Academic Advising Syllabus – School of Arts and Sciences

Montreat College Academic Advising Syllabus: Fall 2024/Spring 2025

Academic Advising at Montreat College 

Academic advising is integral to fulfilling the mission of Montreat College. Through academic advising, students practice intellectual inquiry as they select their majors and plan their curriculum. Students are encouraged to explore their sense of vocation through discovering their interests. Advising supports students as they develop the skills necessary to successfully determine their career pathways. Central to this educational process is the collaboration between students and their academic advisors. 

One goal of academic advising is to help students complete their degree in a timely and effective manner. To meet this goal, it is important to identify the roles that Montreat College, academic advisors, and individual students play in ensuring the advising partnership is successful. 

Montreat College Responsibilities 

• Provide current, accurate information about degree requirements and college policies and procedures in the Academic Catalog, Book of Four Year Plans, and in the Montreat Access Portal (MAP). 
• Provide training to help advisors and students work together effectively. 
• Provide regular review of policies and procedures to continuously improve the advising and registration process. 
• Maintain official academic records including:
  • a transcript (unofficial version is in MAP; official version is ordered online) 
  • a degree progress report (in MAP) 

Advisor Responsibilities 

• Assist you in understanding the purposes and goals of your Montreat education and how it might affect your individual goals beyond your undergraduate experience. 
• Help you to develop good decision-making skills and learn how to assume increasing responsibility for your educational planning. 
• Understand and effectively communicate the curriculum requirements and academic policies, or help you find the resources to get those answers. 
• Encourage and guide you in defining and developing realistic and clear academic goals. 
• Provide you with information about campus resources and services. 
• Assist you in working with and developing relationships with your instructors. 
• Be accessible for meeting with you during open office hours or through email. 
• Maintain a record of advising appointments and conversations. 

Student Responsibilities 

• Schedule regular appointments or make regular contacts with your advisor each semester. 
• Come prepared to each appointment with questions or materials for discussion. Suggested materials include your completed Registration Worksheet and your printable degree audit. Have a good idea of what you would like to accomplish in your meeting. 
• Follow through on the suggestions or recommendations that we discuss. However, you are ultimately responsible for every decision.
• Become knowledgeable about Montreat’s academic programs, policies, and procedures. 
• Gather all relevant information before making decisions that affect your educational goals or before you come to see your advisor about making those decisions. Advisors do not have all procedures and policies memorized, and advising sessions are more valuable when focused on matters of substance rather than details easily found on myMontreat. 
• Be proactive about your progress by frequently checking your MAP account and the information on Montreat’s website, especially the Registrar’s Office page. 
• Accept responsibility for your decisions and actions (or inactions) that affect your educational progress and goals. 

Academic Advising Student Learning Outcomes 

Students who successfully engage in academic advising at Montreat College will be able to: 

• Read and interpret their degree audit in MAP. 
• Develop and follow YOUR four-year plan based on your program of study and educational goals. This may include prior coursework that you transferred to Montreat. 
• With the guidance of an academic advisor, make effective decisions concerning their degree and career goals. 
• Use MAP to select and register for relevant classes each semester. 
• Identify, locate, and use the appropriate campus (such as academic coaching, financial services, counseling, and career services) service to meet their needs.

Contacting Your Advisor

Students can find their advisor’s name on MAP’s ‘Advising and Registration’ page.
The introductory email includes your advisor’s contact information. Check your Montreat inbox.
You can also look up their contact information in the college directory on myMontreat.

Important Information/Dates for 2024/25 Academic Year 

Fall 2024 Semester

• Last Day to Drop/Add August 26th
• Meeting of the Majors September 25th and/or September 30th
• Advising Connection October 9th-13th
• Registration for Spring 2025
  • October 21st (Seniors, Honors)
  • October 22nd (Juniors)
  • October 23rd (Sophomores)
  • October 24th (Freshmen)
• Course Withdrawal Ends November 15th
• Final Week of Classes December 9th -12th

Spring 2025 Semester

• Last Day to Drop/Add: January 14
• Meeting of the Majors: February 17 and/or February 19
• Advising Connection: February 24-March 7
• Registration for Fall 2025
  • March 3 (Seniors, Honors) 
  • March 4 (Juniors) 
  • March 5 (Sophomores) 
  • March 6 (Freshmen) 
• Course Withdrawal Ends: April 18
• Final Exams: May 5-8

Suggested Advising Timeline of Activities and Strategies: 

First Year 

• Attend your Meeting of the Majors session each semester. 
• Become familiar with your academic catalog, four-year plan, the registration worksheet, and how to use MAP to track your degree progress and register for classes. 
• Explore clubs, student organizations, and other similar opportunities to develop your skills. 
• Ensure all your transcripts are on file: AP/IB credits, dual enrollment, and transfer work. 
• Aim for a minimum of 30 credits completed at the end of your first year.

Second Year 

• Attend your Meeting of the Majors session in the fall and spring. 
• Meet with your advisor early in the fall semester to review your Degree Audit and determine your courses for the spring semester. What questions do you have about internships or studying abroad? 
• Meet with your advisor in January-February to review fall grades and plan for March registration. 
• Attend career development events offered through the Thrive Center, such as the On Purpose Retreat. 
• Aim for a minimum of 60 credits completed at the end of the academic year. 

Third Year 

• Attend your Meeting of the Majors session in the fall and spring. 
• Meet with your advisor early in the fall semester to review your Degree Audit and determine your courses for the spring semester. 
• What questions do you have about internships or studying abroad? 
• Meet with your advisor in January-February to review fall grades and plan for March registration. Be sure to review your degree audit with your advisor to be sure you are on track to graduate. Are the remaining courses for your degree available in the upcoming academic year? If so, be sure to register as soon as you can to ensure your seat in your desired courses. If not, discuss with your advisor your next steps.
• Begin researching graduate programs and post-bachelor’s certification programs. Resources for the process are found in the Thrive Center. 
• Take advantage of the Thrive Center’s career preparation and planning workshops. Contact thrive@montreat.edu to learn more. 
• Aim for a minimum of 90 credits completed at the end of the academic year. 

Fourth Year 

• Attend your Meeting of the Majors session in the fall and spring. 
• Apply for graduate school, professional certifications, or new internship experiences. 
• Meet with your advisor early in the fall semester to review your degree audit. Be sure to complete your Graduation Application form found in MAP. If you plan to complete your degree requirements during the… 
• Fall semester, apply in the prior spring semester but no later than September 30 
• Spring semester, apply in the prior fall semester but no later than January 31 
• Summer semester, apply by May 15 
• Take advantage of the Thrive Center’s workshops on career preparation and planning. Contact Karen Eilers at karen.eilers@montreat.edu to learn more.

Other Campus Partners 

Don’t forget to use the many resources Montreat College offers to students in order to help you have a successful experience and complete your degree. 

Thrive Center 

The Thrive Center for Learning, Calling, and Career exists to educate students for academic success and to lead purposeful lives. Our goal is to help students become proactive learners who understand the skills they have and how to build on them. We also aim to help students develop a clear sense of identity, participate in a wide variety of experiences to discover and affirm a sense of purpose, and be prepared to enter job search processes. 

Registrar’s Office 

The Registrar’s Office manages course registrations, grades, transcripts, transfer courses, and other related matters. Their webpage answers many of the questions you might have about academic procedures. You are also expected to be aware of the various important deadlines. Please note that the Registrar’s Office does not provide advising consultations for students. 

Student Life 

Talk with your Residence Hall Director (RD) about housing and other campus concerns. Your RDs can be found in the lobby of your residence hall.