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My Advisor

Every student has strengths, weaknesses, skills, interests, and goals. Through academic advising, faculty advisors help students assess their strengths and weaknesses, sharpen their skills, and explore their interests. Faculty advisors also help students acquire information, understand the opportunities available on campus, explore their options, and make sound decisions regarding their academic, career, and personal goals. Students are required to meet with their faculty advisor prior to registration each semester.

Ultimately, the responsibility to be well-informed, to seek information, and to make personally satisfying choices belongs to you; however, your faculty advisor is here to assist you.

Who Should Be My Advisor?

Students with a declared major must be advised by a faculty advisor in their major department.

Students with more than one major must be advised by a faculty advisor in one of their major departments.  Students can choose to add additional faculty advisors in accordance with their multiple majors.

Students who have not declared a major are advised by their Colloquium faculty advisor.

Students transitioning (or wanting to) from one major to another can seek advice from their current faculty advisor and/or the Office of Academic Advising.

Students needing assistance in clarifying Linfield Curriculum requirements  can seek advice from the Office of Academic Advising.

Students interested in pursuing health professions (pre-nursing, pre-med, etc.) and pre-law receive advising from the Director of Academic Advising in addition to their faculty advisor(s).   

My Responsibilities

Student responsibilities in the advising relationship:

• Take the initiative to contact and get to know your faculty advisor, and help your faculty advisor get to know you.  Be mindful of the need to work with your faculty advisor during posted office hours or make other arrangements in advance.
• Consult with your faculty advisor about changes in your academic progress, course selection, and academic, career, and life goals.
• Notify your faculty advisor immediately whenever a serious problem (medical, financial, personal) disrupts your ability to attend classes or interferes with your ability to focus on your education and to perform your best work.
• Prepare for meetings with your faculty advisor by gathering relevant decision-making information, creating a list of questions and drafting a course schedule (if the meeting is focused on course selection for the coming semester).
• Keep a personal record of your progress towards your degree.  Organize official college documents (catalog, Linfield Curriculum Worksheet, etc.) and bring them with you to advising meetings.
• Be familiar with the Linfield Curriculum, GPA, and major(s) and minors(s) requirements.  Schedule courses each semester in accordance with those requirements.
• Follow Linfield procedures when registering for courses and making adjustments to your class schedule.
• Observe academic deadlines.  Know when to register and when to drop or add classes.  Schedule an appointment with your advisor well in advance of these deadlines.
• Take the initiative to investigate options for changing advisors if you no longer have an interest in the advisor’s area and/or a positive relationship is not developing.

What should I ask my advisor?

• Ask specific questions to clarify general education and major requirements, but research these requirements and policies prior to the advising meeting!
• If you are double-majoring or have a minor, discuss what courses may count for more than one major/minor.
• If you are undecided, ask for suggestions about ways to explore possible fields of study.
• Discuss your academic progress since the last advising meeting.
• Ask for suggestions for academic support if you are struggling in one or more courses.
• Ask for suggestions or ideas about academic enrichment such as undergraduate research, internships, and experiential learning.
• Complete, in advance of the meeting, any required paperwork, as requested by your advisor(s).