Advisor and Advisee Responsibilities
Advisors assist students in course selection and help them navigate through their college years. Prior to registration, an advising hold is placed on all student accounts. It is necessary for students to see their assigned advisor to have the advising hold lifted. It is recommended you meet with your advisor prior to your priority registration date, assigned each semester by the Registrar (see the Registration Guides in the left-hand navigation pane).
All degree-seeking students at WKU are assigned at least one academic advisor. To view your advisor(s), go to TopNet. Click on Student Services, then Registration, and View Advisor Information to see your advisor's name and contact information. If you don't have an advisor listed, email academic.advising@wku.edu or call (270) 745-5065. To see instructions on how to schedule an appointment with your advisor through TopNet, go here. If your advisor does not use the Advising Calendar, contact your advisor through the phone number or email listed on the View Advisor Information page.
1. Initiate contact with your advisor during his/her office hours, by telephone, or e-mail.
2. Arrive at appointments on time (with your cell phone turned off) and cancel appointments if you can't come.
3. Talk to your advisor if you are concerned about any aspect of your university experience.
4. Discuss important decisions or questions about your education (e.g., choice of major, change of major, change of college) well before the registration period.
5. Come prepared for appointments. Review your degree requirements. Bring a list of courses, course sections, alternative course choices, and the meeting times of these courses. Make sure any holds are lifted (e.g., parking tickets paid, library fines paid before your date to register).
6. Ask questions regarding internships and career plans to the Advising and Career Development Center. Ask questions about study abroad programs through Study Abroad and Global Learning.
7. Follow through on referrals made by your advisor and discuss suggestions made by your advisor.
8. After talking to your advisor register for the classes you discussed.
1. Availability during office hours and the opportunity for individual appointments.
2. Assistance in helping you to find academic information, including information on majors, minors, general education requirements, and other academic policies, procedures, and deadlines.
3. Referrals to appropriate people and offices if your advisor cannot provide the necessary assistance.
4. A meeting to discuss grades and recommendations for academic improvement, if appropriate.
5. A meeting each semester before the registration period to help with course selection and academic planning to approve your academic schedule for the next term.Assistance in specific and correct course choices that are needed to prepare students for the particular major.
6. Assistance in understanding the purposes of academic requirements and their relationship to a major and career plan.
7. Assistance in helping you to learn how to make academic decisions, how to discover the range of options available to you, and how to think through the consequences of choices.
Please take the time to research the academic program of your choice. Refer to the WKU Undergraduate Catalog for this information and use TopNet to monitor your progress toward the completion of your degree requirements.
After seeking help from your own advisor, students are welcome to visit Advising and Career Development Center, DSU 2141, (270) 745-5065 or email: academic.advising@wku.edu with any unanswered advising questions.
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