| Philosophy
A student’s satisfactory completion
of a degree program is his or her own responsibility. Any system
of advisement must reflect students’ freedom of choice and
their right to make their own decisions.
It is the institution’s
responsibility to provide guidance, information, and assistance to
the student whenever possible. It is the institution’s responsibility
to see that advisors have accurate information, are concerned about
students, and are accessible to students on a reasonable basis. The
institution also has responsibility to provide the necessary support
to those faculty members who choose advisement as an area of service
and to see that good advisement is appropriately included in merit
considerations.
Georgia Southern accepts the philosophy that
faculty members should be involved in student advisement since they provide
a necessary academic orientation to the process. It is important that
students have as much direct contact with faculty as possible, and advisement
is a particularly individualized avenue of communication. Advisement
also provides the faculty member with a vital area of service.
Definition of the Role of Advisors
Advisors should fill three roles. They should serve as a resource, providing
information about university programs and institutional requirements
to assist students in developing the most coherent plan for their college
years. Second, they should serve as a link between students and the university
community, referring them to areas of assistance and familiarizing them
with the resources provided by the institution to meet their needs and
goals. Finally, advisors should assist students in understanding the
nature and purpose of higher education and help them develop self-direction
in decision making.
Responsibility for Advisement
Advisement for students who are in their freshman and sophomore years
is generally provided by a combination of professional advisors and professors
in advisement centers. Juniors and seniors are normally advised by faculty
members in their major areas—except in the College of Education,
which provides faculty mentors to majors, but continues advisement through
the College of Education Student Success Center. Undeclared students
are advised in the First Year Experience Office. Majors in General Studies
are advised in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Advisement
Center. Transients, non-degree students, Accel students (joint enrolled
high school students), and post-baccalaureate students are advised in
the Registrar’s Office. Majors in International Studies and International
Trade are advised in the Center for International Studies.
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