Academic Advising
The Context of Academic Advising is the “Meta-Course” of College
The overarching "meta-course" of college is to make sense of one's education and use it wisely. Liberal arts students have the opportunity to craft their own educational journey, connecting courses and applying knowledge between and beyond classroom experiences. This consistently demands as well as improves one’s curiosity, awareness, and adaptability. Advising and registration processes serve to catalyze students’ development and demonstration of meta-course-level college learning.
Our liberal learning core curriculum is designed to support exploration, cultivate synthesis thinking, and prepare students to make significant impact in their chosen professions. The intentional process of assembling and sequencing courses--along with recognizing interdisciplinary connections--empowers students to grow, succeed, and steward their educational story well. While core and major advisors can provide guidance on curriculum, majors, resources, and opportunities (e.g. see engaging our Four Pillars - link: https://cnu.edu/whoweare/fourpillars/)--each student is the ultimate steward of their own academic journey and narrative.
Academic Advising Relationships
By name and design, faculty advisors serve as a reference point as each student owns, discerns, and plans their academic trajectory. Where core advisors primarily assist underclass students in plans to fulfill core curriculum requirements and discern a major, major advisors assist upperclass students finishing out degree requirements for graduation. The transition between core and major advisor is typically initiated in the spring semester of the sophomore year with a formal declaration of major at our tradition of Signing Day (transfer students also participate!). In addition to curricular guidance, an advising relationship can offer professional development and sometimes grow into a significant mentorship.
Faculty academic advisors provide academic guidance associated with the undergraduate catalog core or major program requirements, serving as an accountability checkpoint as the source for student-advisees’ alternate PIN numbers for course registration. This renders the faculty advisor role distinct from other beneficial support provided through other offices on campus (e.g. professional success coaches, peer mentors, athletic success coaches, etc.). Students need to bring their prepared course plans (see Registration Planning Worksheet resource below) as they meet with their academic advisors to receive their unique PIN for course registration.
- Core Advisor
Each first-time college student is assigned to a member of the faculty designated as a core advisor. Core advisors’ primary focus is to help 1st and 2nd-year students navigate the core curriculum, academic systems, adjust to college life, connect with campus community resources, and establish a foundation to grow into successful students and citizens. Core advisors are trained to help students discern necessary requirements to achieve academic/degree goals across disciplines with specific regard for the core curriculum. Core advisors hold the unique alternate PIN numbers necessary for the first few subsequent semesters of course registration. - Major Advisor
Similar to core advisors, major advisors help upperclass students discern necessary requirements within their declared major area of study and chosen degree programs to stay on track towards graduation and career goals. Major advisors hold unique alternate PIN numbers necessary for course registration in the latter portion of the academic experience.
First semester transfer students are assigned to either a core advisor or a major advisor based on the number of credits transferred in and the nature of those credits in relation to a major area of study.
Advising Communication
Assigned advisors are listed in each student’s CNULive account and can be contacted directly through CNULive>Mobile Friendly Student Profile> Click advisors name/email.
The responsibility to communicate within academic advising relationships creates the opportunity to hone crucial professional skills. Using email features like flagging important senders/messages, maintaining professional and courteous email etiquette, and timely arrival at and engagement of meetings is imperative.
Preparing for Advising
Advising and registration are connected processes, rhythmically occurring at the height of each semester. Proactive planning, thoughtful awareness, and skillful communication are vital and powerful as being prepared for advising compounds towards future success. Understanding timelines, and learning to navigate campus systems are required for such preparation. Students should be attentive to resources provided by their academic advisor, the Registrar’s Office (please link: https://cnu.edu/registrar/), and peer support services.