Academic Advising : Academic Affairs : Hanover College

Academic Advising

The academic advising of students begins before matriculation and continues until graduation (and sometimes beyond, for students who pursue graduate or professional degrees). Informed, purposeful, and timely advising can be a crucial determinant of student success. Beginning with the second year at Hanover, each continuing member of the faculty can expect to assume academic advising responsibilities for students assigned to them, as equitably as possible, by the Office of the Registrar. The advising role of a faculty member is continuous and multi-faceted, but there are distinct modes of academic advising.

First-Year Advising

First semester, first-year advising begins at LEAP sessions, when incoming students meet in small groups based on areas of possible academic interest. Each group is led by a faculty member from that field or division who introduces new students to the core curriculum, provides an overview of the course scheduling process, and assists students in identifying preferred Fall courses. That list subsequently informs the Fall schedule, which is created by Student Success and Registrar staff members.

Advisors for first-year students are determined by enrollment in FY101. The FY101 instructor serves as the academic advisor for those students enrolled in his/her section until the students declare their major area(s) of study.

Academic Coaching

A student on academic probation is assigned an academic coach in addition to the faculty advisor. The academic coach meets with the student on a regular basis to reinforce successful academic habits and support progress toward returning to good standing.

Major Advising

The major advisor meets the needs of a student by:

1. helping to plan a sequence of courses in the advisee's major field;

2. helping to ensure that the advisee meets the requirements for a degree in a timely manner;

3. following the academic progress of an advisee;

4. helping to acquaint an advisee, directly or via referral to on-campus support services, with post-graduate opportunities (educational or vocational) related to the student's academic interests;

5. referring to the appropriate support services an advisee who may be having academic or personal problems with which the advisor is not qualified to assist;

6. and frequently writing letters of reference and providing any other legitimate assistance as an advisee seeks to enter graduate or professional school or to obtain employment.

Source: Hanover College Faculty Manual Academic Advising