There are two main sources of advising: Faculty advisors and the Advising Center. Faculty advisors are assigned to new majors in all disciplines in the college except criminal justice and media studies. Departments will notify students of the names of their advisors as soon as possible after the major has been declared. Students who are not notified within the first month after beginning a major should consult their department secretary.

The Advising Center staff serves as primary advisors for criminal justice students who have earned 60 hours or less and freshmen in media studies. These students will be notified by mail as soon as their specific advisors in the Center are assigned.

The Center is also open for general advising to all students who have declared majors in the College of Arts and Sciences or are thinking about doing so.

If you have a faculty advisor, contact him or her for an appointment.

The Advising Center is located in Young 112. Appointments to see an advisor are preferred and may be made with our receptionist. Walk-ins are always welcomed; however, you will be asked to wait until students who made appointments are accommodated. To make an appointment or to ask a quick question call 831-6366.

Anytime you have a question, a concern, or want some feedback or ideas about your academic and/or career plans.

It is important to recognize that academic advising is more than schedule building. It is a shared relationship between you and your advisor--an essential part of your University experience. As with any good relationship, you must participate 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 person, to be reasonably accessible, to know policies and procedures and where to find information, and to help you sort through your academic, career and life goals and options.

Student’s responsibilities:

You are expected to initiate and maintain contact with your advisor; to discuss information that may affect your academic performance (such as work and family commitments); to learn basic university, college and departmental requirements and to recognize your responsibility for meeting them; and to seek assistance when you need it. A good academic advising relationship promotes achievement of your educational and career goals.

You will not be expected to memorize the university catalog. However, you are responsible for fulfilling the requirements and abiding by the academic policies and procedures listed. Your advising manual will assist you with all courses required for your major and help you keep track of which courses you have taken and which are still required.

• keep your advising manual up to date. Bring it to each advising sessions so you can compare notes with your advisor
• have a list of questions you want to ask or concerns you would like to have addressed
• remind your advisor of the issues you discussed during your last appointment
• be candid; tell your advisor about things that are affecting your ability to do your best course work

1. Talk to your professors and advisors about ways your course work is relevant to your needs, interests, and goals. What is unique about each subject that will help you better understand its contribution to the world of knowledge and your life?

2. Make every effort to interact with faculty. Make an appointment with each faculty member and be prepared with a few questions to help get the conversation going. You will feel more comfortable in and connected with your classes if you do this.

3. Get to know others in your classes. Join study groups even if it is not your favorite way to study. It will help you connect with other learners and benefit from their perspectives.

The Academic Advising Center provides students, parents, staff and faculty of Radford University with accurate and timely information regarding general education requirements, academic policies and procedures, scholastic standards, and campus resources. Specific assistance is provided to Criminal Justice and Media Studies majors and special populations in their transitions to Radford University.

The Academic Advising Center utilizes a developmental approach in the advising of students. Developmental advising seeks to assist students in gaining information and developing skills which will help them to better understand themselves and their intellectual and personal potential. This approach allows students to utilize this information in the development of their educational and life goals. Our belief is that a person’s ability to succeed as a student is interdependent with his or her ability to succeed in other areas of life.

We strive to create an environment for students to actively participate in a learning experience in which students are partners in the advising process, not passive recipients of advice. The advising process is a shared responsibility between the advisor and advisee.

Every attempt shall be made to assist students directly with the issues and questions that confront them. If direct assistance cannot be given, students will be provided with an appropriate referral.

Developmental advising is practiced within a framework of personal and professional ethics and integrity. To that end, the Academic Advising Center is committed to the following standards:

• To respect the dignity and diversity of all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, or academic status.

• To maintain confidentiality with respect to information and records considered confidential.

• To provide services on a fair and equitable basis and to avoid personal conflicts of interest so individuals can be dealt with objectively and impartially.

• To recognize the limits of training, competence, and expertise and refer individuals as appropriate.

• To refrain from participating in any form of sexual harassment.