Advising Expectations
Academic advising involves the ability to prompt students to take responsibility for choices about their education and to assist them in the development of realistic goals. Academic advising carries the teaching role beyond the classroom for the purpose of helping the student make educational choices in the larger contexts of the department and the College. All full-time students are assigned an advisor from the faculty.
Expectations of advisors include:
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Meet regularly with each advisee and be available to help them navigate the college system.
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Provide guidance in course selection, both inside and outside of your major field of interest. Assist students in choosing courses most relevant to their intended degree, major, graduate study (if applicable), and personal and professional aspirations.
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Have a thorough understanding of the curriculum including:
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Assist with professional and student development issues.
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Provide guidance on the expectations of college students and encourage productive study habits, effective time management, and a healthy balance of curricular and co-curricular engagement.
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Encourage appropriate independence, responsibility, and accountability in academic and professional matters.
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Acquaint advisees with resources and opportunities available at Cornell College:
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Write letters of reference for students as they pursue these opportunities.
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Keep track of your advisees’ academic progress. If an advisee receives a low grade in a class, meet with the advisee to help ascertain the cause of the low grade. Help advisees create a plan of action to address academic difficulties. This may entail referrals to the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), the Coordinator of Academic Support and Advising, the Dean of Students for early warning, the counseling center, etc.
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Review the College’s educational priorities with advisees and discuss their progress in meeting these objectives
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Follow and abide by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) regulations.
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Be open to the individual backgrounds and personalities of each student.
Advising is an important and serious responsibility for each faculty member at Cornell College. Faculty/advisee relations should be engaging and meaningful.
Cornell faculty and staff are a collaborative team that works together to give all students the best education possible. When working with advisees, ask for comments or suggestions from colleagues, your department chair, the Registrar, the Associate Dean, or the Coordinator of Academic Support and Advising.
**If you recognize a student is in any kind of academic or personal struggle, it is worthwhile to send an e-mail to Early Warning. Please include in your message any information you have regarding the student. That email goes directly to the Dean of Students and the Coordinator of Academic Support and Advising.