• Students are often unaware of the demands and expectations of the university and therefore need to clearly understand the culture of higher education.
  
• Academic advising is not an isolated event but an ongoing communication between the student and advisor in which mutual trust and respect must be established.
  
• Academic advisors recognize and accept that each student is unique.
  
• The core of all academic advising is the development of a holistic educational plan that facilitates the student's intellectual and personal growth and includes an academic plan that identifies the most appropriate courses to satisfy degree requirements in an efficient and effective manner.

As a result of the collaborative advising process the student will:

• Define and develop educational and career goals that are consistent with their personal values, interests, and talents.
  
• Develop a rapport with their advisors to enhance their academic performance.
  
• Utilize university resources to support their educational development.
  
• Develop an understanding of university policies, procedures, and requirements.

The desired outcome of the above goals is that students learn to make informed and increasingly independent decisions about their educational plans and other academic issues. Accordingly, as students become more knowledgeable about curriculum, policies, and procedures, they should become less reliant on advisors for information. They will, however, continue to consult advisors or designated faculty concerning university requirements, graduate school admission, career opportunities, and most importantly, graduation requirements

Students should be active participants in developing their educational plan. Central to this responsibility is developing a strong relationship with the academic advisor by:

• Preparing for academic advising meetings.
  
• Actively participating in advising discussions.
  
• Maintaining personal academic records.
  
• Developing an understanding of all graduation requirements:
  
  • Major/minor requirements
  • Foundation of Knowledge/general education
  • University requirements
    
• Learning how to access campus and online resources.
  
• Informing academic advisors regarding issues that may impact academic success.
  
• Proactively participating in planning for their post-graduate career.

The academic advisor will serve as a teacher and facilitator to enable students to be successful by developing appropriate academic and post-graduate career plans. Central to this process is serving advisees by:

• Maintaining and communicating accurate and current documentation of student records;
  
• Communicating information about current university policies and procedures by using a variety of communication tools;
  
• Assisting advisees in developing decision-making skills and encouraging them to take responsibility for their decisions;
  
• Facilitating connections between students and appropriate resources when needed;
  
• Participating in professional development activities relevant to advising