Professional Obligations Of Faculty

C3 Advising Responsibilities

1. Nature of Responsibilities

   
   

   After the first year of teaching at Hope College, faculty members participate in the academic advising of students.

    

   The instructor of a First-Year Seminar (IDS 100) section serves as the academic advisor for students enrolled in his or her section, and continues to advise these students until they select a major, normally by the end of the sophomore year, and have been assigned an advisor by the major department. In addition to normal academic advising about course schedules and academic progress, the freshman advisors are responsible for helping students make adjustment to college and discover career directions.

    

   When a student declares a major, the chairperson assigns an academic advisor from the departmental faculty. Several faculty members have special assignments as advisors to students in particular pre-professional or professional programs.
   

    

   The academic advisor in all cases is responsible for helping advisees plan their course schedules and for counseling them on their progress in their course work. Advisors are expected to meet with their advisees periodically (usually after midterm grades have been reported or just before the end of the semester, at which session the next term's schedule is worked out). They maintain a file on each advisee and include in it notes on the conferences with the advisee.
   



2. Change of Advisor

   
   

   A student may request a change of advisor at any time in consultation with the Office of the Registrar. A faculty advisor may also initiate such a change.




3. College Resources Available to Assist Students

   
   

   If advisees have major academic problems, they may be referred by the advisor to an academic administrator (Registrar, divisional dean, or Provost) for special advice. If advisors sense serious personal problems beyond their counseling competence, they are urged to acquaint the student with the special services provided by the College and to advise the student to make use of them. On occasion, they may even wish to make a direct referral to one of these services. Subject to principles of confidentiality, reports from these services are available for examination by the faculty advisor.
   

    

   These special services are available: The Academic Support Center; The Counseling Center; The Career Planning and Placement Center; Campus Ministries; the Office of Multicultural Life; the Office of Disability Services; the Office of Special Programs, and the College Health Clinic. A description of the nature and dimension of these services is provided in the College Catalog.