New students work with a faculty advisor and a student advisor. The student advisor is an upper-level student selected to serve as an assistant to the faculty advisor and as a peer advisor to incoming students. Throughout the advising process, students will meet with these advisors to receive guidance regarding academic choices, to plan a course schedule, and to gain support during their first year in college.

Advisors are trained to work with all students regardless of major. No later than the end of your sophomore year, you will declare a major and then be assigned a faculty major advisor.

The Basic Responsibilities of the Advisee in the Advising Process

• Giving thoughtful consideration to personal goals, so academic and career/professional goals can be coordinated with them.
• Discussing with your advisor personal long-range goals and the kind of job opportunities in which you may be interested after completing your degree.
• Knowing the basic requirements of your chosen major well enough to be able to ask meaningful questions (information found through the College Catalogue, which you will receive during Orientation, and from specific academic departments).
• Planning ahead for meetings with your faculty advisor.
• Accepting responsibility for making final decisions on academic matters.
• Being familiar with the College Catalogue and the course schedule for the current semester.
• Keeping the advisor informed of all changes in your schedule, problems encountered and questions that could affect your academic life (such as possible change of major, study skills concerns, etc.).
• Visiting your advisor promptly if you receive any low grades.
• Keeping personal copies of grade reports, requirement sheets, etc.
• Seeking out-of-class activities (i.e., cultural events, interest-related clubs, student organizations, convocations, etc.) relevant to your desired major and other interests.

The Primary Responsibilities of the Faculty Advisor

• Assisting students in their consideration and clarification of educational goals.
• Assisting students in developing a plan of study consistent with their goals and objectives.
• Providing accurate information to students.
• Being knowledgeable about programs, resources, policies and procedures.
• Being appropriately available to students.
• Providing timely attention to academic advising matters.
• Assisting students in evaluation and re-evaluation of progress toward established goals and educational plans.
• Making referrals to resources within and outside of the college as appropriate.
• Expecting the advisee to assume her share of the responsibility for the advising relationship and encouraging her to do so.

The Student Advisor’s Responsibilities

• Providing a mentor relationship to first-year students upon their arrival at Meredith.
• Providing friendship and information about how to be a good student at Meredith (the Honor Code, student life, Meredith’s traditions, academic life, social and recreational life).
• Supporting first-year students in developing effective study habits and academic planning.
• Referring students who may be in need of additional support to campus resources.
• Assisting new students in getting to know each other.
• Assisting the faculty advisor in providing support and information to first-year students.

The faculty and student advisors are here to assist you in reaching your goals at Meredith College. It is up to you to let them know what you need as an advisee and a student.