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Office of Academic Advising and Retention

• About the Office
• • Meet the Staff
  • The Advising Model
  • Advising and Registration
• Creating Your Academic Map
• Academic Probation
• Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions
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The Advising Model

Advising can be prescriptive, developmental, or blended. A prescriptive model is when you are given "directions" on which classes to take and when. A developmental philosophy is one in which advising is viewed as a tool to help you achieve your academic goals. The reality of advising at APU is that the relationship is blended, having elements that are both prescriptive as well as developmental.

Here at APU, students meet with an advisor each semester (October and March) while attending APU as a recommended step prior to registration or preregistration. Check with your major's department, as advising is mandatory for some majors. The advisor is a resource person available to explore life, vocational, and educational goals and growth, as well as aid in academic planning and course selection. In each discipline, full-time faculty are available as advisors and mentors throughout the semester, as well as during registration and preregistration periods.

When a student declares a major, they will work with a faculty advisor/mentor from the department of their major. Students who have not declared a major will be advised by faculty in a department corresponding to their general interests or will meet with an undeclared major advisor in the Office of Academic Advising.

The Partnership of Academic Advising

Your advisor is a guide and mentor. You have every right to expect accurate information (to the best of his/her knowledge) from your advisor. Your advisor has every right to expect that you will take ownership of your academic progress and will accept the consequences of your academic decisions.

While the advisor is a guide and resource person, final responsibility for meeting requirements to complete a major and a degree program rests with the student.