The following is a reduced version of material which may be found in the university catalog, on the website of the Center for Student Success, and in related materials provided by the Center for Student Success.
Section 1. DEFINITION
Academic advising is an integral component of the educational resources of Pacific Lutheran University. The mission of academic advising is to assist students in discovering, defining, and attaining their educational goals by providing guidance, support, and resources. Both academic advisors and students have roles to play in working towards these goals: Students are responsible for making their own life, career, and educational plans, and advisors are responsible for assisting their advisees in identifying and assessing those plans and their alternatives. Because educational goals are defined in the context of life and career goals, advisors work together with the Center for Student Success and other student service programs to provide support and resources to help their advisees develop and realize their educational goals. Full-time faculty are asked by department chairs or deans to serve as academic advisors.
Section 2. NON-MAJOR ADVISING
- Academic advisors at PLU are committed to assisting students as they discover and define their educational, personal, and emergent life goals. The advising relationship is a collaborative partnership through which students may gain an understanding of academic disciplines and university resources as they complete their degrees. Academic advisors work to support and strengthen students’ development as they progress through their academic journey.
- All students enrolled in degree programs have advisors whose responsibility is to guide academic progress. Until students have attained junior standing, they are required to meet with their advisor (and receive a current Registration Access Code) prior to registering for an upcoming term. In their work with individual students, advisors often work closely with and refer students to personnel in a number of student academic support offices. At the time of entry, students are assigned to an academic advisor according to their academic interests or to a professional advisor in the Center for Student Success .
- Transfer students who are ready to declare their major are assigned to a designated transfer advisor. Transfer students who wish to explore educational goals are assigned to the transfer student advisor in the Center for Student Success.
- Progress toward fulfilling elements of the General Education Program can be accessed by the student and the advisor online via the Curriculum, Advising, and Program Planning (CAPP) report available on Banner Web. In addition, advisors receive an advising file for each student they advise.
- Academic advisors are supported by educational planning workshops, by resources available through the website of the Center for Student Success, and through consultation with staff in the Center for Student Success.
Section 3. MAJOR ADVISING
Upon formal declaration of a major, students are assigned a faculty major advisor within the major department. Major advisors are responsible for guiding students’ progress toward completion of their chosen major and the elements of the General Education Program, as well as serving as a general academic guide as students make choices and determine their educational goals. Students are welcome to see a professional academic advisor in the Center for Student Success in addition to their major advisor. Students and advisors are expected to meet regularly, though the number of meetings will vary according to individual needs. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisors at least once each semester.
Section 4. PROBATIONARY ADVISING
Students on academic probation or continued probation are required at the beginning of their probationary semester to meet with an academic advisor in the Center for Student Success to develop a plan to return to good academic standing. Students who are reinstated after academic dismissal are required to meet with an academic advisor in the Center for Student Success or a faculty advisor to develop a plan to return to good academic standing.
Section 5. THE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
The Center for Student Success manages academic advising services, teaches career and education planning classes, and provides direct advising to a large number of first-year and sophomore students; it coordinates major advising programs and offers workshops and support for faculty and professional advisors.
Section 6. ADVISING RECORDS
A confidential advising file is created for each entering student and is sent to the assigned advisor. It will follow the student to graduation, through any change of advisor, major declaration or major change. Responsibility for the advising files lies with the currently assigned advisor. Specifically, the advisor will keep the files secure and up-to-date, and will promptly forward files when requested by the Center for Student Success.
Section 7. CHANGE OF ADVISOR
Students are encouraged to change advisors as their interests develop and change, or as they decide to declare or change majors. Advisor changes may be transacted via the declaration of major or via a change of advisor form.
Section 8. ADVISORS ON LEAVE
Faculty who go on leave have an obligation to notify the Center for Student Success regarding their leave. Temporary reassignment of advisees will occur in one of two ways. Major advisees should be reassigned by the chair within the department. Other advisees should be referred to the Center for Student Success for reassignment.
Section 9. ADVISING AND REGISTRATION
Each Fall and Spring term, several weeks in November and April, respectively, are set aside for advising and registration. Please consult the Office of the Registrar or the Center for Student Success for details.