Appendix B: Official University Policy on Undergraduate Advising

General Statement on Advising

To progress satisfactorily through an undergraduate degree program, each student should have ample and accurate academic advisement. Florida State University is committed to a program of effective academic advising for all its students. Florida State University understands academic advising to be a function considerably broader than assistance with course scheduling. Academic advising:

• is a process which helps students interpret the values and benefits of higher education,
• assists students in their choice of educational and career objectives commensurate with interests, values, and abilities,
• helps students develop appropriate strategies to achieve their objectives, and
• examines the possible short- and long-range consequences of student decisions.

Florida State University affirms its responsibility to:

• assist students to evaluate course options and plan timely progress toward achieving their educational goals,
• make available to every student information about academic policies and requirements,
• notify students of changes in policies, curricula, and/or academic standing, in a timely fashion,
• guide students in developing decision-making skills,
• refer students to campus academic and other support services as appropriate, and
• establish and maintain a system of recognition and reward to honor advisers for excellence in advising.

The University’s Role in Academic Advisement

• Each department, school, or college will formulate its own plan to meet undergraduate advising needs and problems.
• Each unit will designate a coordinator of undergraduate advising for the unit.
• Each unit will provide for appropriate adviser training.
• Each unit will provide clear academic planning guides for each major that identify critical courses and continuation standards to enable students to make timely progress toward their degrees.
• Each unit will develop academic planning guides for advising transfer students that identify critical courses and continuation standards for timely progress toward their degrees.
• Each unit will ensure that its academic advisers are familiar with support services available for students with special needs.
• The Division of Undergraduate Studies will provide advising for undecided students until they choose a major.
• The University will systematically monitor students’ satisfactory progress toward a degree.
• The University will identify students not making satisfactory progress toward a degree and provide special advising to those students. A student not making adequate progress may be required to change majors.

The Student’s Role in Academic Advisement

Florida State University expects students to assume an ever-increasing responsibility for their own academic progress as they move through the University. To accomplish this goal, each student will:

• assume responsibility for knowing the rules, regulations and policies of the University and the requirements pertinent to their degree program.
• furnish and maintain an accurate current address with the Office of the Registrar.
• make timely contact with an adviser upon arrival on campus and continue to contact an adviser at least once a term until graduation.
• contact an adviser immediately after being placed on academic warning or probation.
• notify the appropriate Dean’s office of any change in intended major or any problems they are experiencing with academic advisement.
• recognize that the matriculation catalog governs each student’s graduation requirements. This catalog remains in effect for six years for the Bachelor’s Degree.