Advising at Berry
The purpose of the Academic Advising program at Berry is threefold:
- To
provide guidance to students in interpreting the college literature, in
making good decisions related to their academic program, and in
following guidelines of the Berry system;
- To help students
create educational plans that are balanced in their attention to the
“head, heart and hands” and incorporate experiences relevant to the
students’ individual goals and aspirations;
- To assist students otherwise in making the transition to college and in having worthwhile college experience.
Academic
advising is an institution-wide effort at Berry College. All faculty
members have a cluster of advisees, the average size of which is about
15. New faculty receive instruction in the advising program and after a
semester or two are assigned advisees in their major area. Several
professional staff members from the student-affairs area are also
trained to advise students as part of the First-Year Experience
program.
New students may declare a major at the time of
their enrollment. They are assigned their first advisor when they come
to their Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration Orientation
(SOAR) session. The initial advisor of the first-year students also
serves as the instructor of the BCC 100 seminar course.
At the SOAR sessions, first-year students meet with their advisors for
a period of developmental advising in which they get to know the
members of their group and the expectations of the college in their
academic program. They then meet individually with their advisor and
discuss their fall courses.
Advisors continue with an assigned advisee until at least the
beginning of the second term. At that time, some students continue
with the same advisor, while others may be reassigned to an advisor
within the chosen major. Transfer students are assigned to advisors
within their major areas as they enter Berry.
Students pursuing two majors will have two academic advisors. Students
pursuing a secondary-education minor will have an education advisor
assigned as their second advisor.
Students are required to meet with their advisors prior to
registering for courses each term. Students should be prepared not
only to discuss what courses they are interested in enrolling for, but
they should also be prepared to consider their total educational plan,
including co-curricular, extracurricular, work experience and service
opportunities with their advisors. Students must also meet with their
advisors to complete the Undergraduate Degree Plan when they become a
junior and the Application for Graduation when they become a senior.
Regular workshops on advising are held for all advisors. To
assist faculty and staff in the advising process, the coordinator of
advising makes available an annually updated handbook. Other resources
for advising are provided by the registrar.