Why is Academic Advising Important?
What Can a Student Expect From a Faculty Advisor?
During a student's first semester at B-W, he/she is assigned a faculty member to serve as an academic advisor. This person is a faculty member within the student's major. If the student is undecided, the advisor is selected based on the student's interest in a particular major, or the advisor is a faculty member who specializes in advising undecided students. A faculty advisor helps the student adjust to B-W, select classes for the following semester and review his/her Graduation Plan. In addition, the advisor recommends internships, employment and graduate school opportunities.
Can an Advisor Assist a Student in Getting Help in a Class?
Yes. All the student needs to do is ask. The advisor can refer the student to the Learning Center, where the student can get tutoring in almost all subjects and where he/she can take study skills classes. The advisor also can recommend the Writing Lab for help with papers.
Will an Advisor Help a Student Choose a Major?
During the first two years of a student's B-W experience, he/she will explore a multitude of academic areas. Gaining this breadth of knowledge is an advantage of a liberal arts education. An academic advisor encourages a student to explore, and yet will make sure he/she is fulfilling core requirements. If a student is interested in a major with many requirements—natural sciences, math, pre-physical therapy, education, or pre-engineering—the advisor suggests beginning those required courses in the first semester in order to explore the discipline and stay on track for graduation.
How Do Advisors Communicate With Their Advisees?
In addition to meeting with their advisees, advisors can communicate through B-W e-mail and the Blackboard Learning Management System (an internal B-W network) to set up meetings and have interactive discussions with their advisees.
Will the Advisor Know if a Student Isn't Doing Well in a Class?
If a freshman is earning lower than a C- in a class at the end of the 6th week, the student's professor sends an academic warning to the student and to the student's advisor. If an advisor, other faculty member, or staff person is concerned about a student not coming to class or about a change in the student's behavior, he/she will notify the student's advisor and the assistant dean of students who will work to resolve the student problem. This confidential program is called "Because We Care."