Advising

Consistent with Mount Aloysius College’s Mission Statement, the Advising department in the Office of Student Success and Persistence is committed to combining education for life with preparation for professional excellence. This office is responsible for coordinating the course registration process for all incoming first-year students, as well as assigning all of the students to an academic advisor. This office is also responsible for ensuring student-learning outcomes in Advising. We also closely monitor our students’ academic performance to ensure their educational satisfaction. Academic excellence is our priority; personal attention contributes to students’ educational, career and personal achievements. 

1. Ask questions when you don’t understand

2. Know who your advisor is. This information can be found on the Student tab of the Portal

3. Explore your career options with your advisor based on your choice of major

4. Be aware of the requirements for your degree and course work required to graduate from your degree program

5. Become familiar and aware of all responsibilities within your chosen academic program

6. Keep your advisor informed about things like schedule changes, academic problems, change of major, etc.

7. Prepare in advance for every meeting with your advisor, including having possible course options outlined for registration advising

8. Keep advising appointments to discuss ideas and questions about your degree program

9. Utilize all referrals made by your advisor to ensure your academic success

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Through meeting with the Academic Advisor, each student will:

●                   Create, with the help of an Advisor, an educational plan based on the student’s individual strengths and weaknesses, interests, values and goals.

●                   Utilize resources at Mount Aloysius to set and reach their goals.

●                   Be knowledgeable of the Program requirements and Academic Policies that pertain to the students’ major and current academic situation.

●                   Become well-informed consumers of Higher Education, knowing how to use technology to complete Advising tasks, seeing the connection of advising to the “real world,” and helping students become fully invested in their future.

(Gordon, Habley and Grites (2008)

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES IN ADVISING:

●                   Asking questions when you don’t understand

●                   Knowing who your advisor is (The Portal is found here https://portal.mtaloy.edu)

●                   Exploring your career options with your advisor based on your choice of major

●                   Being aware of the requirements for your degree and course work required to  

         graduate from your degree program

●                   Becoming familiar and aware of all responsibilities within your chosen academic

         program

●                   Keeping your advisor informed about things like schedule changes, academic

         problems, change of major, etc.

●                   Preparing in advance for every meeting with your advisor, including having

         possible course options outlined for registration advising

●                   Keeping advising appointments to discuss ideas and questions about your degree

         program

●                   Utilizing all referrals made by your advisor to ensure your academic success

FACULTY/STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES IN ADVISING:

●                   Becoming familiar with each student’s record to include whether the student is in

         a unique program that requires special classes, knowledge of transferring credits,     

         and awareness of activities such as sports in which the student will be

         participating.

●                   Maintaining confidentiality so that each student feels that the advising office is a

         safe space to share goals and fears.

●                   Reviewing academic procedures, policies, and important dates with each student.

●                   Discussing major requirements and career possibilities related to the major. 

●                   Assessing whether the student feels comfortable with the requirements and his/her

         career goal. Help the student access resources to discuss alternatives, if necessary.

●                   Ensuring students have the appropriate courses and credit load to complete

         program as planned.

●                   Helping students in academic difficulty recognize possible causes of their

         difficulty and suggest alternative courses of action.

●                   Referring students to appropriate educational resources and support services, as

         needed.

●                   Lastly, advisors are to ensure that they conduct themselves in a professional,

         respectful, and accurate manner.

(Habley, 1988)

SUGGESTED MEETING TIMELINE AND TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:

Meeting Dates                     Topics to Discuss

1st or 2nd week of school     How the adjustment to College or the new semester has been going

                                                  Academic progression from last semester (current students)

                                                  Mention any need to add/drop courses (all students)

                                                  Develop a rapport with advisor

4th or 5th week of school      Assessment of academic strengths and weaknesses  

                                                  Academic Goal setting/Career Exploration

                                                  Determine need for additional resources such as tutoring

                                                  Advisor will go over important dates, policies and procedures

Upon return from Break     Discuss class registration process

                                                  Go over career goals

                                                  Review midterm grades and take action if needed

Advising for next semester (students bring Degree Audit, Sequencing, and Completed Schedule Planning Form)

*Additional meetings as necessary

ADVISING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS:

Portal: portal.mtaloy.edu

College Catalog: http://catalog.mtaloy.edu/

Learning Commons (tutoring): https://www.mtaloy.edu/academics/library/tutoring-help/

Bookstore Textbook Lookup: http://bookstore.mtaloy.edu/SelectTermDept.aspx

Student Handbook: https://sites.google.com/mtaloy.edu/student-handbook/home?authuser=0

Focus 2 Career Assessment: https://www.focus2career.com/Portal/Login.cfm?SID=756 , Click Register and then Enter Access Code “Mountie.” Set an appointment with Career Development to discuss your results.

Registrar Forms (including Schedule Planning, Add/Drop, Change of Major, etc.): https://sites.google.com/mtaloy.edu/registrar/forms?authuser=0