The relationship between an academic advisor and advisee is one of shared responsibility. The student is ultimately responsible for the choices he/she makes in college, but Missouri Western knows that in order to make informed decisions, students need the assistance of academic advisors and others in the University community in order to realize their full potential. An academic advisor is the primary resource regarding academic issues, opportunities, and programs and could be thought of as the coordinator of a student’s educational experiences.
Academic advisors assist students in:
- Developing meaningful educational plans that satisfy degree requirements
- Selecting appropriate courses
- Understanding how to take advantage of special opportunities like internships, the co-op program, study abroad, Enterprise program, certificate programs, etc.
- Understanding the implications of student choices, academic performance and academic standing
- Identifying University resources and services (Career Development, Counseling, Center for Academic Support, Accessibility Resource Center, etc.)
- Interpreting University requirements, policies, regulations, and procedures
- Developing their decision-making skills and self-direction
- Clarifying and evaluating progress toward life and career goals
Academic advisors are expected to:
- Stay current with academic requirements and policies and University information and changes
- Keep abreast of developments in the field of advising, by reviewing materials from NACADA (newsletters, website, journal) and attending training programs and other professional development opportunities
- Keep regular office hours and be adequately available to meet with advisees
- Be a responsive listener and to refer students to appropriate support services within the institution when needed
- Have an awareness of any role conflicts or biases that may interfere with providing the best assistance to advisees
- Work cooperatively with the university community to assure student success
