Advisor & Advisee Responsibilities
Academic advising is rooted in UConn’s mission of teaching, learning, and student success. Advising is a series of collaborative and purposeful interactions that teach and empower undergraduates to be independent decision makers and self-advocates as they pursue their unique educational, professional, and personal goals.
A successful and productive advising relationship involves collaboration between the student and the advisor or mentor. The advising and mentoring relationship should not only allow the student to meet academic degree requirements but promote the student’s engagement in curricular and co-curricular opportunities that promote their full development.
Advisee Responsibilities
- Take initiative to allow you to identify your strengths, talents, and interests.
- Plan a program of study and co-curricular activities in support of these strengths, talents, and interests.
- Know and follow university academic requirements, school/college requirements, and major requirements.
- Learn about and use the curricular, co-curricular, and career resources that UConn offers.
- Review your Student Admin record regularly, especially your Advisement Report (“Academic Requirements” in the drop-down menu in the Student Center), which provides details on requirements met and not yet met.
- Meet with your advisor regularly and go to your advising appointment prepared.
- Communicate regularly with campus resources and reach out for help as soon as you need it.
- Be professional in your communications with university staff and faculty.
Ultimately, you have ownership of your academic journey and must take responsibility and advocate for your own personal success.
If you have questions that your advisor cannot answer, please contact your school/college or regional campus advising center.
Advisor Responsibilities
- Support students in a process of self-assessment to identify their individual strengths, talents, and interests.
- Assist students in developing meaningful educational plans, including relevant experiential learning and co-curricular activities.
- Know and understand university requirements, school/college requirements, and major requirements in your field. This may require consultation with the Advising Center Contacts and/or the Office of the Registrar.
- Be familiar with UConn’s curricular, co-curricular, and career resources.
- Be accessible on a regular basis, through in-person or virtual appointments, drop-in advising, office hours, email, or phone.
- Maintain confidentiality. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) restricts the sharing of students’ information to “school officials with legitimate educational interest.” Anyone else wishing to have access to a student’s records, such as parents or guardians, must have the student submit a release form (submitted within Student Admin) before any information about the student’s academic record can be shared.
No single advisor has expertise in all the areas a student may wish to explore.
Students should consult with a wide range of faculty, staff, and campus resources who may be able to advise them on the many opportunities available at UConn, such as education abroad, research, internships, leadership and service, careers, and graduate school.
