Academic advising at UChicago is a collaborative partnership between students and their academic adviser. This partnership thrives on mutual respect, commitment, and a shared vision of success. Both parties - the student and the adviser - play crucial roles in this relationship and have distinct expectations and responsibilities.
Students and advisers benefit when advisers know their students well. The better an adviser knows their student, the easier it is for the adviser to be of help. It is also essential that students understand the expectations associated with the advising relationship to know what to expect and how to best utilize their adviser as a resource.
- Listen carefully to their questions and concerns and respond thoughtfully.
- Support students as they create their own academic plan based on their goals, skills, and interests.
- Ask critical questions to help them think through their choices and decisions.
- Encourage and guide them to define and develop clear and realistic goals.
- Help them make connections between their intellectual, professional, and personal short- and long-term goals.
- Be accessible for appointments and promptly respond to email requests.
- Assist them in navigating and understanding the College Catalog, Stellic My Planner, and My.UChicago; providing clarity for questions they may have about the curriculum.
- Inform them of important procedures, deadlines, and policies.
- Promote informed decision-making through exploring options.
- Create a receptive space to share their thoughts, aspirations, and interests.
- Empower them to become independent, self-directed, and self-motivated.
- Connect them to partner offices and other resources across campus.
- Collaborate with faculty, and administrative and student staff, to help them understand how they may support student development.
- Be accountable for their educational and personal trajectories.
- Meet regularly with their academic adviser and academic program representatives, collaborating with them as they make important academic and professional decisions.
- Become informed about rules, regulations, policies,degree requirements, and ask questions when unsure.
- Develop competency in navigating the College Catalog, My.UChicago, Canvas, and Stellic My Planner.
- Take proactive steps in seeking information, support, and knowledge.
- Communicate any challenges, changes, unforeseen events, or issues they are facing that interfere with their studies or pose a challenge to their academic success.
- Express their interests, values, and ambitions with their adviser to clarify educational, career, and personal goals.
- Arrive at scheduled meetings on time and prepared to actively engage in discussion.
- Check their UChicago email account regularly and respond to their adviser, professors, and other administrators as soon as possible.
- Review and update their anticipated course plan in Stellic My Planner quarterly.
- Be aware of and adhere to the College Student Code of Conduct and University policies and procedures.
Academic Advising Meetings
Students are encouraged to meet with their adviser frequently and to schedule appointments whenever they have questions about courses and programs of study or UChicago College rules and regulations. Most students meet with their adviser a few times per academic year.
Advising meetings are scheduled for 30 minutes, and topics range from course selection, degree plan completion, co-curricular and career considerations, and personal development. Advisers are able to connect students to applicable resources for success in the College.
Appointments can be scheduled through our online scheduling system. Advising appointments are available weekdays only and can be scheduled up to 16 hours in advance (no later than 3:00pm CST the previous business day).
- Once for an individual meeting over the summer prior to the start of their first quarter
- Once during the Autumn and Winter quarters of their first year
- Once during their second year
- Once during the spring of their third year or the autumn of their fourth year
Students in the College are required to meet with their adviser during the following times:
Before the individual meeting, students can participate in an optional group advising meeting which provides a foundational understanding for what students can expect as they begin their studies at UChicago. Following the group advising meeting, students are required to attend a one-on-one meeting with their adviser where they will discuss the student’s placement results, autumn schedule possibilities, and their personal aspirations, goals, and plans. Through both summer interactions, the student begins to build a relationship with their academic adviser.
In the autumn, students are required to attend a group advising session where they will gain a better understanding of university systems, including the Stellic My Planner, the College Catalog, Canvas, My.UChicago, and My Classes. In winter, students are required to meet one-on-one with their academic adviser.
As students continue to progress through the Core curriculum and near the end of their general education requirements, meeting with an adviser is essential midpoint check-in for reflection on their curricular and co-curricular experiences thus far. Students plan their trajectories in major and minor programs of study along with other campus opportunities for learning and growth.
As students near the completion of their degree program, they are required to meet with their adviser to review outstanding graduation requirements and finalize their academic plan. Additionally, advisers work with students to make meaningful connections between their past experiences, goal set for their remaining time in the College, and consider post graduation opportunities.
The Adviser on Call is available for current undergraduate students with urgent questions when their assigned Academic Adviser is out of the office or unavailable during the business hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Adviser on Call should not be used for required conferences, long-term planning, or planning out an additional major or a new minor. All Adviser on Call appointments are remote only. Please note the Zoom link in the confirmation email when booking.
Students who do not attend a required advising appointment by the associated deadline are prevented from participating in course registration processes (including pre-registration and add/drop) until that appointment has been held. Students should schedule their appointments well in advance of the deadlines, as advisers may be unable to accommodate last-minute appointments.
Students who have urgent questions or problems should contact their adviser directly via email or phone call. If their adviser is not available, students can access the adviser-on-call during business hours.
If a student asks for or is clearly in need of additional support from the University, referrals can be submitted to the College Student Care and Support Team here.
Urgent matters regarding the health and safety of students in the College should be brought to Campus & Student Life's Dean-on-Call Program.
Students who wish to speak to someone confidentially can call the Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call Program.
Conduct that falls outside of the principles of free expression and meets the definition supplied by University Statute 21 for disruptive conduct should be brought promptly to the attention of the Associate Dean of Students in the University for Disciplinary Affairs in Campus and Student Life.