The relationship between advisor and advisee is one of
shared responsibility. As a student, you are ultimately responsible for the
choices you make in college; however, Rowan College realizes that in order for you to
make well-informed decisions students need the mentoring and the advice of
academic advisors. Your academic advisor is your primary resource regarding
academic concerns, opportunities, and program requirements and could perhaps be
thought of as the coordinator of your educational experiences. Your academic advisor will provide a
friendly, open environment that fosters self-awareness, self-exploration, and
self-evaluation ultimately developing into a sense of personal identity. Through your assistance, academic advisors
will focus not just on a semester-by-semester plan, but also a comprehensive
college career plan that may span the next several years, as a means of
preparing you for additional academic or career planning once your degree is
earned at Rowan College.
You can expect advisors to:
- To be accessible each semester by encouraging students to set up appointments with their individual advisor.
- To treat you with respect as an adult.
- To understand and the curriculum, requirements, and academic policies and procedures. If I do not know the answer to a question, that I will find the answer or the resource that will answer your question and reply in a timely manner.
- To effectively communicate with students topic related to degree requirements, academic policies, and campus procedures.
- To help you to explore your interests, abilities, and goals and to relate them to a variety of academic majors.
- To refer students to appropriate campus resources as needed such as the Wellness Center, Career Advancement and Planning (CAP Center), Financial Aid, Testing Center, Special Services, Academic Support Center, and Office of Student Affairs.
- To discuss your academic performance and the implications of your performance for the degree you are pursuing.
- To offer advice on selecting courses and to assist you in developing an academic plan that satisfies all your degree requirements.
- To encourage and guide you in defining and developing clear and realistic educational plans.
- To assist you in developing relationships with faculty and instructors.
- To inform you about scholarship opportunities when available.
Your responsibilities in the advising relationship are:
- To take the initiative to make an appointment with your advisor each semester. Do not wait until the last minute to make an appointment especially around the time when course registration begins. Be mindful that advisors may be booked with appointments for weeks in advance. Be proactive and schedule appointments sooner than later.
- To come prepared to each appointment with questions or materials for discussion.
- To be aware of the prerequisites for each course required for your degree. Make sure to discuss with your advisor how prerequisites may affect the sequencing of your courses during future semesters.
- To share information with advisors regarding interests, goals, educational, and career plans.
- To seek sources of information which will assist you in making academic/career decisions.
- To ask questions! If you do not understand a policy or a procedure, ask questions until you do understand. Be knowledgeable about policies, procedures and requirements.
- To keep a personal record of your progress toward YOUR academic goals including previous advisement forms, copies of transcripts, academic map, and other related materials. Students should keep copies of ALL correspondence from the college, and from meetings with their advisors. It is ultimately the students' responsibility to fulfill the requirements for graduation.
- To be proactive in checking your degree evaluation each semester to ensure you are still on track for completing your degree on time.
- To be familiar with the College Catalog and the Student Handbook. These two publications are a vital source of information that contribute to your success!
- To alert their advisors immediately if they begin to have difficulties that are affecting the performance of their coursework.
- To clarify personal values and goals and provide your advisor with accurate and truthful information regarding your interests and abilities.
- To gather all relevant information before making decisions that affect your educational goals.
- To participate fully in the courses for which you are registered by completing assignments on time and attending class.
- To keep your advisor informed about changes in your academic progress, course selection, and academic/career goals.
- To ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR DECISIONS AND YOUR ACTIONS (or INACTIONS) that affect your educational progress and goals.
