Getting the Most from Your Advisor

What Your Advisor Expects from You

  • Schedule Advising Appointment. It is your responsibility to sign up and attend.
  • Make regular contact with your advisor each semester.
  • Read your e-mails.
  • Don’t wait to register. It is your responsibility to get in early and register on your enrollment date.
  • Come prepared to each appointment with questions or material for discussion.
  • Tell your advisor about extracurricular activities (work, clubs, etc.) and scholarships.
  • Ask questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern.
  • Complete all "to dos" or recommendations from your advisor and report back.
  • Become knowledgeable about college programs, policies and procedures through the use of UAConnect and Blackboard.
  • Accept responsibility for your decisions.

What You Can Expect from Your Advisor

  • Be accessible during office hours.
  • Provide academic support to ensure success
  • Explain academic policies and procedures.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Collaborate to ensure academic success.
  • Assist in understanding the benefits of higher education.
  • Encourage and support educational plans.
  • Guide decision-making of educational plans for achievement.
  • Assist in identifying and using relevant university resources.
  • Teach the value of classroom knowledge in relation to work, personal habits and attitudes.
  • Teach how to develop the skills needed to successfully enter and thrive in a variety of work environments.
  • Monitor and accurately document progress.

Topics to Cover with Your Advisor

  • Any problems that affect academic performance
  • Select courses for the upcoming term
  • Add or drop courses
  • Register to take a course pass-fail or audit
  • Discuss academic progress
  • Change a major
  • Discuss career considerations

Advising Objectives

  • Advisor gives the student the tools to be independent.
  • Advisor helps student understand the value of their educational experience.
  • Advisor engages with student holistically — socially, academically, culturally and professionally.
  • Advisors helps student move toward their degree and career goals regardless of path.

Advising Outcomes

  • Student acts independently.
  • Student enrolls on time.
  • Student understands confidentiality.
  • Student is thinking critically of their end goal.
  • Student knows their advisor's name.
  • Student uses professional etiquette.
  • Students can locate and use resources at the U of A to acquire information about courses, academic programs, university policies and campus resources.
  • Students can articulate the purpose of their educational requirements.