How Your Academic Advisor Can Help You in College
Posted: August 11, 2022 | Author: Southern Utah University | Read Time: 4 minutes
The resources available to you at Southern Utah University are plentiful. The great thing about SUU is that most of the resources are completely free of charge and utilized for you! Both of these aspects combine in your very own student success advisor.
What is an academic advisor?
Academic advisors, or student success advisors as they are known at SUU, help students plan their academic careers. Your academic advisor will assist you from creating your first-semester class schedule to providing you with comprehensive advising through your graduation.
Academic advisors do more than just class registration. You can expect your academic advisor to connect you to resources and organizations, and help you succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
What can my academic advisor do for me?
Academic advisors can help you clarify academic goals, assist you in developing an academic plan, interpret university policies and academic requirements, help you select appropriate course work, guide you through the academic decision-making process, and direct you toward additional sources of information or assistance
- Help you create your class schedule
- Assist you in developing a four-year education plan
- Provide you with comprehensive advising
- Connect you to campus resources
- Inform you of registration deadlines
- Help answer any of your questions
What can I expect from my academic advisor?
Schedule Building
As a freshman, your academic advisor will build the best schedule to fit your needs based on your answers in the TTQ (T-Bird Takeoff Questionnaire). Beginning in May, your advisor will send your class schedule to you, which will set you on the right path toward graduation. Be sure to stay in contact with your academic advisor over the summer before your first semester at SUU. They can help you with any questions, schedule changes, and additional advising needed like four-year plans.
Note: If you have less than 30 credits after your first semester at SUU, you will need to meet with your academic advisor to get your Registration Access Code (RAC) to register for your second semester.
They Will Get to Know You
If you’re visiting SUU this summer, be sure to schedule a meeting with your SSA. They’re anxious to meet you and help you set goals to become a more well-rounded student. Getting to know you as an individual is one goal of theirs, so make meeting with your academic advisor a habit every semester because they want you to stay on track just as much as you do.
Graduation Tracking
The main purpose and goal of your academic advisor is to make sure you stay on track to graduate. Your academic advisor understands everything to do with curriculum, graduation requirements, and university policies and procedures. With this in mind, they guide students down the best path to success by developing an educational plan that best fits their needs. With an academic advisor as your sherpa, you’ll be able to make effective decisions concerning your goals and success.
Your academic advisor is a wonderful resource to use for success here at SUU. They are a vital piece in your planning process for classes and play a key role in your overall achievement in college. Make sure you get to know them and if you have any questions or want to get in touch with them immediately, their contact information is provided below.
How do I meet with my academic advisor?
At SUU, academic advisors are assigned based on the college you are enrolled in. Visit the student success advisor page to see who your advisor is and to schedule a meeting.
Academic advisors are also available for drop-in appointments when you need to chat about a quick issue and question. If you have questions about your education plan, academic success plan, or something that will need more time to be addressed, book an appointment with your advisor.
Tips for getting the most out of your advising appointment
- If you don’t understand something, speak up and let your advisor know.
- Make an appointment to meet with your advisor each semester to check your progress and to discuss any challenges you’re experiencing.
- Use DegreeWorks to monitor your progress through your degree. If anything looks off, ask your advisor about it ASAP.
- Prepare for appointments. For example, if you want to talk about registration, bring a list of possible classes for the upcoming semester.
- Bring something to write with and something to write on. Advising meetings can cover a lot of information and taking notes will help you remember what was discussed.
Academic Advising at SUU
SUU’s academic advisors are located in the Sharwan Smith Student Center. Whether this is your first semester, your tenth, or your last, take advantage of the advice and support that you academic advisor can provide.
If you have other questions about starting school at SUU, visit the New Student Checklist.
Tags: Student High School Campus Resources College Prep
