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Academic Advising

Advising Appointments

Preparing for and conducting advising appointments

The advising appointment typically lasts 15-30 minutes depending on your availability.  Below are suggestions for effective and efficient advising.

Preparation before the appointment

  • Confirm appointment time and location or video chat link
  • Communicate the students' responsibility to come prepared with a schedule
  • Review the student's progress in Degreeworks, including core curriculum, major and minor, and vocation
  • Suggest some reflection questions based the student's year and development.

During the appointment

  • Review the student's initial schedule plan.
  • If the student has not prepared, consider whether it is best to have the student come back later.
    • Some students are fully able to prepare on their own and ought to be simply rescheduled; others need advising-as-teaching and would be poorly served by impatient or unsympathetic experiences with advisors. Discernment is required; kindness is always appropriate.
    • Be aware of the student's development, prior academic preparation and self-efficacy, whether the student has been adequately supported in developing their own schedule, effects of historical marginalization, sense of belonging, and potential power dynamics, especially with faculty advisors.
  • Ask questions about the student's course suggestions.
  • Make suggestions as appropriate regarding balancing workload across the week and across multiple semesters. 
  • Students may plan without knowing that some courses are not offered every term. Look ahead for several semesters to ensure the student's current plan is feasible given expected course offerings.
  • For questions about substitutions for the university core, see here.
  • If the student needs to contact others (department chairs, success or career coach, etc.), consider the best way to make sure the contact happens.
    • Some students are reluctant or fearful regarding reaching out when they need to. It might be best to make a phone call or send an email on behalf of the student to make the connection. Discernment is required; kindness is always appropriate.
  • Discuss the reflection questions.
  • Spend time on career, vocation, plans after Xavier, and the student as a whole person.

After the appointment

  • Confirm whether followup contacts have been made.
  • Review the student's registrations and follow up with any surprises or changes.