Academic Advising

Westminster College is committed to a student-centered mission that emphasizes each student’s academic success and personal welfare. Students are entitled to quality academic standards and prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable assistance. Westminster College demonstrates this commitment by providing capable personnel and appropriate technological resources to serve students in individualized ways, congruent with their education goals, interests, skills, and abilities. Academic advising is a key component in this student-centered approach.

Advising at Westminster is a developmental process during which advisors (faculty, staff, and peers) work with individual students to explore curricular choices that match the student’s academic and career goals. In partnership with students, advisors will

• Share knowledge about the institution and curriculum.
• Link students to college and community resources.
• Provide students with accessible advising.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to diverse student communities.

All first-year and new students receive individualized academic advising in the START Center after admission. All freshmen participate in a unique educational development program called Pathfinder, designed to help them make the transition to college. Beginning each May, new students are required to meet with advisors to learn about college and departmental resources, program requirements, educational alternatives, and available course choices.

Continuing students can receive academic advising in the START Center or choose a faculty advisor. By the junior year (60 credit hours), students must formally declare a major and meet with a faculty advisor in their academic program(s). Faculty advisors work with students to map out their remaining requirements and plan course sequencing to graduation. In these sessions, students and advisors generally;

• Review degree requirements, any special options, and possible electives.
• Identify any deficiencies in the student's record and ways to correct them.
• Discuss career and graduate school options.