Undergraduate Program
Academic Advising: Information for Faculty
Thank you so much for serving as a faculty advisor! To help you through the process, we have compiled this manual to serve as your quick guide to academic advising. It consists of condensed tips and resources to help answer your students' academic advising and registration questions throughout the year, but most particularly in your first meeting.
New incoming students complete part of their registration during the summer, when they can sign up for as many as 11 credits prior to Orientation. During their first full week at William and Mary, they meet with you on Monday, complete registration on Tuesday and attend the first day of classes on Wednesday. Obviously, their first meeting with you is an invaluable first step in the intellectual journey. It is time to help orient them to the academic life at the College of William and Mary by broaching the following principles and topics in your first meeting:
Openness - to becoming a mentor and listening to their concerns and aspirations
Research - through discussing opportunities for advisees to help with your scholarship
Independent learning - by stressing responsibility associated with self-determination
Exploration - through encoutering new intellectual interests and potential majors
Necessities - by completing proficiencies, GER's and pre-professional requirements
Travel - through building the opportunity to study abroad into future curriculum plans
**At the end of your meeting, please give your advisees their alternate pins**
You will meet with your advisees prior to both fall and spring registration periods in their first year and we encourage you to continue offering support throughout the school year and through their sophomore year until they declare their major. We hope this guide will serve you well, and look forward to a successful school year as well as working with you in the future.
Best Wishes
John M. Charles
©2008 · Arts & Sciences at The College of William and Mary