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Academic Advising
Each Oberlin student has an academic advisor to help in planning
an educational program consonant with the student's interests and
goals. The advisor can offer guidance in evaluating academic strengths
and weaknesses and provide information on Oberlin's curriculum
and regulations. Entering students are assigned faculty advisors,
usually in areas of stated interest. A student may change advisors
at any time by asking another faculty member to serve and by notifying
the Office of the Dean of Studies. Students who have declared a
major are advised by a member of the department in which they are
majoring.
Academic advisors help students make decisions by sharing with
them their educational experience, their ideas, and their understanding
of what students are doing. Advisors are most often members of
the teaching faculty, but some members of the professional staff
can also be advisors for first- and second-year students. While
they may be most knowledgeable about the courses in their own departments,
advisors can also help you find information from other sources.
Since faculty members at Oberlin are quite available to students,
it is usually easy to go to another department and find the answers
to your questions there.
One of the first questions your advisor may ask is why you chose
the particular courses you propose to take on your planned schedule.
Advising styles differ from advisor to advisor in the way they
pose such questions. Some challenge students to think about alternative
possibilities; others encourage students to present the pros and
cons of the selections they have made. Whatever the style, the
object is for the student to make clear goals, consider the options,
and make careful choices.
Academic advisors are just that—advisors. They are aware
that the decisions you make are yours and not theirs. An advisor
might try to persuade you to change your mind, but he/she may not
force you to make a decision you do not want to. When your advisor
gives you your Registration Alternate PIN (RAP), this means that
the two of you have conferred, not that she/he approves of the
decisions you have made. Since advisors do not control what you
decide to do, you are responsible for your final choices. If, for
example, you fail to meet a requirement in time for graduation,
you will be responsible, not your advisor.
Advising in the College
Arts and Sciences students are assigned a general advisor until
they formally declare a major. A student’s expressed academic
area of interest is taken into account, as much as possible,
in the initial assignment of a general advisor. Typically, a
student will have the same advisor for the first two years of
college. However, it is easy to change advisors – to do
so, download or pick up a Change of Advisor
card from the Office of the Dean of Studies, Peters 205, have
it signed by your new advisor and then return it to the Office
of the Dean of Studies. When your major is declared, a member
of the major department will become your advisor. If a student
declares an individual major, one or more faculty members will
supervise the student’s progress and serve as advisor(s).
Please note: When you declare or change a major, the change of
advisor will be done through the Major Declaration Form – you
do not need to complete the Change of Advisor Card.
Advising for Double-Degree Students
Double-Degree students must have two advisors. One is a member
of the Arts and Sciences faculty, initially in or near the field
of expressed interest, and ultimately in the major field. The other
advisor is a Conservatory faculty member in the appropriate Conservatory
major. Double-Degree students are required to meet with both advisors
before registering for courses.
Advising for International
Students
Additional academic and personal advising for international students,
US permanent residents, and US citizens living abroad is provided
by the two international student advisors in the Office of the
Dean of Studies, Peters 205. These advisors also handle immigration
matters and provide direction and support when international
students deal with other campus offices, such as Financial Aid,
the Registrar,
Student Accounts, Residential Life and Dining Services, and the
Counseling Center.
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