Responsible Office: Academic Affairs
Policy Administrator: Chief Academic Officer
Scope: |Faculty

Approved By: Faculty Senate

Approved Date: 5/1/2013

Effective Date: 5/1/2013

Category: Faculty and Staff

Description/Purpose:

The primary purpose of an academic advising program is to assist students in the development of meaningful educational plans which are compatible with their life goals. Academic advising should be viewed as a continuous process of clarification and evaluation.

Details:

During the freshman year, students participate in the Freshman Advising Program. After the Freshman year, academic advisors are assigned by the chairperson of the department in which the student has declared a major. Individual academic advising conferences must be available to students each academic term.

The advisor should review and utilize any available data about the student's academic and educational needs, performance, goals and problems.

The ultimate responsibility for making decisions about life goals and educational plans rests with the student. The advisor should assist by helping to identify and assess alternatives and the consequences of decisions.

Saint Francis University's goals for academic advising follow:

1. clarification of life and career goals;
2. development of suitable educational plans;
3. selection of appropriate courses and other educational experiences;
4. interpretation of institutional requirements;
5. increasing student awareness of educational resources available;
6. evaluation of student progress toward established goals;
7. development of decision-making skills; and
8. referral to and use of other institutional and community support services, where appropriate.

Approved by the Faculty Senate - January 30, 1990