About Academic Advising

What is Academic Advising?

Academic Advisors help students to explore and pursue their personal academic, educational, and career goals.

Academic Advisors do:

  • Provide information about degree and course options and program requirements
  • Help students to explore requirements for further studies in higher education
  • Demonstrate how to use advising resources, such as the academic calendar and registration guides, so students can understand their progress in their degree, what is required for their course of study, and how to schedule classes for up-coming terms, including both on-campus courses and courses taken from other institutions
  • Connect students with departments and faculty members to learn more about specific fields
  • Refer students to additional resources in Student Services and on campus
  • Help students to understand their GPA and academic standing

Students can meet with an Academic Advisor for a wide variety of purposes, including anything from a quick conversation about options for electives to a longer discussion about degree progress or a series of appointments about achieving an education or career goal.

Academic Advisors do not:

  • Make decisions for students
  • Tell students which courses to take, except as required for a specific Major or Minor
  • Talk to anyone about their progress, unless authorized by the student
  • Fill out registration forms for students or complete the online registration process for students
  • Confirm how BU courses will transfer out to other institutions or fit into a degree at other institutions

Please be aware that, while students are encouraged to consult with an Academic Advisor or the Department Chair of their Major, students are themselves responsible for ensuring that all degree, Major, Minor, and other requirements are being met prior to graduation, and all students must complete their own registration and/or degree changes.

What is New Student Advising?

New Student Advising is a program for new students in Bachelors programs in Arts, Science, Physical Education, Fine Arts, and Environmental Science. Students are walked through the course planning process through a Moodle tutorial and introduced to concepts such as degree requirements and course selection. After the tutorial, students are encouraged to book an advising appointment to meet with an academic advisor.

When Should I See an Academic Advisor?

Students may want to see an Academic Advisor for a variety of reasons, including:

  • When you are first admitted to the university and want to go over the planning process
  • When you are deciding on your degree program, major, and minor.
  • When you are considering making a course change and you are not sure how it will affect your eligibility to graduate
  • When you need help determining entrance requirements for other programs
  • When you want to take some courses at other universities and you want help to find out which courses should transfer

Some degree programs recommend advising for initial registration.  Other degree programs require advising every time a student registers for a course or changes a course.

How Do I Prepare for My Advising Appointment?

Students should:

  • Arrive on time for all advising appointments or notify the office if unable to attend.
  • Bring a list of questions they want answered.
  • Investigate course and program options, both internal at BU and external at other institutions, and be prepared to discuss these options.
  • Share any life factors that might influence course selection and degree completion.
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