Student Services

General Information

What is Academic Advising?

Academic advising provides an opportunity for faculty and students to develop a relationship that can enhance the college experience. Students and advisors work together to plan a program of study that properly sequences courses and supports students' interests and goals. Students are responsible for monitoring their degree requirements and consulting their advisors for clarification when necessary.

To make the most of an advising relationship students should:

Take responsibility for knowing your degree requirements, making course selections, and monitoring your degree progress using DegreeWorks.
Develop academic, career, and social goals; and identify Winthrop resources that will help you achieve those goals.
Maintain personal copies of information relevant to degree completion.
Keep advising appointments and notify your advisor if you need to reschedule.

Before each advising appointment:

Contact your advisor to make an appointment during the established advising period.
Check your remaining degree requirements in DegreeWorks. Make sure DegreeWorks matches your degree checklist and the degree program requirements for your catalog year. Be prepared to ask your advisor about any issues you notice.
Make a list of possible courses and the times you can take them. Take this information to your advising appointment.
Make a list of any questions you have for your advisor and take them to your appointment. Your advisor can help you find the information you need.

An advisor's role is:

To help students understand degree program requirements.
To help students make appropriate and satisfying decisions related to their academic, career, and life goals.
To help students develop the ability to make informed choices concerning alternatives, limitations, and consequences of academic decisions (selection of courses, major declaration or change, dropping courses, etc.).
To know each student well enough to be aware of individual academic situations or educational needs.
To help students become involved in the total learning experience of Winthrop University by suggesting appropriate involvement in on-campus, off-campus, and experiential opportunities.