Professional Academic Advisors Will:

Provide Quality Advising Procedures

• Engage students in exploratory discussions concerning major, minors, and careers available within particular areas of study.
• Help coordinate students’ academic advising experiences.
• Coordinate communications with liaison units to provide outreach to all CLAS majors.
• Provide an open, welcoming atmosphere that honors the unique nature and diverse backgrounds and interests of each student.
• Provide accurate and timely information to students.
• Utilize Banner and Navigate, as appropriate, to prepare for meetings with students and to keep records of each meeting including date/time of meeting and content of discussion.
• Offer advising meetings in a format that is convenient to the student, i.e., in person, by phone, email, online, and outside regular business hours when needed. Advising meetings may be on an individual basis or in groups.
• Understand the FERPA guidelines as it pertains to student advising records.

Provide an Overview of Degree and Graduation Requirements

• Provide information regarding university and departmental policies and procedures to both students and faculty.
• Understand and be able to communicate the requirements for all majors, minors, and certificates in CLAS, as well as a baseline understanding of programs available in other colleges.
• Clarify issues concerning graduation and major/minor requirements.
• Provide appropriate referrals to the students’ faculty advisor or appropriate contact in the academic units.
• Provide degree maps that lay out a course of study for each major and minor (as appropriate).
• Help students focus on tasks and course sequences that need to be addressed at specific times.
• Provide support and guidance for students seeking admission to competitive and/or selective secondary admission programs, including: Teacher Certification; Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Podiatry, Pharmacy, Chiropractic, and other health-focused programs; other undergraduate and graduate level programs.
• Utilize MyPath to assess students’ progress towards a selected or prospective degrees.
• Explain all requirements, degree maps, and MyPath tools to students.

Review and Explain General Education

• Possess a thorough understanding of the University’s General Education Program and be able to communicate how the requirements apply to a students’ program of study.
• Articulate the role of General Education requirements in a Liberal Arts Education.
• Facilitate the evaluation of transfer courses for new transfer students towards possible general education credit.

Participate in All New Student Orientations

• Provide academic advising and support to all new students in CLAS, including participation in Freshman, Transfer and International Student Orientation/Registration events.

Provide Support for Student Success

• Know the important resources on campus and provide appropriate referrals to student success resources, such as the CLAS Academic Advising Center, the Registrar’s Office, the Counseling Center, Tutoring and Study Support Services, the library, etc.
• Fully utilize the technologies available to identify high risk students and provide intentional outreach and support in an effort to impact positive retention and graduation rates. This includes: outreach campaigns through the Student Success Collaborative; early alert surveys; end of semester grade reports.
• Provide objective advice to students whose academic performance prevents them from pursuing their degree program and help identify parallel or alternative academic plans.
• Assist students in identifying obstacles to their success and work together to find solutions or alternative plans.
• Provide individualized and intentional outreach to CLAS students based on grade performance each semester.
• Encourage students to take an active role in planning and achieving their educational and career goals.
• Provide the first point of contact for students seeking a return to the university, either due to dismissal or an absence from their undergraduate studies.

Provide Initial Information on Career Advising and Graduate or Professional Study

• Engage students in introductory discussions regarding careers and possible graduate studies based on their academic programs and interests. Make referrals to faculty advisors to continue these discussions.
• Define effective strategies to students for graduate school admissions and/or employment.
• Provide information about preparation for the graduate school process and required admission testing.

Provide Information on Undergraduate Scholarship and Study Abroad

• Engage students in introductory discussions regarding potential opportunities for undergraduate research based on their academic programs and interests. Make referrals to faculty advisors to continue these discussions.
• Provide information on the Study Abroad programs available at GVSU as well as the timing, academic opportunities and application procedures.      Refer to the Padnos International Center for continued discussions.

Participate in Academic Advising Professional Development Opportunities

• Keep current on advising requirements and resources by participating in advising development programs to enhance knowledge and skills.