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"No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you." -- Wilma Rudolph, Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Advising Program
Advisers
In order to ensure that you are getting the most out of your education, you are assigned a faculty adviser. The stronger the connection you make with your adviser, the better you can plan together for your time at L&C, which will help you get the most out of your education. Your adviser is a resource with whom to discuss options as you make academic decisions.
Click on any of the links below to go directly to your area of interest.
What is the difference between a pre-major and major adviser?
How is my adviser chosen?
When do students meet with advisers?
What do advisers do?
What are the student's responsibilities to the advisor?
How do I change my academic advisor?
What if my adviser isn't in the department in which I plan to major?
What is the difference between a pre-major and a major adviser?
Before you arrive on campus, you are assigned a pre-major faculty adviser who will assist you in choosing courses and planning your schedule. You will meet with your pre-major adviser during New Student Orientation and throughout the year to discuss a variety of topics such as planning your courses, choosing a major that reflects your passions, weighing the pros and cons of a minor, considering the advisability of doing an internship. In addition, your adviser is a rich resource for general information about College policies and requirements. When you declare a major, you will choose a major adviser from the faculty members in that department. How is my adviser chosen?
The advising program is undergoing a transition during the 2004-05 academic year; therefore, the pre-major adviser for new first year students will either be an instructor in one of their courses or will be assigned based on an area of their interests. Although your pre-major adviser may not be in your anticipated major, every faculty member at LC is prepared to do general academic advising. This is the only time we assign you an adviser.
You will choose a major adviser when you declare your major, which all students must do by the time they have 61 credits. Your major adviser may end up being your pre-major adviser, but you may opt to switch advisers to your specific field(s) of interest within the department. If you have two majors, you need an adviser for each one. You will also have an adviser for each minor that you have.
When do students meet with advisers?
You are required to meet with your adviser during the registration period for each semester in order to be cleared to register for classes for the next semester, but we strongly encourage you to meet more often. What do advisers do?
Faculty advisers help students plan their four years at Lewis & Clark. This includes discussing the courses that are required for graduation, deciding what course to take and when to take it, and figuring out a balanced semester schedule. The adviser's role isn't limited to course selection, however. Because of the unique nature of any relationship between two people, each relationship between a student and her or his adviser will have its own characteristic nature. Your adviser may be someone with whom you discuss your values and future career, or talk over difficulties that are interfering with your academics, or ask for advice about possible internships, or even invite to your wedding!
Specific responsibilities of the adviser include the following: - Know and understand Lewis & Clark's academic programs and policies
- Understand the registration process, including how to fill out registration forms
- Meet personally with advisees during the advising period for pre-registration
- Be accessible through scheduled appointments, office hours, telephone, and email
- Feel some responsibility for the advisee's academic and intellectual direction
- Know the variety of academic support services which are available to students; and
- Understand the mandates of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended (FERPA)
What are the student's responsibilities to the adviser?
The advising relationship is most useful and meaningful to students when they play an active role. This includes respecting the many demands on your adviser's time by scheduling meetings ahead of time whenever possible and being prepared for them. For example, when you meet to discuss courses for the next semester, have a list of courses that you're interested in taking. If you meet to talk about possible internships, give some thought to areas in which you might be interested in pursuing a career.
Specific responsibilities of the advisee include the following: - Assume ultimate responsibility for his/her academic program
- Know and understand the academic programs and policies of Lewis & Clark College
- Make academic decisions that are guided by Lewis & Clark's academic policies
- Choose an adviser within the field of his/her academic major
- Establish an academic relationship with your adviser
- Schedule meetings with your adviser; and
- Establish an advising relationship with a secondary adviser as needed
How do I change my academic adviser?
While we try our best to assign compatible advisers to students, you might wish to change your adviser for any number of reasons.
The process is quite simple. To change your adviser you need to obtain a Declaration of Major-Minor-Adviser form available at the Office of the Registrar or on line, ask your adviser to sign it, and return it to the Office of the Registrar. You do not need to declare a major to change your adviser.
If you don't know whom to ask to be your new adviser, you can make an appointment with the Office of Academic Advising to talk about it. What if my adviser isn't in the department in which I plan to major?
You must have an adviser in your major department.
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