General Suggestions

  1. Know your advisees by name.
  2. Be available to students on a regular basis and be conscientious about posting and adhering to a schedule of office hours for advising conferences.
  3. Study an advisee’s record such as SAT scores, placement test scores, grades, and achievement record carefully in order to gain insight into the advisee’s capabilities and limitations early in his or her college career. However, recognize that the student’s record does not predict subsequent college performance perfectly; do not form rigid expectations about the student’s ability.
  4. Encourage the student to take an active part in course selection from the start. Focus on why to take courses, not what should be taken.
  5. Try to encourage students not to drop or withdraw from courses too readily. A student with a reasonable expectation of passing a course should be counseled to remain in the course. Suggest that the student drop extracurricular activities instead of courses.
  6. Be available for advising that is not always strictly academic. Keep in mind that a student’s education and growth require other types of counseling from time to time. Be informed about personal counseling programs available through the Counseling and Student Development Center in the event referral is necessary.
  7. Tie your academic advisement to career development. Encourage the student toward thinking about career plans and explain our Career Services office and opportunities.
  8. Send occasional invitations to advisees, encouraging them to come in for discussions and performance reviews.

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