Policy No.

AA-1431.3

POLICY & PROCEDURES MEMORANDUM

TITLE:

ACADEMIC ADVISING

EFFECTIVE DATE:

January 15, 2008

CANCELLATION:

none

OFFICE:

Academic Affairs (AA)

POLICY STATEMENT

Academic advising is an integral part of the education process, and Delgado Community

College strives to provide a quality advising program that helps students make a successful

transition to college life, learn to set academic, career and life goals, and develop successful

strategies for achieving these goals. The purpose of the academic advising program is to guide

students to become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Academic advising is provided consistently across campuses and locations. Procedures

and responsibilities for administering academic advising are outlined in this memorandum.

PROCEDURES & SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Purpose

To establish policy and procedures that provide for consistent academic advising

across all College campuses and locations.

Scope and Applicability

This memorandum applies to all faculty and staff members and operating units

who provide academic advising services to Delgado students.

Definitions

For the purposes of this memorandum, the following definitions apply:

AA-1431.3 January 15, 2008

Academic advising

is defined as a learning-centered approach whereby the developing

relationship between student, faculty and other college professionals is reciprocal. This

alliance builds through mutual trust, shared responsibility and commitment to the

students identifying and clarifying academic and career goals.

Academic Advisor

pertains to a College employee whose primary responsibility is to

share with students various information on the College’s academic requirements and

related information with students for the purpose of academic advising. Moreover, the

academic advisor serves as an agent of referral to other campus and community

resources and services.

Faculty Advisor

pertains to any full-time faculty member whose responsibilities include,

but are not limited to, assisting with academic advising functions, especially during peak

advising periods such as during Registration.

Advising Council

is the management and administrative council appointed each year

that is responsible for making recommendations to improve coordination of academic

advising for new, transfer, returning, and continuing students. The Council develops

and revises overall policies and procedures related to academic advising, including but

not limited to those published in the Academic Advising Procedural Guide.

Registration

refers to the period of course selection prior to the start of classes for each

semester or session.

Responsibilities

The process of advising is a collaboration of the student, academic advisor, and all units

involved in order to achieve successful and effective advising. Responsibilities include:

Student

The student has the primary responsibility for making informed decisions about all facets

of his or her Delgado Community College education based on accurate and current

information. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with a faculty or staff advisor to

discuss program and degree requirements, course selections, changes, limitations, and

possible consequences, as well as be knowledgeable of the College’s student expectations

as published in the current semester’s

Student Handbook

Academic Advisor

The Academic Advisor is responsible for sharing various information on the College’s

academic requirements and related information with students for the purpose of academic

advising. Academic advisors are trained by the Office of Academic Advising, and they

are expected to be knowledgeable of and to advise in accordance with College policies

and the procedures, including but not limited to those published in the

Delgado

Community College Catalog

and the Academic Advising Procedural Guide.

AA-1431.3 January 15, 2008

Faculty Advisor

In accordance with the College’s published Workload Requirements for Full-time Faculty

policy, all full-time faculty members are responsible for assisting with academic advising

functions when requested, especially during peak advising periods such as during

Registration. Faculty advisors are trained through the advising program, and they are

expected to be knowledgeable of and to advise in accordance with College policies and

the procedures, including but not limited to those published in the

Delgado Community

College Catalog

and the Academic Advising Procedural Guide.

Director of Academic Advising

The Director of Academic Advising is responsible for training regarding advising

policies, procedures, degree requirements and advising expectations. He or she is

expected to promote consistency across campuses and sites in the application of advising

procedures and policies. The Director of Academic Advising works closely with the

Advising Council in maintaining and revising the policies and procedures related to

academic advising, including but not limited to those published in the Academic Advising

Procedural Guide.

Advising Council

The Advising Council makes recommendations to improve coordination of academic

advising for new, transfer, returning, and continuing students. The Council reviews and

approves revisions, as needed, to the policies and procedures related to academic

advising, including but not limited to those published in the Academic Advising

Procedural Guide.

SIGNATURE

Alex Johnson

Chancellor

Attachment:

Academic Advising Procedural Guide

Review Process:

Advising Planning Task Force 10/3/07

Student Affairs Council 11/15/07

Academic Affairs Council 11/29/07

College Council 1/15/08

Distribution:

Electronically Distributed Via College’s Email System and Website