Every student has an academic advisor at all times. New first-year students work with the academic advising staff in the Advising Center in the summer before their first semester. Once classes start, the instructor in the First-Year Seminar (FYS 110) is the academic advisor for first-year students. When students declare a major, usually in February of the first year, advising shifts to a disciplinary faculty academic advisor who often remains the student’s advisor until graduation. Students who do not declare a major in February will be advised by staff in the Advising Center until a major is declared.
New transfer students work with the academic advising staff in the Advising Center in the summer before their first semester. Transfer students who are ready to declare a major when the semester starts shift to a disciplinary faculty academic advisor who often remains the student's advisor until graduation.
Frequent contact between academic advisor and student is essential. Academic advisors initiate some contacts, but students are strongly encouraged to make every effort to maintain a close relationship with their advisors. Because students hold full responsibility for ensuring that specific disciplinary requirements for graduation are completed, frequent and careful review of the College Catalog in consultation with advisors is helpful.