academic Advisor Notebook, 1994
University of Kentucky Faculty Advising Manual, 1994
Jennifer Cable, University of Richmond
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