Academic Advisement

I. GENERAL INFORMATION:

Academic advising is a necessary part of the higher educational system. It is the process which helps students receive information, consider programs of study, and make career choices. Professionally trained advisors should be available to assist students in identifying career objectives that correspond to their interests, abilities, values, goals and personal traits. Further, it is important for advisors to assist students in identifying their program of study during their first year.

Advising has eight objectives:

A. To help students define and develop realistic goals.

B. To help students identify and understand their strengths, limitations, and needs.

C. To refer students to available resources, when necessary.

D. To assist students in planning their academic programs consistent with individual abilities, interests, and goals.

E. To assist students in monitoring their progress toward educational/career goals.

F. To assist students in identifying the connection between academic preparation and the world of work.

G. To help students develop a mentoring relationship with a faculty or staff member.

H. To assist students in developing their academic abilities to the fullest extent.

II. POLICY:

A. The Student Success Center will have advising responsibility for all Associate of Science and Associate of Arts General Studies students. This responsibility includes the authority to place registration holds as described in Section III below and to sign off on graduation for students pursuing general associates degrees. It does not include the authority to waive or approve substitutions for any general education or core requirement, nor to determine which courses shall be acceptable into any major or minor program. Such authority shall be retained by the appropriate department. 

B. Departments/colleges will assume total advising responsibility for students who have declared majors or have been admitted into a program having admission criteria. Advising of declared majors will be the responsibility of department chairs or where appropriate, professional advisors within the college.

Department chairs may assign faculty to advise students regarding their progress toward graduation, graduate school, or career placement.

1. Total advising includes advisement relative to General Education, University and Major requirements.

2. Students with minors or B.I.S. emphases should be referred to the appropriate departments for advising.

C. The Student Success Center will be responsible for coordinating advisement relative to the General Education, Weber State University core requirements, and admissions/registration policies and procedures. The Center will also support the training of advisors in the colleges and all other divisions, including but not limited to Student Services, Continuing Education, off-campus programs, and independent programs at Weber State University.

III. ADVISING REGISTRATION HOLD POLICY AND PROCEDURE:

A. Colleges, departments, and offices charged with the responsibility for advising students may place registration holds requiring student advising and academic intervention 

B. It is the responsibility of those placing registration holds to communicate to the student immediately that a registration hold has been placed, so that students can work with the appropriate office to clear the holds, if appropriate.