Academic Advising

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Academic Advising at Montana Western

Academic advising is an important service provided to Montana Western students. To help ensure that students are making satisfactory progress towards meeting the requirements for their academic program of study, all students should meet regularly with their faculty advisor. All students at Montana Western are assigned a faculty advisor in their area of study, once a major or program of study is declared. Undeclared majors are randomly assigned to faculty advisors until a major is declared. However, it is important for a timely graduation and to ensure that program of study requirements are being met that students officially declare a major as soon as they have decided on a program of study.

The purpose of academic advising is to provide guidance and assistance to students in: understanding university policy and procedures; forming academic and career goals; providing mentorship in developing decision making skills; and providing encourgement in making the most of the student's academic life at Montana Western.

Responsibilities of the Academic Advisee

As a student at Western, I understand it is my responsibility to:

• Contact my advisor to make advising appointments at least once each semester to discuss my progress, goals and semester schedules. Be prepared for these meetings with: preliminary semester plan, transcripts, advising manual, and other pertinent information. Immediately contact my advisor if I cannot keep a scheduled appointment and reschedule the meeting.
• Obtain the necessary forms (from appropriate administrative offices) and signatures from my advisor, keep copies of all forms for my own records, and update my advising manual (see Advising Center in MH 214 if you do not have one).
• Understand and complete all requirements for my major and for graduation. Ask my advisor for guidance and clarification when I do not understand the requirements.
• Immediately notify my advisor regarding changes in my major; if I need to drop or add a class; if I am having difficulties in a class; or if I need to make any changes to my schedule.
• Work with my advisor to establish academic, career, and life goals. Work with my advisor and seek referrals to other campus offices when I am uncertain about my academic and career goals.
• Take action and accept responsibility for my academic success at Montana Western.

Responsibilities of the Academic Advisor

As an academic advisor at Montana Western, I understand it is my responsibility to:

• Post office hours and provide contact information so students can make advising appointments.
• Refer students to appropriate campus resources, when necessary.
• Provide guidance and assistance to students in the decision making process, such as: forming semester plans, short and long term academic and career goals, and time management.
• Maintain confidentiality, understand the FERPA requirements and maintain accurate advising records.
• Keep scheduled appointments and contact the student to make other arrangements when appointments cannot be kept.
• Be knowledgeable about internships, available departmental scholarships for students, and career opportunities.

Common Course Numbering Notice

As part of a broad Transfer Initiative to facilitate student migration within the Montana University System, officials in the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education have been overseeing development of a common course numbering (CCN) system - MUS Policy 301.5.5. Teams of faculty from across the state system have been evaluating courses to identify equivalencies and converting them (assigning new subject prefixes/codes, course numbers and course titles, etc) to the CCN scheme. Course offerings from a number of Montana Western subject areas have been evaluated, approved and converted to the CCN system including: Business (Accounting, Writing), Chemistry, Computer Science (Computer Applications), History (American, World), Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Geology, Political Science, English (Writing, Literature) and Math (Math, Statistics).

Common Course Translation guides are available via the UMW on-line student system – Dawgs. Click the “New Common Course Translation Guide” link at the DAWGS login page, select a subject by clicking the arrow in the drop-down box in either the “New Courses” or “Old Courses” section, then click “Search.”

http://dawgs.umwestern.edu/login/

In some subject areas only a few of the courses have been converted to CCN. Over the next 18-24 months all courses offered at all units of the MUS will be converted to CCN. There is a wealth of information available on the MUS web site that describes CCN processes, work that’s been completed and actions that are planned or in process; use the internet link below to access this information.

http://mus.edu/transfer/index2.asp

Students should take great care when registering for classes during this transition period to avoid repeating courses or by overlooking or missing required program courses. Students are encouraged to work closely with their faculty advisors and Advising Office personnel to minimize problems.

Updated 12-21-2009