Academic Advising at FVCC

Advising Model Academic advising delivery at colleges and universities across the nation varies with institutional type (public vs. private, community college vs. university), selectivity, mission (liberal arts or technical) and scope. Various models include faculty advising only, others include supplementary advising offices of professional advisors and counselors, and others have professional advisors only. Most advising models, however, rely heavily upon faculty advisors, because faculty have the most contact with students through classes, have the most knowledge about their field, act as mentors, and are in charge of curricular matters.

At FVCC, we employ a mixed advising model. We primarily use faculty advising because full-time faculty are contractually obligated to advise. However, we utilize professional advisors to complement and help coordinate faculty advising. A central advising office is housed in the Learning Center. The Learning Center advisors see all new students after placement testing, advise the undecided, non-degree, Running Start students and consult with those having unique situations and difficulties. The Learning Center also offers assistance and support through campus-wide advising activities such as summer orientations, transfer advising, tutor support, internships, GED/Adult Basic Education, and career testing and decision-making.

Philosophy At FVCC, we believe that all students are entitled to academic advising throughout their academic careers.  Academic advising is a critical ingredient of student recruitment, retention, and, ultimately, student success. We know academic advising is developmental and therefore must meet the changing needs of students through their various stages of the educational process.

Students have a responsibility to engage interactively in the academic advising process. The ultimate responsibility for making decisions about goals and educational plans rests with the student. The advisor aids by helping to identify, assess, and discuss alternatives and consequences of curricular choices and decisions. In this way, academic advising is both a collaborative process and a collective responsibility. It occurs primarily between students and faculty (or professional advisors), but it also involves other college personnel in student academic support activities. (?word activities is not clear to me, are we talking financial planning, disabilities, personal issues?)The task is shared by all. Those involved in providing all academic advising services need to be kept up-to-date and provided the necessary incentives and support.