Academic advising at the Saint Louis University School of Science and Engineering promotes the holistic growth of students, respectful of their individual goals. Our integrated program works collaboratively with the University community in support of students’ academic success.
You will be assigned an academic advisor for the entirety of your academic career to assist with curriculum development and planning. Your advisor will refer you to resources for academic and career success and help identify our academic policies and procedures as they relate to the Jesuit model of education.
Academic advisors will:
- Protect and secure the integrity of the SLU degree by enforcing University and departmental policies and requirements
- Understand and effectively communicate the curriculum; graduation requirements; and University and college policies and procedures to provide helpful and appropriate advisement and mentoring
- Be available, approachable, personable, and demonstrate concern and care for an advisee
- Assist students in working closely with their faculty mentors and professors
- Make appropriate referrals within the University
- Encourage advisees to develop skills that will lead to self-responsibility
- Have profound respect for each individual advisee and serve as a model of the educated person
- Maintain confidentiality by not discussing issues with parents and non-University persons without the student’s written permission
Students will:
- Display respect for the advisor and have a positive attitude toward the advising process
- Meet the advisor at appropriate times and will come to advising appointments prepared to assume responsibility for degree planning
- Clarify personal values and goals and provide advisor with accurate information regarding academic interests and abilities
- Seek to become acquainted with the academic structure of the University, school and college program
- Become knowledgeable about academic programs, policies, and procedures and utilize available University resources and services
- Ask questions if he or she does not understand an issue or has a specific concern. Keep a personal record of his or her progress toward meeting academic goals
- Accept responsibility for decisions and actions (or inactions) that affect educational progress and goals
- Be assigned a faculty mentor within each major, minor and special program they are pursuing. The mentor will help identify academic and career goals, recommend courses of study and experiences in pursuit of these goals, assist in planning for internships and volunteer opportunities, and consider the world of work.
Academic Advising Goals
The academic advising process is considered a very important aspect of a student’s educational experience at Saint Louis University. The goals of the advising process are to assist students in their understanding of academic requirements, to nurture intellectual maturation and self-confidence, to encourage students to take an active role in the advisement process and to foster a positive working relationship between advisors and students.
At Saint Louis University, it is our expectation that all of our students will be successful. An ongoing and effective advising relationship can be a major ingredient in a recipe for academic success.
Below is a list of steps you’ll need to take to prepare for appointments, meet with your faculty mentor and academic advisor, self-register or take a summer course off campus. If you’re a prospective student, you may be interested in viewing our admission requirements or scheduling a campus visit.
Student learning outcomes for the academic advising experience vary by each year.
- Access information about campus resources
- Identify their academic advisor and faculty mentor
- Identify information about their degree requirements
- Understand prerequisites and course sequences
- Know how to access information about academic programs
- Understand registration policies and procedures
- Register using Banner Self-Service
- Calculate a SLU semester and cumulative grade point average
- Locate and use the Academic Calendar and the Undergraduate Catalog
- Identify information about the Jesuit model of education/the Five Dimensions
- Understand their degree requirements
- Work effectively with a faculty mentor to review their academic progress in an intended or declared academic program
- Develop attainable academic goals
- Use Banner Self-Service to develop a degree evaluation
- Understand appropriate formal academic processes
- Identify internship, practicum and undergraduate research opportunities
- Integrate elements of the Jesuit model of education and the Five Dimensions of the SLU experience into curriculum development and planning
- Participate in experiential learning through internships, co-ops, practica, research or volunteerism
- Understand the application for the degree conferral process
- Access information about post-graduation employment opportunities
- Access information about professional school and graduate school opportunities
- Understand commencement and the degree award process
Demonstrating Achievement of Learning Outcomes
In order for you and your academic advisor to accurately measure and document that you have achieved the learning outcomes for academic advising, the two of you will develop an on-going record of your advising work.
This record will consist of a variety of documents including your educational plan, your semester schedules, collaborative work completed from referrals on campus, and a variety of other documents that you and your advisor will develop together to demonstrate your achievement of these outcomes.