Academic Advising and Student Resources

Advice on Advising

Advising is an important part of the relationships between faculty and students on campus.  New freshman and major advisers should speak with departmental colleagues, the academic deans of the appropriate division, and the deans in the Office of the Dean of Students about approaches to and best practices for advising.  Other helpful W&L resources are available from these links:

• University Registrar

  • Faculty WebServices (Database of information to help advise students; includes students' "advising transcripts.")

  • Student WebServices (Students can access their own scheduling and transcript information.  This access allows them to prepare better for meetings with advisers.)

  • Curricular Advice for New Students

  • Departments and Programs

  • General Education Requirements (as listed in the 2005-2006 Catalogue)

  • Web Registration Information

   

• The College

• The Williams School

• The Law School

   

• Office of the Dean of Students

  • Campus Life

  • New student guidebook

  • Freshman Program

• Faculty Academy session (4/4/05):  "Advising:  Best Practices" (.pdf file posted on April 4, 2005):  Presenters at the session provide information on best practices for specific advising of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Additional Advising Resources

The web hosts a number of useful sites containing tips, information, and forums for faculty eager to learn more about academic advising. The National Academic Advising Association is probably the first stop for anyone interested in honing their advising skills, but webpages designed by a number of universities also contain thoughtful approaches. George Mason University, the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Virginia have posted their advising handbooks online, and each of them features at least one topic that is distinctive and worth investigating. For one of the best online journals dedicated to the topic, visit Penn State’s electronic magazine, “Mentor,” where you can read the latest approaches to advising and participate in chats with other faculty about the subject.

National Academic Advising Association

Advising Forum, online

Advising Handbook, UPenn

Advising Handbook, George Mason

Advising Handbook, Johns Hopkins

Advising Handbook, UVA

Page last modified on 4/4/05.