Advising Sections

Traditional Students Continuing Studies Students

Salem College Advising Program

The purpose of the academic advising program at Salem is to assist each student in planning an educational program consistent with her life goals and interests. An important component of the educational mission of the College, the academic advising program seeks to help students develop and “expand their capacity for creative, analytical and ethical thought, and prepare for positions of leadership and responsibility in a changing world” (College Mission Statement).

The Advising Relationship
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship effective. The academic adviser assumes a significant educational role by encouraging the advisee to engage fully in her educational program. Advisers work closely with students to develop an educational program that fits the student’s goals and interests. As each student is responsible for her own learning, the advisee must take the initiative to consult with her adviser on a regular basis.

The Advisor’s Role

• Help the advisee plan a course of study that fulfils the College’s requirements for graduation and meets the educational goals of the advisee.
• Be available for regular meetings with advisees. Advisers should post and maintain regular office hours, and be available for advising prior to pre-registration for the fall, January and spring terms. During the advising session, advisers should discuss the student’s progress toward her degree.
• Discuss the educational and career objectives of each advisee and help the advisee understand the relationship among the courses, programs, community service opportunities, internships, and other educational opportunities provided by the College.
• Monitor the progress of the advisee toward satisfactory completion of all graduation requirements and inform students of their status each semester. Advisers should maintain an up-to-date advisement file on each advisee, including detailed records of all registration and drop/add activity.
• Sign advisee academic forms (e.g., summer school, academic petitions, internship applications). The adviser is responsible for carrying out academic policies and procedures. The adviser’s signature is interpreted as approval of the student’s request.
• Help the advisee to understand the academic and administrative policies and procedures of the College. The adviser serves as a liaison between the advisee and the college in academic matters.
• Refer advisees to other resources on campus, both academic and non-academic. The adviser should also inform the administration regarding concerns about advisees that could affect academic performance or retention.
• Encourage self-reliance by helping students make informed and responsible decisions, set realistic goals, and develop thinking, learning, and life management skills to meet present and future needs. Advisers work with students to help them accomplish the goals and objectives they have established for themselves. Advisers encourage students to be responsible for their own success and progress. (Taken from National Academic Advising Association Core Values)

The Advisee’s Role

• Acquire the information needed to assume responsibility for course scheduling, program planning, and the successful completion of all graduation requirements.
• Become knowledgeable about the relevant policies, procedures, and rules of the College.
• Seek the academic and career information needed to meet educational goals.
• Set up a regular appointment to meet with adviser at least once a semester to discuss academic progress, design a course schedule, review progress towards graduation, and discuss other educational opportunities provided by the College.

Traditional Students

Academic Advising for Traditional Age Undergraduates
The academic advising program consists of two parts. The first phase is first- and second-year advising; the second, advising of majors. The College assigns a faculty adviser to each incoming first-year student on the basis of her interests. The faculty adviser also serves as the student’s College 100/101 instructor. In this way, first-year students meet with their adviser at least twice weekly for the Signature Course. Advisers arrange additional group and individual meetings over the course of the semester. Peer advisers also constitute an integral component of the advising process. Selected juniors and seniors work with first-year students throughout the first semester. Peer advisers assist new students with course selection and registration and serve as models of a successful student. The academic and peer advisers work to help students understand and appreciate the nature of the advising program. Advisers help students understand the adviser’s role and the student’s role in the process.

Once the student declares her major, usually in the spring of her sophomore year, she is assigned a new faculty adviser in the department of her major. A student may change her faculty adviser at any time either by consultation with the associate dean of the college or the chair of the department in which she has declared her major.

Continuing Studies Students

Every student is assigned an adviser in the Continuing Studies Office. Upon declaring a major, the student is assigned an adviser in her/his chosen filed. Both the adviser and the Continuing Studies office will assist the student with registration and degree planning. A student may change her faculty adviser at any time either by consultation with the associate dean of the college or the chair of the department in which she has declared her major.

Majors Form
Minors Form