Academic Advising

Advising

The college's advising resources are available to admitted, pre-admitted and prospective students.  Students are assigned either a faculty or a staff member as an advisor.  All undergraduate students are required to meet with their advisor at least once a semester. Advising programs are active year-round serving current students, new students, transfer students and re-entry students. The busiest times of the year in are registration during the fall (late October/early November) and spring (late March/early April) and New Student Registration during early June.

Working With Your Advisor

The relationship between adviser and advisee is one of shared responsibility.  You as a student are entering a new point in your life, which involves many choices and decisions.  You advisor is here to assist YOU in making decisions concerning your academic career in the College of Education and Professional Studies.     

ADVISER RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Be knowledgeable and answer questions concerning UW- River Falls policies, programs, and procedures
  • Be available to meet with you
  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Offer advice on selecting courses and to assist you in developing an academic plan that satisfies both degree and teacher certification requirements
  • Make referrals to appropriate support services within the university as needed   
  • Discuss your academic performance with you and the implications of your performance
  • Help you to explore your interests, abilities, and goals, and how they relate to your educational, and professional goals
  • Be knowledgeable about career opportunities and to refer you to Career Services as needed
  • Help you to develop skills to become more independent

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:  

  • You are responsible to schedule regular appointments with your advisor.
  • You are responsible for preparing questions or concerns before each meeting with your advisor.   
  • You will review information, which will assist you in making academic/career decisions. (catalogs, handbooks, class schedules etc.)
  • You need to ask questions! If you don't understand a policy or a procedure, ask questions until you do understand.
  • You need to be familiar with the requirements of your program.
  • You need to be aware of prerequisites for each course that is a part of your program and to work with your advisor to plan the sequencing of courses in your individual program.
  • You will be knowledgeable about university procedures for registering courses.
  • You will observe academic deadlines. Don't miss deadlines. Know when to register, when you should take required exams, when to apply to programs, and when to drop or add classes. Set up appointments with your advisor well in advance of these deadlines so you have to opportunity to ask questions.
  • You need to keep your advisor informed about changes in your academic progress, changes in your program, or career goals.
  • You will keep a personal record of your academic and teacher licensing information. Organize official documents (Undergraduate Catalog, Schedule of Classes, Degree Audit Reports, Portfolio, Praxis Score Results, Class Syllabi, etc.) in a way that enables you to access them when needed.
  • You will participate fully in the courses that you are registered for completing assignments on time and attending class.
  • You are responsible to understand academic performance standards, academic probation, academic suspension, and to know minimum GPA requirements.
  • You are responsible for reading your university mail, including your university e-mail account.
  • You need to inform your adviser immediately whenever a serious problem (medical, financial, personal) disrupts your ability to attend classes or interferes with your ability to focus on your education and to perform your best work.