CSU Academic Advising Mission Statement

Columbus State University will provide a comprehensive academic advisement system staffed by highly-qualified advisors who interact in a positive, productive, and ethical manner with the diverse student population to provide assistance as students identify, clarify, and accomplish their educational and career goals.

CSU Academic Advising Goals:

Through the comprehensive academic advising program at CSU, the advisor will:

1. Provide students with high-quality academic advising services which encourage them to pursue academic excellence;
2. Support and assist students in exploring, confirming, and achieving their educational and career goals;
3. Assist students as they become independent decision-makers who demonstrate initiative and responsibility;
4. Contribute to student development by referring students to appropriate campus resources; and
5. Encourage participation in co-curricular and experiential learning activities.

Student Outcomes:

When participating in academic advising, the student will:

1. Be an active participant in the advising process;
2. Demonstrate responsibility for his/her educational progress and decision-making;
3. Use campus resources to develop and follow a plan to accomplish his/her educational and career goals;
4. Investigate co-curricular and experiential learning opportunities to enhance, enrich, and extend the academic experience; and
5. Provide thoughtful feedback on the advising process as requested through surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews.

Responsibilities of the Advisor:

When serving as an advisor, the faculty member or academic advisor will:

1. Maintain sufficient availability, as determined by the college, which provide students adequate opportunities to seek advisement;
2. Understand the degree requirements in the academic area(s) which s/he advises;
3. Understand current academic policies as well as procedures for activities such as registration, schedule change, withdrawal, and applying for graduation;
4. Participate in professional development opportunities that facilitate advising skills; and
5. Review academic progress of advisees and meet with students as needed.

Responsibilities of the Student:

As participants in the academic advising process, the student will:

1. Schedule and attend an advising appointment with the appropriate advisor during the designated advising period;
2. Be prepared for the appointment by writing down questions, comments, or concerns;
3. Bring a list of tentative courses for the upcoming term(s);
4. Ask for clarification about academic policies and procedures as needed;
5. Check e-mail regularly for updates about academic changes; and
6. Understand and monitor the university calendar to identify important deadlines (withdrawal, advising week, registration periods, etc.)