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Philosophy of
Advisement

The overall objective of academic advising is to help students realize the maximum educational benefits available to them at Northern State University.  Academic advising may include all aspects of academic program planning, including deciding on course adds, drops, or substitutions; the use of midterm grade information; career decisions; decisions about extra-class activities; etc.

Academic advisors should:

• guide students to better understand their educational needs and aspirations as well as the resources available at Northern to help them achieve their goals.
• maintain a schedule that ensures accessibility to students.

• become familiar with university policies, procedures and program requirements.
• recognize the necessity of getting timely assistance with academic and/or personal problems.
• schedule meetings with their advisors in advance so that both parties have time to prepare.
• be informed participants in advisee/advisor meetings.

Advisor Assignments

After the first registration, advisors will be assigned at the department level from the student's major area of study.  If either the student or advisor feels the relationship does not benefit the student, a new advisor assignment may be requested. When a student declares a major, changes a major, or wants to request an advisor change, the new advisor will be assigned at the department level, taking into account, if possible, any preference stated by the student. Contact the appropriate department office in the intended academic area or the Academic Advisement Center for the method of advisor assignment.

General Information on Advising/Registration Procedures

• Students who want to change advisors should contact the department office to inquire about the appropriate method for the change.
• Contact the department office or the registrar’s office when unsure about policies and procedures.
• New students who don't know who their advisor is should contact the department office in their academic area or the Academic Advisement Center.
• When preparing for registration, students should choose classes before meeting with their advisors. Students should select alternate classes in case of class cancellations, closings or prerequisite requirements. Students should schedule an appointment with their advisors prior to their registration date.
• A registration permit is invalid unless signed by the student's advisor.
• Students who preregister and later decide to cancel their registration should notify the registration desk in the Enrollment Services Office and their advisor of their decision to cancel.
• Students who do not plan to return the following semester should return their registration permits to the registration desk in the Enrollment Services Office.

Academic
Advisement
Handbook

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Philosophy of
Advisement

1.       Seek the best possible education for the advisee.

It is not always easy to judge what will be the best education; our obligation is to do our best with the information available.  Therefore, careful listening is essential.  This will benefit students, people with whom they will later have contact, and society as a whole.

Treating students equitably does not mean treating them all the same. Differences in students' needs require us to spend more time with one than with another and to advise one more intrusively than another.  But the fact that we might like one student more or that we might share another's values does not justify differential treatment.

This goal cannot be accomplished without permitting the advisee to make decisions.  It benefits the students and others in the long run because it supports and develops individual autonomy.  Part of being an effective advisor is helping students learn how to be responsible for their own life planning.

Students might not get all the services from the college without a little help.  There is such a thing, however, as advocating too hard.

6.       Support the institution's educational philosophy and its policies.

7.       Maintain the credibility of the advising program.

8.       Accord colleagues appropriate professional courtesy and respect.

Professional behavior is not only about being polite and respectful to people.  It is also a prohibition against encouraging students to believe negative things about the competence or character of colleagues.  Criticizing or complaining about other faculty or staff to students is both unprofessional and inappropriate.

Do not betray confidential information.  The Federal Privacy Act or (FERPA), prevents faculty from discussing student records and private information with parents or others unless students have signed a release giving permission to do so.

Academic
Advisement
Handbook

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Philosophy of
Advisement

1.    Care about advisees as people by showing empathy, understanding, and respect.

2.    Demonstrate interest, helpful intent, and involvement.

3.    Listen carefully to what your advisee says about his or her wants and needs.

4.    Establish rapport by remembering personal information about advisees.

5.    Be available; keep office hours and appointments.

6.    Provide accurate information.  Double check student records to make sure there are no errors.

7.    Know how and when to make referrals, and be familiar with referral sources.

8.    Keep in frequent contact with advisees; take the initiative; do not always wait for students to
       come to you.

9.    Do not make decisions for students; help them make their own decisions.

10.  Focus on advisees' strengths and potentials rather than limitations.

11.  Seek out advisees in informal settings.

12.  Monitor advisees' progress toward their educational goals.

13.  Determine reasons for poor academic performance and direct advisees to appropriate support
       services.

14.  Be realistic with advisees.

15.  Be knowledgeable about career opportunities and job outlooks for various majors.

16.  Follow up on commitments made to advisees.

17.  Encourage advisees to talk by asking open?ended questions.

18.  Keep an anecdotal record of significant conversations for future reference.

(AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING PROGRAM, 1979)

Academic
Advisement
Handbook

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Philosophy of
Advisement

A STUDENT....

.... is the most important person in any post-secondary institution.

.... is not dependent on us  -- we are dependent on him/her.

.... is not an interruption of our work -- s/he is the purpose of it.

.... does us a favor when s/he calls  -- we are not doing him/her a favor by serving him/her.

.... is part of our process -- not an outsider.

.... is not a cold statistic -- s/he is a person with feelings like your own.

.... is not someone to argue or match wits with.

.... is a person who brings us his/her educational needs  --  it is our job to meet those needs.

.... is deserving of the most courteous and attentive treatment we can give him/her.

....is the person who makes it possible to pay our salary, no matter what our    position is within the
    institution.

....is the lifeblood of every educational institution.

Academic
Advisement
Handbook