Almost all faculty in the department have some responsibility for undergraduate academic advising. We share advising responsibilities among the faculty, with each faculty member typically assigned about 15 – 20 majors to advise per year. Advising for most freshmen and first semester sophomores is conducted in small groups. During the first 18 months of your Undergraduate experience, you are expected to complete basic core requirements and advising will necessarily focus on that.

You will be assigned an individual advisor in the department after completing 45 hours of coursework and you are expected to continue with the same advisor until you graduate. Of course, if you decide it is in your best interest to change advisors, you may do so if the person that you choose has an opening or grants permission for you to be added to her/his advising list. Your advisor can and should be much more than the person who signs your registration form. You should also get together with your advisor to discuss your long-range plans. Your advisor can offer you valuable advice about the program, other academic matters, application for graduate study, and careers.

Some suggestions: Schedule an appointment when there isn't some other deadline when you want to discuss long-range plans. It’s difficult to consider class schedules AND how to get into graduate school in the same short appointment. When preparing a schedule for the next semester, always go to your advisor prepared. Your advisor does not create your course schedule for you, but will offer suggestions and provide input into a schedule or proposed program of study. Talk to your advisor. The better you know your advisor and your advisor knows you, the better advice you'll receive. At the very least, you want your advisor to know you and like you well enough to provide a strong reference letter if you need one.