Academic Advising & Mentoring
Student Life
Helping students move into the university effectively is one of the most important responsibilities for an Academic Advisor. Academic advising should focus on building a relationship between student and advisor. The relationship established in the advising process can contribute to student success and retention.
Developmental academic advising uses interactive teaching, counseling and administrative strategies to assist students with achieving specific learning, developmental, career and life goals. As an academic advisor, you help students develop and focus on their potential for growth, explore with students the factors that lead to success, and show interest in the student’s academic progress and extracurricular achievements.
Request information about academic programmes
Clarify policies and procedures
Register for repeating course
Guidance for SAP
Add/drop of course(s)
Understand degree requirements
Monitor progress towards degree achievement
Research careers and internships
Discuss academic problems
Help with goals setting.
- Participate in all scheduled pre-enrollment and orientation programmes for incoming/returning students at university, college and departmental levels
- Prepare in advance for academic advising meetings. Map out courses they want and need to take for their degree programmes and present this to their advisor
- Initiate contact with their advisor and get to know them
- Make and honour academic advising appointments. Just as they have a variety of responsibilities, their various advisors also have multiple students to advice as well as other professional obligations. Students must realize that their advisor’s time is just as important as you’re their own personal time
- Know academic policies, procedures and regulations such as add/drop, retakes, academic probation/dismissal, academic fresh start, financial aid etc.
- Know degree requirements and remain informed about changes in their curriculum. Map out a plan of action for their academic career and review it with their advisor.
- Seek specialized assistance from academic support and student services department as needed. While advisors are available for their help, there are limitations to what services they can provide to students. Students can ask them for references to specialized services such as: personal counseling, career & employment services, tutoring etc.
- Know the information contained in the university and departmental sections of the university Catalog.
- Make the effort to get to know their advisors personally. The better they know one another, the more comfortable the student feels and the more successful their advisory relationship will be.