Academic Advising President’s Welcome These slides will be shared so you can refer to them later. What/who is ACA? 250 members across campus, representing all colleges/schools We are professional advisors, many have made this their career choice; others are transitioning into other areas of student service Advisors are all college graduates, many with master’s degrees, some with PhD. Advisors are active members of our national association NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) Introduce advisors who will be speaking

What is advising? Planning academic pathways Exploring interests Ongoing support for students First point of contact Connect students to resources Post academic planning Advisors are more than just helping students with registration issues UT community considers advising the heartbeat of what we do a collaborative relationship develop meaningful educational goals for UT students emphasize the conversations and relationships with students, not the transactional processes

Advisor Expectations of Students Student Responsibilities Understand degree requirements Accept responsibility Follow through on referrals Maintain contact & communication Read & respond to messages Respect Honor Code Student Responsibilities Arrive Prepared Discuss goals Understand deadlines Seek clarification Proactive attitude Successful students possess help seeking behaviors Come prepared with questions or issues for discussion Communicate academic plan & goals Be aware of deadlines Proactive attitude Seek clarification Honor Code/Academic integrity Students are expected to activate and regularly check emails Understand degree requirements Accept responsibility of decisions Follow through on referrals Maintain communication/contact Ultimately, students are responsible for their own decisions and outcomes of those decisions.

Student Expectations of Advisors Advisor Responsibilities Accessible & Available Responsive & Follow through Open & Inclusive Advocate & Be Informed Maintain confidentiality Resource of information Student Expectations of Advisors Listen effectively Advocate Uphold policy Make referrals Monitor progress Stay current Advisor Responsibilities These are what we feel are the reasonable expectations that students can have of advisors and what we believe all advisors are responsible for to their students: Accessible/available Responsive Open & inclusive Follow through Informed Maintain confidentiality Resource of information Advocate Listen effectively Advocate for their students Uphold policies & procedures Make referrals Monitor progress toward degree completion Knowledgeable, keeping up to date

Connecting Point to Services & Resources Academic Support Student Services Wellness Financial Support Co-Curricular Opportunities Special Academic Programs Degree Enhancements Graduate Study Career Referrals Academic support examples Writing Center Tutoring Student services examples: Legal services for students SSD Student Emergency Services Wellness: Counseling Center Student Health Center RecSports Voices Against Violence Financial: Financial Aid Office College or departmental scholarships part time work Co-curricular activities: leadership development internships student organizations service & volunteerism Special Academic Programs: Study Abroad Undergraduate Research Archer Fellows Normandy Scholars UTEACH Degree enhancements: minors certificates double majors Graduate study: professional school planning Fellowships Applications Career referrals: College career centers alumni profiles

Common Advising Topics Registration & Academic Planning Academic Difficulty & Probation Help Career Exploration Progress toward degree & Graduation

Types of Appointments: What to expect Individual Advising Group Advising Walk-ins Individual Appointments – private time with advisor; 15-30 minutes (or longer if scheduled/requested); good for planning or discussing non-transactional related things/issues Group Advising – varying time lengths; might be used to discuss special academic programs, degree enhancements, advising processes, internal transfer procedures Walk-ins – short durations; generally used around deadline days for transactional processes (q drops, bar removal, etc.)

Advising Cycles: What to expect Fall Semester – October thru November for Spring courses Spring Semester– March thru April for Summer/Fall courses Early registration for fall enrollment begins in April (spring) and Early registration for spring begins in October (fall). Students have several opportunities to register and adjust their schedule prior to the beginning of a new the semester. Peak Registration & advising times Fall registration happens – October through November Spring registration happens – March through April

How to prepare for advising… Clear Financial Bars Review Interactive Degree Audit/Course Plan Research Course Schedule View Registration Information Sheet Read Advisor Emails Schedule Appointment There are a few things that students should pay attention to before they schedule an advising appointment…. Clear bars – can’t do much with bars on record Course Schedule – review to see what courses are being offered and what might conflict IDA – review IDA to check on progress toward degree and what requirements are lacking RIS – check to see when your registration time has been slotted for and make sure you understand the day/times Advisor/Dept emails – departments have differing policies on how and when they do advising; make sure you read and understand Schedule Appt – follow the department protocol for appointments and make sure to write it down; missed appointments may lead to a missed registration time

Best Questions for Parents to Ask 1. Are you going to class? Skipping class is the #1 reason students fail. 2. Are you studying at least 35 hrs/wk? College is a FULL-TIME job. 3. Are you reviewing the material in each class weekly? Preparing for an exam is easier if you have been reviewing each week.

4. Are you scheduling your ‘goof-off’ time 4. Are you scheduling your ‘goof-off’ time? Everyone needs relaxation time but it has to be managed. 5. Are you starting your assignments early? The unexpected happens… 6. Have you talked to your advisor? Staying in touch with your advisor is a great way to be informed, connected and to find opportunities.

7. Have you been to office hours yet 7. Have you been to office hours yet? You have to find help; your professor is not going to seek you out or know when you need help. 8. Are you going to tutoring? Free tutoring is available on campus and it’s a great place to do homework. 9. Have you formed a study group? Studying complex material is more efficient in a group.

Finally, FERPA Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) Advisors bound by FERPA Things restricted: grades, class schedule, financial, probation, degree progress, etc. Directory information is public and available to anyone Happy to discuss general policy, procedures, resources, etc. Simply put, when a student reaches the age of 18 or once matriculated to college FERPA rights are transferred to the student giving them privacy to their educational records.

Thank you for your attention!