Academic Advising Process

• The adviser assists students in shaping their educational experience to meet specific intellectual, personal and career goals. Advisers do not decide the student's goals or program, but help students learn how to develop appropriate goals, make good choices that enhance learning and personal growth, and succeed in and out of the classroom. 



• During summer orientation, all new students are assigned to a faculty or professional adviser who discusses with them the university's various programs of study, academic policies and procedures, advanced placement/exemption testing, and registration procedures. At that time, students plan their course of study and complete registration for fall semester classes.



• Advisers continue to work with first year students until midway through the spring semester, at which time first year students that have declared a major are assigned to advisors in their academic department or school.



• All entering first year students must declare a major by the third Friday of their third semester at JMU.