Academic advising is an interactive process with the aim of helping the student move smoothly through the academic endeavor s/he has chosen. This process works best when the advisor and the advisee partner to achieve a mutually agreed upon outcome. Both parties have areas of accountability to assure that this process proceeds in a smooth and beneficial manner. Academic advisors are formally assigned by the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), with recommendation from the Director of the PhD Program, based on research “fit.” The academic advisor generally becomes the student’s dissertation chairperson, and thus, research fit is critical. Academic advisors must be qualified members of the College of Nursing faculty who are appointed in tenure track and in the Graduate Faculty P status.
Below are listed some elements of the responsibility the student has in the process:
- Contact your advisor first.
The student must contact the advisor of record immediately after acceptance of admission in order to develop a plan of study consistent with published curriculum plans. - Contact your advisor at least once per semester or session to discuss your progress.
Additionally, the student should contact the advisor at any time during the semester or session to discuss any proposed changes in the plan of study that the student wishes to make to assure that the overall plan is still sound and meets progression requirements. - Contact the advisor if there are academic or other issues that interfere with successful completion of a course or courses.
Although dialogue with the course instructors is essential, it is also essential that the student’s advisor be informed of any problems. Often, the advisor can help to plan strategies, give suggestions about appropriate petitions, and be a sounding board to recognize consequences of actions the student might think about implementing. - Discuss decisions to change focus, take a leave of absence, waive a course, or other decisions that affect completion of an academic program.
Advisors recognize that goals, objectives, and commitments may change. Your advisor is the first line academic official with whom these changes should be discussed. Procedures, consequences, and suggestions for appropriate strategies are resources that advisors may use to help. - Discuss decisions about PhD Candidacy Examination and PhD Dissertation defense requirements.
The PhD Candidacy Examination is overseen by the Graduate School and is the main qualifying examination for advancing to the dissertation phase of the PhD program. The Dissertation defense is also overseen by the Graduate School and is the culmination of a student’s studies and research. The advisor can often serve as the first line for recommendations for decisions about candidacy and dissertation requirements and options. The advisor is the person who can make initial and informed suggestions about the best people to have on the student’s Candidacy Examination and Dissertation committees. In most cases, the advisor will serve as the student’s Candidacy Examination and Dissertation chairperson. - Changes in advisor.
Students may find it necessary to change advisors. Changes should be discussed with the current advisor and the proposed new advisor, who must agree to accept the student as an advisee. Once all agree, the student should send an email message to the Director of the PhD Program, Graduate Data Manager in the Office of Student Affairs Equity and Inclusion, the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, and both the current and proposed new advisor stating the advisor change. - Request, as needed, the advisor to serve as a professional reference after graduation.
The advisor is a person who, in most cases, has known the student since the beginning of the student’s program of study. Advisors are often the best persons to complete a professional reference when their advises are applying for a position or entry into a subsequent advanced or degree program.