Academic Policy  1550.20 

Academic Advising of Undergraduate Students

Academic advising is an active, ongoing exchange between the advisers and students, grounded in teaching and learning. Advising is based on students gaining accurate and appropriate information and direction to help make their educational experience relevant, coherent and meaningful. It is a process that assists students in connecting with the University of Arkansas, making thoughtful decisions related to their academic experiences and maximizing their educational and career opportunities. Quality academic advising is essential to achieving the university’s mission to provide “transformational opportunities and skills” to students while “fostering student success across a wide spectrum of disciplines.”

While procedures may vary among schools and colleges, all successful academic advising should include the following:

• A mutual respect between adviser and student with the student possessing final responsibility for successful completion of a degree.

• A developmental and educational process that occurs over time.

• Consideration of individual students’ interests, abilities and needs.

• A collaborative effort to connect students to campus resources and services while endeavoring to connect the student to the University so they feel that they belong and matter despite differences in background.

• Reasonable availability and accessibility to advisers.

• Interpretation of University of Arkansas, college and departmental rules and courses.

• Achievement of student understanding of the purpose and nature of the university core courses.

• Recommendation of appropriate courses.

• Achievement of student understanding of and progress toward meeting academic requirements.

• General information regarding career options and opportunities, with appropriate referrals as necessary.

• A commitment to inclusivity and belonging where practices are consistently employed that support an inclusive environment on campus for all students regardless of ethnic and racial heritage, class or socioeconomic status, age, gender, culture, national origin, sexual orientation and religion, as well as their physical, learning, and psychological abilities.

• An understanding of and adherence to laws and regulations that relate to academic advising.

• Adherence to the highest principles of ethical behavior.

The university is committed to developing each student’s fullest potential. To this end, programs in each college have been established to improve the academic achievement and persistence of students on academic warning and of other students in need of academic assistance. Such assistance is provided through a variety of instructional and informational services.

Academic Advising Council

The Academic Advising Council (AAC) serves as the advisory group for undergraduate academic advising and reports to the provost regarding all matters related to its charge. The council advises the provost and the deans regarding student advising. Each school and college have one representative/advising leader on the council and additional ex-officio members include the directors of the Student Success Center, the Office of the Registrar, Honors College, and one staff member from the Athletic Advising Center. The council elects a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson each spring to begin service August 1. In addition, the AAC has committee chairs selected from professional advisors across campus.  These committee chairs support the overall goals and initiatives set forth by the AAC. 

This AAC is charged with assisting the institution to increase the academic success and retention of undergraduate students by highlighting and providing additional support to the academic advising processes. It will recommend to the provost goals, procedures and standards for advising including strategies for the evaluation of advising quality and outcomes. To these ends, it will review undergraduate advising across campus with the cooperation of the schools and colleges and identify issues and problems as well as strategies for addressing them. As issues, problems, and possible solutions are identified in the institution or colleges and schools, the council will provide information and recommend action. The AAC will recommend university-supported advisor development programs to provide training to both professional and faculty advisors and mentors. This training will supplement training in the schools and colleges by focusing on university-wide services for students such as those involving admissions, enrollment services, financial aid, tutoring and academic support, personal counseling, career planning, and disability services. The committee will design and implement advisor development programs and maintain liaison with services for students across the campus.

The AAC will also manage the annual advising award process.   The Award Committee will follow the timeline of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Region awards. Following the selection of the award winners, the AAC will send a list of recipients to the provost. The AAC will nominate campus winners for national recognition from the NACADA and other appropriate regional and national recognitions.