Introduction to Advising for Parents
As college advisors, we provide general academic advising on a wide range of topics (including choosing a major, selecting classes, and developing educational goals). We are a great first contact if students are not sure who to ask, and we are always happy to make referrals as appropriate. We offer daily drop-in advising, and students may email us or call the front desk with quick advising questions.
We rely on you to help us help your students! Although we cannot share information freely with you regarding your student’s academic record (read below), we can certainly talk about general university policies. If you see something on the website or hear something from us that you think your student would benefit from, please pass it on to your student, or suggest a visit to our office (or if you are using reverse psychology, tell them not to!). If your student is new to the campus, you might enjoy looking at new student guides for freshman and transfer students.
You have probably heard that university employees are limited in what they can share with you about your child’s activities. The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects your child’s privacy. We are always available to speak generally with concerned parties about university and college requirements and policies, academic standing, and campus resources. We hope that you will share your questions and discoveries with your child, and encourage him or her to talk to us if they want to learn more.
Though some students enter PVAMU with a strong idea of what they would like to major in, many students are confused when confronted with so many possibilities. We encourage these students to talk to family and friends, advisors, and faculty about their prospects. Students may find direction by enrolling in electives and general education classes that appeal to their interests, meeting with one of us, or visiting the Center for Careers and Professional Development (CCAPD).
Center for Careers and Professional Development (CCAPD) formerly Career Services, offers a variety of programs designed to provide professional and career readiness, placement, and development services. The department maintains the unique role of providing programs and services that assist students and graduates through a combination of recruitment, cooperative education, co-op and intern employment, academic enrichment, and outreach services. In collaboration with each academic college, the department works to inform students about available career opportunities in corporate agriculture, business, education, government, and non-profit agencies.
One of the most important things you can do to help your student is to encourage them to visit with an academic advisor each semester, as well as anytime they are experiencing academic difficulty. Advisors are aware of the latest developments in the degree programs they advise, and they can help your student graduate in a timely manner. The advising relationship can be an important part of students’ first-year experience. As a parent or family member, you can help to encourage your student’s participation in advising by:
- Asking your student if they have met with their academic advisor. At the Academic Advising Center, we expect to see students for their New Student Meeting during the first few weeks of the semester, a Planning Appointment in September or early October, and a Pre-Registration Appointment in November. We are happy to see students at other times when concerns arise.
- Asking your student if they are checking their University e-mail. Although students may not typically use e-mail to communicate with their peers, they will communicate that way with faculty and staff at the University. It is important for students to stay up-to-date with their University email, so they do not miss important communication from University offices.
- Helping your student be resourceful in navigating challenges that arise. Ask them who they might be able to turn to for help at the University – their advisor, their CA, or a faculty member. We have many systems in place to ensure that students have a network of support. We encourage students to turn to their support system to help them through challenging times. We appreciate parents’ help in allowing students to navigate the University and their challenges that may arise.
Parents can also help students research academic policies when questions arise. The PVAMU Online Course Catalog is the best resource for finding official policy questions. A few key resources include the following:
- Degree Requirements: Which majors and minors are available, and which classes students will take to graduate in those programs.
- Course Descriptions: What information is covered in each course, as well as which prerequisites are required for that course.
- Academic Policies: All official policies, including topics such as student conduct, academic honesty, leave of absence, and honors at graduation.
- EAB Navigate: EAB is a student success collaborative tool. Please encourage your student to download the Navigate app for appointment scheduling and other campus resources.
By being more than just a graduation planner, an academic advisor can counsel your student if he or she begins to experience academic difficulty in a given semester. If your student starts to feel overwhelmed because of challenging courses, a job schedule change, or even relationship issues, it is essential that he or she visit with an advisor as soon as possible to explore options to make the load manageable. Advisors can recommend pass/failing a course, dropping a course, or may recommend speaking with the instructor or an on-campus resource that may be able to help.
We know that family and friends can have a significant influence on students’ lives. To that end, here is a short, basic timeline of what students might be thinking about (and needing to talk about with you) during their years at PVAMU.
First (Freshman) Year
Researching or confirming a major; meeting with college advisors and major advisors (if they’re narrowing down or deciding on a major); determining degree requirements; taking Core Courses; looking into academic support services; forming study groups with peers; thinking about education abroad; looking into extra-curricular activities (sports, clubs, jobs, internships).
Second (Sophomore) Year
Declaring a major and creating a long-term course plan; applying to study abroad; meeting with a department advisor; getting to know faculty in prospective or declared major(s); thinking about possible career paths and/or graduate school plans; looking into extra-curricular activities (sports, clubs, jobs, internships).
Third (Junior) Year
Finalizing major plans; meeting with a college advisor to check on progress with graduation requirements; going to the Center for Careers and Professional Development” (CCAPD) to explore graduate schools and/or career plans; talking to faculty about post-graduate plans and (if applicable) letters of recommendation.
Fourth (Senior) Year
Pursuing internships and/or independent study with faculty; preparing graduate school applications and finalizing faculty recommendation letters (if applicable); seeing major and college advisors to check that all graduation requirements will be met; applying for graduation in graduating quarter and signing up for the commencement ceremony if participating.