Make an Appointment with an Academic Advisor

Student Responsibilities

 Schedule your advising appointment early, arrive on time, and cancel 24 hours in advance if you cannot make it.

• Prepare for your appointments in advance by bringing a list of questions and courses you are considering taking.
• Use Degree Navigator to review your own major/minor options and requirements.
• Define a primary plan to achieve your goals but also have an acceptable alternative.   
• Take advantage of University resources by asking for guidance and advice about opportunities that will enhance your educational experience.

Advisor Responsibilities

• An advisor may provide assistance in helping a student learn how to make practical academic plans and decisions, how to discover a range of options available to the student, based on the student’s stated goals, and how to think through the consequences of the student’s own choices.
• Assist in development of academic/career plans consistent with student’s stated goals, interests, and abilities.
• Provide accurate information about policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Create positive working relationships with students, other SAS advisors, staff, and faculty.
• Assist student in understanding the rationale and potential of an arts and sciences education.
• When appropriate refer students to other University resources and services.

Expected Outcomes of Academic Advising

• You will know how and where to access accurate information about policies, procedures, and requirements.
• You will be encouraged to make decisions that support your goals, abilities, and aspirations.
• You will be expected to become familiar with your departmental advisors for your major or minor.

Why should I schedule an advising appointment?

Our role is to assist you in developing and implementing your own academic plan designed to meet your educational, career, and personal goals. The advising process is a shared responsibility between students and advisors. Regardless of the type of advice you need or  the questions you have, our advisors and staff in the SAS Office of Advising and Academic Services can assist you directly or point you in the right direction toward earning your degree. 

Book an appointment to:

• Discuss academic interests.
• Discuss degree requirements including SAS Core, majors, and minors.
  (If you have specific questions about your declared/potential major or minor, please click the link to that program of study to also seek the advising available from that department.)
• Ask for advice on course registration and long-term academic planning.
• Plan a reasonable and timely graduation date. 
• Post-graduation planning.

• You are encouraged to meet with an advisor at least once a semester to discuss interests and long-term plans. Appointments are made in advance.  To make an appointment, please select the RU-Scheduler link below.  You may also call 848-932-8888 weekdays 9am - noon, 1pm - 5pm EST or connect through Live Chat.
  
• Schedule an advising appointment early enough in advance to prepare for the following semester.
  Before/during initial registration for the following semester, please schedule farther in advance since appointments fill up sooner during this time.

Your appointment will be 20-30 minutes in length, so arrive to your appointment prepared.

For your appointment to be productive:

• Be on time. We recommend that you log in 5 minutes before your scheduled time.  The advisor will join you when your appointment begins. 
• Arrive with questions for discussion.
• Use Degree Navigator to review your own major/minor options and requirements. 
• When asking for advice on course registration for the next semester, have a list of proposed courses including alternatives. We encourage you to use planning tools such as Degree Navigator, Schedule of Classes, Course Schedule Planner, and WebReg to review any pre-requisites or restrictions on courses you are interested in taking. 
• Define a primary plan to achieve your goals but also have an acceptable alternative.
• Discuss degree requirements, including SAS Core, Majors, and Minors.
• Plan a reasonable and timely graduation date.
• Post-grad planning.

All students enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences are responsible for upholding the highest standards of student behavior, as specified under the University Code of Student Conduct, including but not limited to strict adherence to the terms of the University’s Academic Integrity Policy.  Please make yourself familiar with the terms of the University Code of Student Conduct, including the University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly referred to as FERPA or the Buckley amendment, is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student’s educational record. FERPA applies to all educational agencies or institutions that receive federal funding for any program administered by the Secretary of Education. FERPA also applies to private entities that contract to perform services for the University that it would otherwise undertake to perform on its own; in such cases, the private entity must observe the same FERPA protections applicable to the University. FERPA grants adult students (18 and older) the following rights:

• The right to inspect and review their educational records
• The right to seek the amendment of their educational records
• The right to consent to the disclosure of their educational records
• The right to obtain a copy of their school’s Student Records Policy
• The right to file a complaint with the FERPA Office in Washington, D.C.

FERPA Basics

• With only a few exceptions, student educational records are considered confidential and may not be released without the written consent of the student.
• Faculty or staff members have a responsibility to protect educational records in their possession.
• Faculty or staff members may only access information that is needed for legitimate completion of their responsibilities as a university employee.