Academic Advising Services provide guidance throughout your Illini experience. This guide explains how advising works throughout each phase of your undergraduate experience. It is important to see your Academic Advisor each semester to remain on track to completing degree requirements, but your Academic Advisor is available for more than just course planning and the nature of your advising experience will change as you move through your time with us.
Academic Advising Overview
Academic Advising in the department of Sociology is designed to guide students as they create their Illini experience. We employ a coaching model of advising.
Students can expect the following of their advisor:
- Helps you figure out how YOU want to succeed.
- Prepared to help you define success.
- Points you to resources.
- Helps you stay accountable to YOUR goals.
In order to do this, the following is expected of students:
- Make at least one appointment per semester with your Academic Advisor to discuss progress and classes for the following semester (recommended at least a few weeks into the semester and/or a few weeks before registration for the following semester).
- Prepare for your appointment in advance by reviewing your DARS, making a course plan, and preparing your questions.
- Reflect on your academic and career goals and progress and be open to honest discussion -- it's ok to say "I have no idea what I want to do!"
- Be open to new ideas and trying new strategies.
- Take responsibility for your future - your academic advisor's role is to provide resources, explore options, reframe obstacles as opportunities, and help you make sure you meet requirements to remain on track for graduation.