Student and advisor objectives and responsibilities
Student objectives
- Work closely with your advisor to map out a path to success, which includes processes of self-assessment; developing a vision; designing a plan, assembling a support team of mentors and peers; understanding the nature of change and transition, executing your vision; and successfully transitioning into new opportunities.
- Learn how to be a self-advocate and how to locate and utilize available resources
- Learn to make informed and increasingly independent decisions about your educational plans and other academic issues.
- Make every reasonable effort to take full advantage of the opportunities and resources for learning that GEO and VCU provide for your academic achievement and social needs.
Student's responsibilities
- Schedule and keep regular appointments with your advisor, and carefully plan for advising sessions by reading appropriate materials, forming questions, and considering academic options.
- Communicate honestly with your advisor about your unique skills, interests, and personal circumstances as well as academic values.
- Actively participate in advising activities by being prepared to discuss your goals and educational plans during our meetings.
- Inform your advisor of any special needs or issues that might affect your academic success.
- Review often the university bulletin, schedule of classes, and major/degree requirements; become knowledgeable about campus policies, procedures, and resources.
- Keep in touch with your advisor, even when you're not trying to register for classes!
- Take advantage of university resources that support your educational development.
- Establish relationships with faculty and other mentors on campus.
- Be open and willing to consider advice from faculty, advisors, and other mentors, and follow through on suggested actions, resources, or referrals.
- Take primary and increasing responsibility for making your own decisions and for your academic performance based on available information and advice.
- Improve your decision-making and problem solving skills by asking productive questions.
- Accept responsibility for initiating academic and career advising sessions, arriving on time, and following through with decisions made during the session.
- Learn how to self-evaluate and provide your own feedback.
- Beyond the classroom, participate in learning communities, student-faculty research, service learning, internships, capstone experiences, and appropriate social activities.
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Advisor's objectives
- Promote and enhance the success of each advisee.
- Know and take into account students' familial and cultural contexts and help them draw on their strengths and values to achieve success.
- Help students gain a coherent understanding of their curriculum and its purposes.
- Help advisees develop problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Increase international student satisfaction, learning, and persistence toward graduation.
- Provide a climate of trust in which advisees feel free to ask questions, express concerns, revise ideas, make decisions, and share personal experiences and knowledge.
- Support the University's and the GEO's educational missions and policies.
Advisor's responsibilities
- Facilitate students' progress toward academic achievement; engagement in educationally purposeful activities; personal satisfaction; acquisition of desired knowledge, skills, and competencies; and attainment of educational objectives through a variety of means.
- Offer a variety of programs and opportunities for advising, including one-on-one contact in the office, via phone, and via email; making available relevant materials online; group advising; peer mentoring; workshops; and referrals.
- Communicate clearly the purposes and goals of advising.
- Use instructional technology to augment advising.
- Refer students to other campus offices and resources as appropriate.
- Be aware of the special and increased needs of international students as they transition to a new academic culture.
- Collaborate with students to assess their academic performance and areas of strength to ensure they are consistent with their plans and goals.
- Monitor students' progress.
- Possess and provide accurate and timely information regarding curriculum choices, major requirements, graduation requirements, and University policies and procedures.
- Find answers to advisees' questions.
- Be available for scheduled appointments and walk-in visits.
- Encourage students' development of information-gathering, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
- Communicate information clearly and unambiguously and listen carefully to advisees.
- Provide timely feedback.
- Facilitate the development of necessary academic skills for international students' success in the U.S. academic context.
- Educate faculty across the University about the special needs of International students in the classroom and in advising.
- Listen to students' concerns and respect their individual values and choices.
- Respect confidentiality and apprise students of FERPA.
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