College advisers are available for program planning and general academic advice, and act as deans representatives in applying College policies. Faculty advisors offer suggestions about courses in the student’s major and advice about graduate school or careers. In some colleges, students are assigned a faculty advisor in their freshman year. In the College of Letters and Science (L&S) undergraduates are not assigned faculty advisors until they declare a major, normally in their junior year. Freshman and sophomore L&S students meet with L&S college advisers. L&S students will find comprehensive information and help at the the Letters & Science orientation website and the main L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising website.

Department graduate advisors are faculty members, selected by the department, who help graduate students select courses and develop programs of study. Graduate students may choose or be assigned a faculty research or dissertation advisor.

Your chair will inform you about the responsibilities of faculty advisors in your department. Some departments and colleges have specific handbooks for advisors.

last updated on 3/21/07