Academic advising is an important and necessary part of higher education. Advising is more than course scheduling. It is a form of teaching. "As a special form of teaching, advising generally occurs outside the classroom, but it uses instructional methodologies in a disciplined fashion, as done in a classroom setting, to help students make and execute plans to achieve their educational and life goals."¹ Academic advisors, then, work directly with students to define issues that impact their academic success.

Advisor Role

• Assist students in planning programs of courses to achieve their objectives.
• Provide initial exploration of career choices and offer suggestions and support.
• Match students with appropriate campus resources and refer students, as needed.
• Provide students with accurate information concerning university and departmental policies, procedures and requirements.

Advisor Responsibilities

• Be available to students by posting and maintaining office hours throughout the semester.
• Advise students by appointment and increase hours of availability during advising and registration periods and drop-add periods at the beginning of each semester.
• Maintain current knowledge of degree requirements, advisor updates and academic regulations.
• Assist students in making optimal course choices based on CARES Reports and knowledge of departmental curriculum guides and policies.
• Sign registration forms and issue student Registration Access Code (RAC) numbers.
• Encourage students to be aware of various campus resources available to them (Career Services, Financial Aid, Counseling Center, Library, Health Services, Tutoring etc.)