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What is Academic Advising?

Advising at UC is about preparing your student for academic success and their future career. Academic advising is a type of student support that is vital to their academic success. Each UC college provides academic advising. Advising sessions may be held in-person and virtually. Advisors guide students through their academic program by:

• Helping students clarify their academic, professional, and personal goals;
• Explaining program and university policies;
• Advising on classes and how they fit your academic, professional, and personal goals;
• Helping students with academic or personal matters;
• Making sure students stay on track to graduation.

One of the most important relationships your student will have at UC is with their advisor(s). In addition to a college-specific advisor, your student may also have a specialized advisor assigned. Examples of specialized advising include Honors advising, Pre-Professional advising, transfer advising, and student athletes advising. Although advisors are housed under different colleges and units, they all share a commitment to assist you in reaching your academic goals, all the way to graduation and beyond. We call this commitment the Bearcat Promise. The Bearcat Promise is a central part of advising at UC with the goal of graduating UC students with both a degree AND a plan for their future career. The Bearcat Promise Career Studio further assists your student with career advising and planning. Full-time, dedicated career coaches can help your student with anything from clarifying career goals to prepare for job interviews or grad school.

The Advisor-Student Relationship

Advisors work collaboratively with your Bearcat to help them realize their academic, professional, and personal goals. An advisor is someone who can help your student understand the benefits and consequences of certain choices and help them understand how UC works. The important thing to keep in mind is that the advisor will present your student with options and information, but your student will make their own choices. The advisor will help your student understand and interpret curriculum, policies, deadlines, and more, so they have all the appropriate information to make choices to meet their goals. The advisor also will advocate on your student's behalf, when necessary. 

Advising Tips

• Email is a quick and easy way for your student to get in touch with the advisor. Advisors typically respond within 24-48 hours or 2 business days. In some cases, the advisor may request a face-to-face or virtual meeting, as some discussions are better suited to a conversation.
• The advisor will also frequently reach out via email. Encourage your student to check and read their UC email regularly to ensure they don't miss important information and reminders.
• When your student has an appointment with their advisor, it's important to come prepared. Showing up on time with a list of questions, ideas for courses to take, and having reviewed the Graduation Plan makes your time with your advisor much more productive. Additionally, encourage your student to be upfront and truthful with the advisor. Without all of the information, they won't be able to fully and accurately guide your Bearcat.

Summer Orientation Advising

Through Bearcats Bound Orientation, your student will receive information from their Student Orientation Leader and their academic advisor regarding how they will register for fall classes. Course registration is managed differently by each college. Check with your student to ensure they have completed the Pre-Advising Survey and the Academic Advising module (on the Bearcats Bound Orientation course on Canvas).

Orientation Questions?? Comment on this post or email families@uc.edu for more information!