Advising Roles & Responsibilities
It is important to recognize that academic advising consists of more than course selection. It is a
shared relationship between you and your academic advisor and represents a core element of
your college experience. You must actively participate in the relationship to make it work
effectively.
Advisor's responsibilities:
You can expect your advisor to listen and respond to your interests and concerns, to accept you as a unique individual, to be reasonably accessible, to know policies and procedures and where to find information, to refer you to appropriate resources, and to help you sort through your academic and career goals and options.
Your responsibilities:
You are expected to initiate and maintain contact with your advisor; to discuss information that may influence your academic performance; to learn basic university, college and department requirements and to recognize your responsibility for meeting them; and to seek assistance when you need it.
Connecting with your advisor:
You have been assigned to an academic advisor who is
either a faculty member within your chosen field of study (major) or a professional advisor with
the CLA Student Affairs and Advising Center (SAAC). You can find out who your advisor is by
contacting SAAC at 726-8180 or clasa@d.umn.edu.
You are encouraged to meet with your advisor within the first few weeks of fall semester.
Simply stop by during your advisor’s office hours to introduce yourself or to ask any questions
you have about degree requirements or your current courses. You will also meet with your
advisor prior to each term’s registration period. Advisors typically offer expanded office hours
prior to and during the registration queue.
Changing your academic advisor:
You will automatically be assigned to a different academic advisor if you change your major. However, it is also possible to request a change of advisor within your same major. To request a change of advisor, contact SAAC at 726-8180 or clasa@d.umn.edu.