Academic Advising Syllabus

What is Academic Advising all About at MC?

Academic advising is an educational process that, by intention and design, facilitates students' understanding of the meaning and purpose of higher education and fosters their intellectual and personal development toward academic success and lifelong learning.

At Montgomery College, academic advising provides students with the opportunity to build a relationship with a counselor/advisor for the purpose of gaining assistance in developing and implementing their educational and career plans. Counselors/advisors also help students learn the skills needed for academic success and help students access the variety of resources and services available to them at Montgomery College.

Academic advising is a collaborative educational process where students and advisors are partners in meeting the essential learning outcomes, ensuring student academic success, and outlining the steps for achievement of the students' personal, academic, and career goals. Got to the Advising Process website for specific things students should know by the time they complete 15, 30, 45, & 60 credits.

This advisor/student partnership requires participation and involvement of both the advisor and the student as it is built over the student's entire educational experience at MC. Both have clear responsibilities for ensuring a successful academic advising partnership.

Counselor/Advisor Responsibilities - What Student Can Expect

You can expect that your advisor will:

understand and effectively communicate the curriculum, graduation requirements, and college policies and procedures
encourage and guide you as you define and develop realistic educational and career goals
encourage and support students as you gain the skills to develop clear and attainable educational plans
provide you with information about and strategies for utilizing the available resources and services on campus
assist you in understanding the purposes and goals of higher education and its effects on your lives and personal goals
monitor and accurately document your progress toward meeting your goals
be accessible for meetings with students through office hours, telephone, and email
assist you in gaining decision making skills and skills in assuming responsibility for your educational plans and achievements
maintain confidentiality
assist you in working closely with your professors

Student Responsibilities - What You Are Expected To Do

As a student, you have clear responsibilities in the advising partnership in order to be successful:
Schedule regular appointments or make regular contacts with a counselor/advisor during each semester.
Come prepared to each appointment with questions or material for discussion.
Be an active learner by participating fully in the advising experience.
Ask questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern.
Keep a personal record of your progress toward meeting your goals.
Organize official documents in a way that enable you to find them when you need them.
Complete all assignments and recommendations from your counselor/advisor.
Clarify personal values and goals and provide your counselor/advisor with accurate information regarding your interests and abilities.
Become knowledgeable about college programs, policies and procedures.

Adapted with permission from Dickinson College