Academic Advising Goals and Roles

Institutional and Program Goals Our goals include the assurance that every student receives academic advising commensurate to his or her needs. We strive to clearly define and communicate the roles and responsibilities of the student and of the advisor. We provide student and advisor resources and provide technology to enhance information and communication.

Advisor Role

• Assist students in defining and developing realistic educational and career plans.
• Provide new students with an orientation appropriate to their needs.
• Assist students in planning an educational program consistent with their abilities and interests.
• Discuss and reinforce relationships between the instructional program and occupations/careers.
• Make available pertinent and accurate information about FVCC programs and professional requirements.
• Interpret and provide rationale for instructional policies and procedures.
• Reinforce student responsibility for academic decisions and behaviors.

• Approve designated educational transactions (e.g., registrations, drop/adds, petitions, graduation applications, and other forms).
• Become proficient in the CAMS faculty portal for registration, records, and pertinent college information to assist advising.
• Assist students in the evaluation of progress toward established goals and educational plans.
• Provide accurate information about resources.
• Inform students of special services available for academic development and assistance.
• Assist advisees in identifying career opportunities.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Refer students when academic, attitudinal, attendance, or personal problems require intervention.

Advisee Role

• Spend time and effort to identify and clarify personal values, abilities, interests, and goals.
• Communicate and share ideas in the academic planning process.
• Become knowledgeable about and adhere to institutional policies, procedures, and requirements. This means reading, understanding, and utilizing the catalog.
• Contact and make appointments with the advisor when required or when in need of assistance. The college catalog has phone numbers, email, and office locations. Office hours are posted outside faculty offices.
• Notify the advisor about change in appointments, career or major plans, or course schedule.
• Plan in advance for advising sessions: bring necessary materials such as transcripts, FVCC Catalog, proposed class schedule, and questions.
• Learn to use the CAMS student portal for online registration, pertinent college information and records, and class scheduling.
• Follow through on actions identified during each advising session.
• Evaluate the advising system, when requested, in order to strengthen the advising process.
• Request reassignment to a different advisor if necessary (fill out change slip at Admissions)
• Accept final responsibility for all decisions.