Students who are advised before registration opens are in the enviable position of being able to sign up for the classes they want and need. Ideally, all your advisees would contact you to arrange for early advisement. The reality is that many will not take that initiative and will rely on instructions sent (sometimes multiple times) from you, arriving in your office weeks after registration opens with the vague hope that you will somehow create vacancies for them in full classes. This experience is frustrating for any advisor.
To remind students of their responsibilities in the advising process, the Advising Committee recommends the following:
Steps for Success is designed to allow students to assess and review the skill sets essential to academic success and to allow advisor and advisee to communicate outside the formal advising session.
Self-assessment: Since Spring 2012 incoming freshmen have been taught how to use Steps for
Success in Freshman Seminar and should arrive at advising sessions having completed the first
three sections (Time Restraints, Study Skills, and Campus Resources). They should also have set
specific, measurable goals for the semester and be ready to discuss these goals, as well as any
concerns they have about their study skills, with their advisor. Upper-division students might
not be familiar with Steps for Success; it is your choice whether to require them to complete
this page before an advising appointment.
Communication: As an advisor, you can enter notes or instructions in the dialogue boxes
before, during, or after an advising session to communicate with your advisee or to record
concerns, advice given, or goals achieved.
Any number of questions can come up during an advising session for which you may not have ready answers. While the catalog is a valuable source of information, sometimes answers are not easy to find. The links below provide quick reference information should you need it.
Your role as your advisees’ mentor may well mean that they turn to you in times of difficulty or
crisis. Sometimes you can help a student resolve his or her problems simply by being there to
listen, but it is important to remember that you are neither responsible for inventing solutions
nor alone in your concern for our students. Below are a list of departments that may be helpful when encoutering a student with additional needs.
Dean of Students
Student Advocacy and Accountability and Title IX Coordinator
Student Success Center
Starting a successful career is closer than you think. With exceptional academics and generous financial aid, LSUS allows you to get your degree close to home while launching you to new heights.