Academic Advising

PRIDE Advising Model

Advising is not a transactional experience, it is a conversation. Academic Advising at Springfield College is:

• Personal to promote rapport between students and advisors
• Reflective to foster an understanding of their academic journey
• Intentional to nurture academic achievement from matriculation through graduation
• Developmental to ensure students are achieving individual outcomes
• Empowering to warrant well-informed decision making
   

Students are assigned an academic advisor from their academic program’s department. Faculty advisors are committed to supporting student’s academic success from matriculation through graduation. Professional advisors will serve as academic advisors for students in the Exploratory Studies major and the Integrative Studies major.

The Academic Advising Center also serves as a student support office for all students and faculty advisors. In addition to support the Exploratory Studies major (first-year and second-year students) and Integrative Studies major, the Academic Advising Center is responsible for:  

• Transfer credit evaluations for incoming students and transfer credit pre-approvals for continuing students—including approvals for study abroad courses
• Producing curriculum sequencing guides, and assisting with processing substitutions and waivers
• Coordinating advising and registration components of SOAR (Summer, Orientation, Advising and Registration) and New Student Orientation
• Walk-in advising services, including students who are changing majors or in academic jeopardy, and faculty and students with questions about the Core Curriculum, degree audits, academic policies, etc.
• Assisting with preparing faculty and students for course advising and registration periods
• First-year student outreach and academic support
   

Springfield College Academic Advising Syllabus

As an advisor, I will...

• Support student academic success from matriculation through graduation;
• Provide information and options to help foster well-informed decision making;
• Know curricula and stay current with relevant changes, such as those for major programs of study and the Core Curriculum;
• Be available and responsive to students for meetings and over email;
• Meet with an advisee prior to removing advising holds each semester and as needed before and thereafter;
• Understand and refer students to appropriate campus resources;
• Inform students about important registration procedures and academic policy; and
• Share my expectations for advising.

As a student I will...

• Take responsibility for knowing academic requirements for completing my degree program;
• Be familiar with and follow deadlines in the academic calendar, such as for registration, add/drop, and course withdrawals;
• Work with my advisor to develop and refine academic and professional goals;
• Value my advisor as an academic resource to support my academic achievements and concerns;
• Effectively communicate with my advisor during meetings and over email;
• Actively participate in meetings with my advisor prior to registration in order to remove my registration hold; and
• Share my expectations for advising.