MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of academic advisors at Missouri University of Science and Technology, whether faculty or staff, is to provide the most accurate and informed guidance in the most efficient, accessible and comprehensive manner possible to students on their road to obtaining and achieving  meaningful, realistic short and long term educational goals. 

RATIONALE FOR DEVELOPING THE HANDBOOK

Welcome to the Missouri University of Science and Technology Academic Advising Handbook. Our University is committed to providing quality academic advising to its students. The Academic Advising Handbook is established to enhance the Missouri University of Science and Technology students’ academic and professional development. The handbook is designed and geared towards aiding quality advising by faculty and staff advisors.

Since faculty members have diverse educational backgrounds and varied responsibilities, this guidebook exists to provide all advisors with important information about students needs, expectations of faculty advisors, and university policies and procedures.

Advising is a partnership and students are an important part of the advising relationship. This handbook is also a resource and guide to students in order that they may have a valuable advising experience and be best informed of their own educational progress. 

IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC ADVISING

Academic advising is a critical component of a student’s collegiate experience. In recent national research, it was established that students view advising as an important and needed service. From a retention perspective, good academic advising is vital. Academic advising provides institutions with the opportunity to personalize education and to engage students in their own learning. Students frequently judge the worth of their academic experience on the basis of their interactions with faculty members, especially their advisors.

STANDARDS FOR ACADEMIC ADVISING

The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) is a member of the council for the advancement of standards. The following standards and guidelines for academic advising represent concerted efforts reflected by several hundred professionals in higher learning.

The primary purpose of an academic advising program is to assist students in the development of meaningful educational plans, which are compatible with their life goals.

The academic advisor assists by helping to identify and assess alternatives and consequences of the student’s decisions.  The ultimately responsibility for making informed decisions about life goals and educational plan rests with the individual student.

Institutional goals for academic advising may include:

1. To assist students in the clear development of meaningful and suitable educational goals
2. Selection of appropriate courses and other educational experiences  
3. Increasing students awareness of available educational resources
4. Interpretation of institutional requirements
5. Increasing students awareness of educational resources available
6. Evaluation of students progress towards established goals
7. Development of decision-making skills
8. Reinforcement of student direction
9. Referral to and use of other institutional and community support services
10. Collecting and distributing student data regarding student needs, preferences and performance for use in institutional policy-making