Student Services General Information

What is Academic Advising?

Academic advising provides an opportunity for academic advisors and students to develop a partnership that can enhance the college experience. Students and advisors work together to plan a program of study that properly sequences courses and supports students' interests and goals. Students are responsible for monitoring their degree requirements and consulting their advisors for clarification when necessary.

To make the most of academic advising, each student should

take responsibility for knowing their degree requirements, making course selections, and monitoring their degree progress using Degree Works;
access advising resources relevant to degree completion (Degree Works, degree checklists, and semester worksheets);
keep advising appointments and notify their advisors if they need to reschedule;
develop academic, career, and personal goals; and identify Winthrop resources that will help them achieve those goals.

Before academic advising appointments, each student should

check their remaining degree requirements in Degree Works; make sure Degree Works matches other advising materials and degree program requirements for their catalog year; be prepared to ask their advisor about any issues they notice;
make a list of issues or questions to discuss during their advising appointment;
make a list of potential courses to take during the next semester.

An academic advisor's role is

to help students understand degree program requirements;
to help students make appropriate and satisfying decisions related to their academic, career, and personal goals;
to help students make informed choices about course selection, changes of major, dropping courses, and other academic issues;
to know each student well enough to be aware of individual academic situations or educational needs;
to help students become involved in the total learning experience at Winthrop by suggesting appropriate involvement in campus activities and experiential opportunities.