Student Affairs Committee
Mission and Philosophy (Draft)
February 7, 2007
 

During Spring Semester, 2006, Leanne Parker and Andy Hanson convened a group
of faculty interested in becoming more effective advisors.  Of particular interest was
clarifying the College’s expectations for advisors, as well as how those expectations
can best be met.  In addition, we were concerned with how faculty members’ advising
is used in an overall assessment of their work: for annual evaluations, as well as for
tenure and promotion.  To this end, the group decided to write a mission and role
statement for academic advising at LCSC.  We have attached a draft of this document,
including a mission statement and expectations for both advisors and advisees.

Please read this and help by giving your comments and recommendations to any
member of the group: Leanne Parker; Mary Lou Robinson; Holly Patterson-McNeil;
Kathie Wilcox; Diana Ames.  We look forward to your help with this important issue.

Mission and Philosophy

Academic advising is a significant part of the College’s role in the total process of educating
students. The mission of academic advising is to assist students in the development of
meaningful educational plans that are compatible with their life goals. It is a decision-making
process by which students realize their maximum educational potential through communication
and information exchanges with an advisor. It is ongoing, multifaceted, and the responsibility
of both student and advisor.

The ultimate responsibility for making decisions about educational plans rests with the
individual student. The academic advisor, however, serves as a facilitator of communication,
a coordinator of learning experiences through course and career planning and academic
progress review, and an agent of referral to other campus agencies as necessary.  The
advisor collaborates with the student to identify and assess alternatives, to introduce College
resources, and to discuss the effects of program decisions.

College-wide Advising Goals

1) To help students clarify individual values, career goals, and life challenges;

2) To develop suitable and realistic educational plans and programs of study with each student;

3) To help students select appropriate courses and other educational opportunities;

4) To help students review and evaluate progress toward established educational goals and
complete requirements within individual programs of study;

5) To assist students in understanding and interpreting College polices and procedures;

6) To develop student awareness and understanding that decision-making in the advising
 process is based on a system of shared responsibility;

7) To encourage students to utilize College support services and related resources as needed;

8) To clarify and improve the student’s knowledge of career options and potential for career
changes in the workplace;

9) To address the individualized academic advising needs of a diverse student population;

10) To assess advising services in an effort to better meet the needs of advisors and students.

Essentials of Effective Advising

Advising Expectations

At Lewis-Clark State College, academic advising is based on a system of shared responsibility
between student and advisor, and a process of continuous improvement, clarification, and
assessment with the aim of furthering institutional advising goals and desired student outcomes.

The College Catalog is the authoritative source of information on requirements and regulations.
The courses for which a student may claim credit must be recorded on the official student
schedule, which is on file in the Office of the Registrar in accordance with enrollment and
add/withdrawal policies prescribed by the College.  Students who have questions about their
official class schedule are encouraged to check in the Office of the Registrar.

Student Responsibilities

Things to do Before You Meet with your Advisor:

1) Ensure that any academic records from other colleges and universities are transferred to
and received by the College’s Admissions Office for evaluation. Additionally, be sure the
Admissions Office has your ACT, SAT, or other standardized exam placement scores.

2) Consider your academic, career, and social goals and examine how they will affect your life.

3) Ensure you know who your advisor is and how to contact him or her.

4) Have a list of questions you want to ask, or concerns you would like addressed.

When you Meet with your Advisor:

1) Discuss information that affects your academic performance. Be open and honest, and tell
your advisor about things that may be affecting your ability to do your best. Early detection of
problems is very important.

2) Remind your advisor about what you have previously discussed.

3) If you are registering for classes for the next semester, be sure you have reviewed the
Course Schedule and have a draft of courses planned. In addition, know course pre-requisites
for any planned courses, and the status of your completion of them.

General Expectations for Students:

1) Initiate and maintain contact with your advisor.

2) Keep scheduled appointments.

3) Follow through on advisor recommendations.

4) Learn requirements for the College and your program, and keep current on academic
policies, procedures, and requirements.

5) Make and keep an up-to-date a file of your notes from all meetings with your advisor.
Copy and keep all email and other correspondence between you.

6) Determine programs, resources, and organizations available to you.

7) Make use of all resources on campus.

8) Seek the assistance needed to achieve your goals.

9) Be responsible for planning a course of study and fulfilling all necessary requirements
and regulations by accepting ultimate responsibility for decisions.

10) Be responsible for knowing and behaving consistently with the Code of Conduct, located
in the Student Handbook.

11) Complete an application for graduation and schedule an appointment with your advisor
a few weeks prior to the application deadline.

Advisor Responsibilities

Advisors help students navigate the advising and registration process, choosing and/or
changing majors, working to achieve academic success, and trying to maximize career
options. Advisor responsibilities include the following:

1) If possible, before meeting with an advisee review their file for important information
such as placement scores and transfer equivalencies.

2) Be familiar with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and its impact
on advising.

3) Provide students with correct, up-to-date information about College and Division
requirements, policies, and procedures, as well as requirements for the student’s selected
major.

4) Be sure advisees have your contact information, and that you make and keep adequate
office hours throughout the semester.

5) Assist with choosing classes, making suggestions for advisees’ majors, academic plans,
registration, and advisor changes.  This includes reviewing and signing program evaluation
forms, graduation applications, and any necessary petitions.

6) Provide a respectful, supportive atmosphere that is honest and realistic for students.
Provide students with information about alternatives, limitations, and possible consequences
of academic decisions.

7) Keep accurate records according to Division standards.

8) Ensure that students are provided access to services on a fair and equitable basis.

9) Avoid any personal conflict of interest, as well as the appearance of conflict.

10) Refuse to participate in any form of sexual harassment.

11) Discourage students from circumventing institutional policies and regulations. When
confronting situations in which students have violated policies, address the issues and refer
students to the appropriate resource.

12) Recognize personal limitations with respect to advising information, and become familiar
with College resources to make appropriate referrals.

13) Maintain confidentiality according to established standards.