Academic Advising
The Academic Advisors' Office is located in the administrative wing, adjacent to the Office of Student Formation.
What is "Academic Advising"
The Goal of Academic Advising
The Academic Advisors
Academic Advising Guidelines
Contact Your Academic Advisor!
Degree Map
ACADEMIC ADVISING
A combination of academic advising and broader student mentoring has the potential of stimulating and empowering students to achieve their potential by: empowering character, leadership or values development; improving the quality of student life; enhancing student academic performance; advancing student readiness for ministry and effectiveness in ministry; increasing student retention; and further empowering students in rational processes, problem solving, decision making, and evaluative and relational skills.
Back to Top
GOAL OF ACADEMIC ADVISING
The central goal of academic advising is to assist students in developing meaningful educational plans and negotiating program requirements with the greatest efficiency and effectiveness, compatible with their life goals. All assistance toward that end constitutes part of academic advising. If a student wishes, therefore, academic advising may readily range into the broader category of mentoring.
�Institutional goals for academic advising may include: clarification of life and career goals; development of educational plans; selection of appropriate courses and other educational experiences; interpretation of institutional requirements; increasing student awareness of educational resources available; evaluation of student progress toward established goals; development of decision-making skills; referral to and use of other institutional and community support services, where appropriate; and collecting and distributing student data regarding student needs, preferences, and performance for use in institutional policy making.� ( Academic Advising for Student Success, 1991, p. 62)
Back to Top
ACADEMIC ADVISORS
Most academic advisors for returning students are on the faculty, and were selected by the Registrar or by the Director of Student Formation/Seminary Chaplain. A number of factors entered into these choices, including faculty interest and aptitude, familiarity with the goals of various degree options, and knowledge of particular denominational requirements or cultural differences. Beginning Fall 2004 the Seminary is phasing in a redesigned academic advising process. Entering students will become part of our pilot year with this new process. If you are a returning student, you will not be affected by the pilot, but will retain your current advisor.
In the interest of continuity and consistency, a student normally continues with the same advisor throughout his/her program. Returning students wishing to change advisors must contact the Registrar for the proper procedure. This includes M.T.S. students who normally change advisors after declaring an area of concentration. Entering students wishing to change advisors must contact the Director of Student Formation & Seminary Chaplain.
Back to Top
ACADEMIC ADVISING GUIDELINES
Institutional guides. Principle guides include the Seminary's official program requirements, educational policies and procedures and other official documents.
Accuracy of information. Faculty advisors and student advisees are expected to consult the Seminary catalog, the Student Handbook, special guidelines and forms available from the Registrar's Office, the student's most recent transcript of Seminary work, recommendations and requirements of the Review and Guidance Committee or Assessment teams, and guidelines and forms available in the Supervised Ministries Office for Theological Field Education and CPC/CPE.
Ease of meeting. Academic advisors are expected to make a variety of options available for communication with advisees. Face to face conversation, particularly at the beginning of an advisor-advisee relationship, is a critical factor for effective advising. Advisors routinely post office hours when they are normally available for appointments or drop-in conversation. Your advisor will let you know other preferred options for communication. Academic advisors are genuinely interested in your growth and development as well as your well-being, and can help you discover options that work for you and for the Seminary.
Professional relationships. Faculty advisors and student advisees are expected to honor commitments regarding appointments and to follow through on agreements. In addition, faculty advisors may keep written notes regarding such things as academic progress, vocational and personal information, and agreements made on both sides. Confidentiality will be honored on both sides. Refer to the Institutional Policy Concerning Confidentiality for details.
Referrals. Your faculty advisor may refer you to others with specific responsibilities or expertise within or outside the Seminary. These might include the Director of Student Formation/Seminary Chaplain, Registrar, or Coordinator of Counseling.
Back to Top
CONTACT YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR
Back to Top
DEGREE MAP
Planning out the completion of your degree insures an understanding of the degree requirements and allows you to take personal, financial, and professional responsibilities into account.
Use this worksheet along with the Seminary Catalog* to map your progress toward the completion of your MDIV degree. Enter course credit units at the Course Number and Name & Semester/Year intersection. Total credits at the bottom. Bring this document each time you meet with your advisor.
Success as a Seminarian: MDIV Degree Map
Success as a Seminarian MTS Degree Map
|
