What is academic advising?
Penn State's Academic Advising Program is designed to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, promote intellectual discovery, encourage students to take advantage of both in-class and out-of-class educational opportunities, and become self-directed learners and decision makers. During their first two years at Penn State, students will be assigned both a professional adviser and a faculty adviser within their intended academic discipline. This partnership focuses on a holistic approach to student success.
What are the responsibilities of advisers and advisees?
To protect the rights and responsibilities of both student and faculty, the adviser neither grants nor denies administrative approval. The student must assume final responsibility for the successful completion of all graduation requirements.
The professional adviser will:
- Help students choose and schedule classes
- Help students identify academic and personal goals
- Connect students with campus resources
- Address barriers before they become obstacles to student persistence
- Develop strategies that promote student confidence and resilience
The faculty adviser provides:
- Discipline-specific guidance
- Road maps for experiential learning
- Internship and research information
- Insight into various professions in the field
The advisee’s role
- Acquire information for course scheduling, program planning, and graduation requirements
- Seek academic and career information needed to meet educational goals
- Become knowledgeable about University and college policies, procedures, rules, etc.
- Be prepared with accurate and relevant materials when meeting with the adviser
- Consult with the adviser at least once every semester
Consult LionPATH
Penn State LionPATH is an expert-based, empirically grounded advising and information system delivered online. It was created to supplement student/adviser relationships and to engage students in interactive inquiry for informed educational planning.
Penn State LionPATH offers students a variety of services, including providing each student with the name of his/her adviser; providing an update on the student's cumulative grade-point average (GPA); assisting students in exploring majors; and giving students the ability to drop and add courses.
