Professional Academic Advisors Will:

Baseline Responsibilities  

• Provide an open, welcoming atmosphere that honors the unique nature and diverse backgrounds and interests of each student.  
• Engage undergraduate students in discussions concerning available majors, minors, programs, certificates, and badges, and conduct introductory conversations regarding careers.  
• Help coordinate students’ academic advising experiences.  
• Coordinate communications with liaison units to provide outreach to all CLAS majors.  
• Utilize data from the University’s designated advising software to develop outreach strategies for vulnerable student populations.  
• Provide accurate and timely information to students.  
• Utilize the University’s designated advising and record-keeping software to prepare for meetings with students and to keep records of each meeting, including date/time of meeting and content of discussion.   
• Offer advising in a format that is convenient to the student (in person, over email, or via videoconferencing) and attend occasional advising-related events outside of regular business hours when needed. Advising meetings may be on an individual basis or in groups.  
• Understand and follow FERPA guidelines as they pertain to student advising records.  

  

Degree and Graduation Requirements  

• Provide information regarding university and departmental policies and procedures to both students and faculty.  
• Understand and be able to communicate the requirements for their assigned majors, minors, certificates, and badges in CLAS, as well as a baseline understanding of programs available across the college and in other colleges.  
• Clarify issues concerning graduation and major/minor requirements.  
• Provide appropriate referrals to the student’s assigned Faculty Mentor or designated contact in the academic units.  
• Provide degree plans that lay out a course of study for each major and minor (as appropriate).  
• Help students sequence high-impact experiences, courses, and curricular requirements that need to be addressed at specific times.  
• Provide support and guidance for students seeking admission to competitive and/or selective secondary admission programs, including: 
  • Teacher Certification
  • Post-graduate professional programs
  • Other undergraduate and graduate level programs.  
• Collaborate with the Graduate Program Director for the relevant graduate program regarding the undergraduate portion of a student's Combined Degree Program. 
• Utilize designated records software to assess students’ progress towards a selected or prospective degrees.  
• Explain all requirements, curriculum guides, and designated records software tools to students.  

  

General Education  

• Possess a thorough understanding of the University’s General Education Program and be able to communicate how the requirements apply to a students’ program of study.  
• Articulate the role of General Education requirements in a Liberal Arts Education.  
• Facilitate the evaluation of transfer courses for new transfer students towards possible general education credit.  

 

New Student Orientation  

• Provide academic advising and support to all new students in CLAS, including participation in First-Year, Transfer and International Student Orientation/Registration events.  

  

Student Success  

• Monitor and provide accessible guidance on each student’s academic progress.  
• Know the important resources on campus and provide appropriate referrals to student success resources, such as the CLAS Academic Advising Center, the Registrar’s Office, the Counseling Center, Tutoring and Study Support Services, the library, etc.  
• Fully utilize the technologies available to identify high risk students and provide intentional outreach and support in an effort to contribute to positive retention and graduation rates. This includes outreach campaigns through designated advising platform in response to the following:  
• Faculty-submitted academic progress alerts  Midterm and end of semester grade reports  
• Support need assessment using designated success metrics  
• Provide objective advice to students whose academic performance prevents them from pursuing their degree program and help identify parallel or alternative academic plans.
• Assist students in identifying obstacles to their success and work together to find solutions or alternative plans.  
• Provide individualized and intentional outreach to CLAS students based on grade performance each semester.  
• Encourage students to take an active role in planning and achieving their educational and career goals.  
• Provide the first point of contact for students seeking a return to the university, either due to dismissal or an absence from their undergraduate studies.  

  

Career Advising and Graduate or Professional Study  

• Engage students in introductory discussions regarding the following topics and careers and make referrals to faculty mentors and Career Center to continue these discussions as appropriate.  
• Options for graduate study based on their academic programs and interests.  
• Effective strategies for graduate school admissions and/or employment.  
• Information about preparation for the graduate school process and required admission testing.  

 

Undergraduate Scholarship and Study Abroad  

• Engage students in introductory discussions regarding potential opportunities for undergraduate research based on their academic programs and interests.  
• Make referrals to faculty mentors to continue these discussions.  
• Provide information on the Study Abroad programs available at GVSU as well as the timing, academic opportunities, and application procedures for these programs.   
• Refer to the Padnos International Center and/or Faculty Mentor for continued discussions.  

  

Professional Development  

• Keep current on advising requirements and resources by participating in professional development programs related to best practices in academic advising to enhance knowledge and skills.