1.9: Academic Advising

ADVISING RESOURCES

Each academic department at PSU determines its own structure for providing academic advising. For this reason, it is important for students to understand the advising structure in their academic department and also other departments in which they may be taking classes. Some departments offer drop-in advising on certain days and times, others offer advising by appointment only. Many departments use an online appointment scheduling system, whereas others may require a telephone call to make an appointment. Some advisors may be booked out for weeks or even a month or more, so it is important to plan ahead.
Depending on the college or school, students may have a lower-division advisor (first two years) and an upper-division advisor (last two years). Generally, lower-division advisors are professional advisors whose main responsibility is academic advising. Upper-division advisors may be professional advisors (e.g. business majors) or they may be teaching faculty who also have academic advising responsibilities within their department (e.g. computer science and engineering majors). Your major’s school/college webpages will be your best resource for understanding the advising structure for your major.
In addition to your department’s webpage, here is a centralized source for the physical location of all academic advising on campus.

Source: https://www.pdx.edu/advising/advising-locations, February 9, 2018, © Portland State University 2018.

ADVISING AND CAREER SERVICES

Advising and Career Services (ACS) offers academic advising to students who have not yet selected a major (undecided/undeclared). ACS advisors can also meet with students who have declared a major but have general advising questions about degree requirements, University Studies or selecting classes. Students can access the ACS website to see a listing of advisors and to make advising appointments.

Additionally, ACS offers a variety of workshops and other helpful services, including exploring majors, personality type and career choice, résumé creation and many others. View the ACS workshop and events calendar for more information.

Source: https://www.pdx.edu/advising-career-services/, February 9, 2018, © Portland State University 2018.

ACADEMIC ADVISING WHILE IN THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM

The relationship that you develop with your academic advisor(s) is one of the most important of your academic career. Your advisor will make recommendations to keep you on track and moving toward your academic goals to attain your degree.

While you are in the Pathways Program, you will have two advisors:

• Pathways Program advisor in the IELP
• Academic advisor in your major

Your major advisor will make recommendations to you about the academic classes that you should take while you are in the Pathways Program. Your Pathways Program advisor will review your proposed classes and schedule and they will make the final determination of classes that you will register for each term while in the program. Additionally, your Pathways Program Advisor will review your grades and academic plan each term, make adjustments as needed, and make final decisions about your course registration.

After you fully matriculate to academic degree study at PSU, you may work with just one advisor until the time that you complete your degree, or you may work with multiple advisors. As previously noted, some academic departments conduct all advising through professional advisors. Other departments may have professional advisors for lower-division (LD) students (first- and second-year students) and then faculty advisors for upper-division (UD) students (third- and fourth-year students) and students fully admitted to professional programs. While in the Pathways Program, academic advising is structured as follows:

TERM 1: PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION (6-MONTH AND 9-MONTH)

• Meet with your major advisor in small groups, usually during class time
  • Pathways Program Advisor monitors and approves schedule and registration for the next term

TERM 2: PATHWAYS INTERMEDIATE (9-MONTH)

• Make an individual appointment with your major advisor to meet one-on-one in his/her office
• Pathways Program Advisor monitors and approves schedule and registration for the next term

TERM 3: PATHWAYS FINAL (6-MONTH AND 9-MONTH)

• Individual advising appointment with major advisor as-needed (not required)
• Academic advising during PSU New Student Orientation session
• Pathways Program Advisor monitors and approves schedule and registration for the next term

PREPARING TO MEET WITH YOUR MAJOR ACADEMIC ADVISOR

Your academic advisor in your major will be able to provide information and answer questions about courses required for your major and courses needed to meet the requirements of your degree. Your major advisor will assist you in planning for your next terms of study and in creating a plan for completing your undergraduate degree.

Pathways Introduction: You will meet with an academic advisor in a small group with other students with the same major, most likely during class time. The purpose of this first advising session is to meet your advisor, gain a general understanding of the expectations for your major and learn his/her recommendations for the academic courses you will take in your next term of study.

Pathways Intermediate: You will schedule an individual appointment with an academic advisor in your major. In this way, you will learn how to make an appointment with an advisor for your major and where advising for your major is located. Additionally, this appointment may be a required assignment for your pathways seminar.

Preparing for this meeting and using the time with your advisor in a productive way is important for both of you. It is recommended that you prepare at least three questions to ask your advisor. If this meeting is an assignment for your seminar and requires a signature or other verification, it is appropriate to request the signature or verification at the end of the appointment. It is not acceptable to inform your advisor that the advising appointment is only to fulfill a required assignment for class.

Examples of questions to ask your major advisor:

1. What are the academic classes you should consider taking in your next term of study?
2. What university studies courses will you take and when will you take them?
3. How do you know which university studies courses to choose? For example, is there
a FRINQ or SINQ theme that is recommended for your major?
4. Is there a GPA requirement in your major for graduation?
5. Is there an admission process for your major to be able to take upper-division
(300-400 level) classes?
6. Are their student groups to join in your college/school/major?
7. What is your advisor’s advice for being academically successful in your major?
8. Other questions that pertain to your individual circumstances

Pathways Final: Students in the Pathways Final Seminar are in their last term of study in the program and are preparing for full-time enrollment in academic classes in their next term of study. Portland State University requires that all students beginning full-time undergraduate academic study attend a New Student Orientation session before beginning full-time enrollment.
Your Pathways Program advisor will coordinate your registration for a PSU New Student Orientation. At the Orientation, you will meet other American and international students in your major, participate in a review of general education and degree requirements, and meet with an academic advisor in your major. You will complete registration for the next term of study at the Orientation.

While in the Pathways Final Seminar, you have the option of making an individual appointment to meet with your advisor before attending New Student Orientation, but it is not required.

Upon transitioning to all academic coursework, it is strongly recommended that you meet with your major advisor at least one time each term.