Academic Advising
Each academic ladder member of the faculty will be assigned a number of degree students as advisees. At the time advisee assignments are made, faculty advisors will be given background information on each student. Among the responsibilities of advisors are to serve as a faculty contact and occasionally as an advocate for students; to advise students who have academic problems and to act as a referral person for students with personal problems; and to provide academic and career advice to students.
Advisors should be familiar with the degree requirements for the particular program in which they are advising, as described in the academic department web pages. Students should follow the degree requirements that are in effect at the date of matriculation. Questions about degree requirements can be directed to the program director or the registrar.
It is particularly important for advisors to meet with and support new students. Advisors should meet with their group of advisees, including new and returning students, during orientation week, so that new students have the opportunity to meet their advisor in an informal setting and all students have the chance to establish ongoing rapport with their advisor. A second meeting, social in nature, should take place by the end of the add-drop period, about three weeks into the term. A modest budget is available to each academic advisor for this purpose.
Under the Buckley Amendment, advisors of students are allowed to review their advisees' files and transcripts, which are located in the Office of Student Services. Those files may be signed out, if necessary. See the section on Student Records and Privacy for additional information on confidentiality of student records.
Faculty advisors are not responsible for counseling students on personal or emotional difficulties, even when problems affect academic work. Faculty advisors are, nevertheless, responsible for identifying troubled students and directing students to help. Faculty advisors may refer students to Laura Snowdon, assistant dean for student services, or Pat Roberts, associate dean for academic and student services who may, in turn, refer students to the University Health Services or other support services at Harvard University.
Staff members in the Office of Student Services are available to assist
students on a wide variety of issues including financial aid, housing,
visa and immigration issues, and other concerns of student life. Faculty
advisors and students may also consult the staff in the Office of Student
Services on questions regarding academic policies and procedures, cross-registration,
grades, course adds and drops, leaves of absence, admissions, career
advising and job placement, and student grievances.