Carleton students receive academic advice from a wide array of sources - formal advisors (faculty or administrative staff members), resident assistants, student department advisors (see below), new student week leaders, and department chairs to name a few. A faculty member and student registration facilitator will help you choose courses and register. First year students are assigned a formal advisor; attempts are made to assign students someone who is one of his or her instructors. Advisors assist students with program planning, course selection, career choices, academic difficulties, and help with personal concerns when possible.

Students usually have the same advisor for their first and second years. After that, an advisor from the student's major department will be assigned.

Faculty advisors must sign registration forms and petitions to the Academic Standing Committee (see the Academic Regulations and Procedures). While this will bring you and your advisor together at least once a term, students should always feel free to discuss plans and questions with their advisors.

The advising relation offers an opportunity to get to know a professor personally. It is hoped that academic advisors will have individual contact with students in a variety of situations, and that students will take the initiative to talk with advisors in and outside the office (you can invite an advisor to lunch, for example, for free).

Augmenting the advising system are the Student Departmental Advisors (SDAs), a select group of students whose primary function is to provide accurate information about basic academic information, especially in their own departments. These students are available for consultation at registration times and throughout the year. Department chairs and program coordinators also expect students to come to them for advice.

See the Dean of the College's Advising Handbook for more information.