First Year Advising Syllabus 2013/2014

Faculty Advisor: Office Location: Office Hours: Phone/Email:

Overview of the Program: The central mission is to empower first year students with the necessary information, resources, and support to explore a full range of opportunities for academic achievement and personal fulfillment and the realization of their highest potential. With an emphasis on personalized collaboration and instruction, faculty advising and mentoring is at the core of the program. As an incoming first year student, you have been assigned a faculty advisor in your major field of study who will work closely with you to provide expert guidance and support. In addition, supplemental advising sessions and resources are available to you throughout the year to further facilitate your success.
Through the course of the program, you will gain vital knowledge and skills that will be of great benefit to you throughout your time at Stetson. For example, you will learn about,

How to monitor your progress toward degree completion and enroll for courses online
Curricular requirements (e.g., rules regarding the Writing Requirement, the difference between Major, Elective, and General Education Requirements, etc.)
Important academic policies and procedures (e.g., Add/Drop procedures, the Course Exclusion Policy, etc.)
Supplemental student success resources
The role of faculty advisors and how to properly prepare for advising meetings

Program Requirements: There are two primary advising requirements for first year students:

Online Blackboard Advising and Registration Modules: all incoming first year students are required to complete a small number of online modules the summer before they arrive at Stetson, prior to completing their fall course registration.
Regular Meetings with Faculty Advisors: as a first year student, you are required to meet with your faculty advisor during the first three weeks of classes, a pre-advising appointment for spring 2014 registration, and pre-advising appointment for fall 2014 registration(see appended academic calendar for exact dates).

*Please note that you must satisfy these requirements in order to enroll in courses for any given term.

You and Your Faculty Advisor: A successful advising relationship is a collaborative enterprise with shared responsibilities. At Stetson, you have a special chance to forge a highly valuable relationship with an expert advisor in your field who is available to assist you with academic and post-graduation planning, course selection, understanding academic policies and procedures, and monitoring progress
toward degree completion. You should make every effort to take full advantage of this special learning opportunity, which will require, in part, that you fulfill (and exceed!) your responsibilities as a collaborative partner.

Your Responsibilities as an Advisee:

Preparing in advance for your advising meetings by independently researching alternatives to your ideal courses and devising a tentative plan for action.
Making a sincere effort to learn from your advisor's experience and expertise.
Actively expressing your academic thoughts, feelings, and concerns to your advisor.
Asking your advisor questions when you need more information or clarification.
Following through on the academic actions and plans recommended by your advisor, and keeping your advisor apprised of your progress.
Treating your advisor with professional courtesy and respect.

Your Advisor's Responsibilities to You:

Being accessible to you during regular office hours or by appointment, and responding in a timely fashion to your emails.
Being a good listener.
Providing helpful academic information and advice.
When necessary, referring you to the appropriate person, office, or resource to help get your needs met or questions answered.
Displaying a positive attitude toward working with you and taking an interest in you as an individual.

Supplemental Advising Support:

The Advising Center at Stetson: Conveniently located in the Office of Career Development and Academic Advising, Flagler 102, the Advising Center at Stetson offers supplemental advising support to students. With a focus on Discovery advising, the Advising Center staff works individually with students to provide guidance regarding major selection, General Education Requirements, academic policies and procedures, and student success resources. While visiting the Advising Center, students also have the opportunity to consult with the Career Development staff and take advantage of the many helpful career planning resources available in our shared office.

To schedule an appointment with an Advising Center staff member please call 386-822-7315 or send an email to academic.advising@stetson.edu. Walk-ins are also accepted.

Advising Resource Sessions and Tabling: Advising Center staff members offer optional advising Resource Sessions for first year students to help them prepare for their faculty advising appointments. During important academic periods, Advising Center staff members are also stationed in front of the CUB to provide additional advising support (please see appended Advising Calendar).

Discovery Programming: Encompassing a variety of supplemental learning opportunities, the Discovery Program at Stetson is designed to help students explore a broad array of academic and career opportunities to find the best fit for their unique passions and interests. Discovery Presentations and Workshops, including a five week EXPLORE series in the spring, and major shadowing opportunities are open to all students. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the Discovery Program website: www.stetson.edu/administration/studentsuccess/discovery/ .

Academic Success Center: If you anticipate that disability-related accommodations are necessary to insure your full participation in this course, please speak to me or to someone in the Academic Success Center (ASC) at 209 East Bert Fish Drive. ASC can be reached at: 822-7127; more information is available online at http://www.stetson.edu/administration/academic-success-center/index.php .

First Year Student Academic Advising Calendar, Fall 2013-Spring 2014

August

17 New Student Orientation Begins; OPENING CELEBRATION
18 Office of Academic Advising open 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
19-20 Faculty Academic Advising and Registration
19 FSEM classes begin
22 CLASSES BEGIN; last day to withdraw from all courses without financial penalty
28 Last Day to ADD Course for Credit; Last Day to DROP a Course without Financial Penalty

September

2 Labor Day (No Classes)
18 VALUES DAY (No Classes)

October

1-9 Advising Center Staff tabling in front of the CUB; Monday-Friday, 11am-2pm
10-11 Fall Break 15-17 Advising Resource Sessions for First Year Students
14-18 FACULTY Academic Advising for Upper-class Students for spring semester
21-25 FACULTY Academic Advising for First Year Students for spring semester
25 Last Day to DROP Course without Academic Penalty; Last Day to change to Pass/FAIL option
Last Day to Withdraw from all Courses with W grades
28-11/1 Registration for Upper-class Students

November

4 Registration for First Year Students for Spring Semester (CDaAA open until 6:00 PM)
19 End of First Year Seminar classes
27 No Classes
28-29 Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes)

December

6 Classes End
6 Spring registration DEADLINE for currently enrolled undergraduate students
7 Study Day
9-10 Final Exams

January

10-11 New Student Orientation and registration
13 Classes Begin
20 Martin Luther King Day (No Classes)
21 Last Day to ADD course for credit; Last Day to DROP course without Financial Penalty

March

3 Mid-term grade reports due to registrar via my.stetson.edu by 9:00 AM
3-7 Spring Holidays
21 Last Day to DROP Course without Academic Penalty; Last Day to change to PASS/FAIL option
Last Day to Withdraw from all Courses with W grades
24-28 Advising Center Staff tabling in front of CUB; Monday-Friday, 11am-2pm 25-26 Advising Resource Sessions for First Year Students
31 FACULTY Academic Advising for Upper-class students Summer Session and Fall Semester begins

April

1 -4 (Continued)FACULTY Academic Advising for Summer Session and Fall
7-11 Registration for Upper-class Students for Summer and Fall
FACULTY Academic Advising for First Year Students for Summer and Fall
14 Registration for First Year Students (CDaAA open until 6:00 PM)
15 STETSON SHOWCASE (No Classes)
18 Good Friday (University Holiday - No Classes)
30 Classes End
30 Summer/Fall Registration DEADLINE for currently enrolled undergraduate students

May

1 Study Day
2-3 Final Exams
5-6 Final Exams