New Student Guide: Advising
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Associations
To facilitate academic advising, every student is placed in an “Association”. (Some Associations are determined by your first-year housing assignment; others by your affiliation as a (1) Casteen Scholar, (2) Echols Scholar, (3) Student Athlete, or (4) Transfer Student. Your Association Dean’s primary responsibility is to advise you on academic matters and refer you to the various agencies and offices the University has established to assist you. Do not hesitate to call on your Dean. Each of the Association Deans schedules office hours in Garrett Hall, and the receptionists or the Dean’s secretary will be happy to arrange an appointment for you. Let your parents know the name and phone number of your Association Dean. The secretaries know how to contact a Dean quickly in the event of an emergency. A “Dean of the Day” is also on duty in Garrett Hall Monday through Friday afternoon from 12:30-2:00 P.M.; on Tuesdays the Dean of the Day is available from 2:00-3:30 P.M. only. No appointment is necessary. Associate Dean Gordon M. Stewart is responsible for the administration of rules and procedures.
You will learn which Association you are in as soon as you receive your housing assignment in June or July; if you are a Casteen Scholar, Echols Scholar, Student Athlete or Transfer Student, you can find the name of your Dean below.. Each Association is comprised of two or more residence halls. In 2007-2008 we expect to have the following Associations and Deans:
| Association | Dean | Phone |
| Balz-Dobie & Non-Echols Scholars in Watson | Dean Shawn Lyons | 924-3353 |
| Bonnycastle-Hancock | Dean Gordon M. Stewart | 924-8873 |
| Brown College | Dean Christine Zunz | 924-8873 |
| Cauthen-Woody | Dean Beverly Adams | 924-3353 |
| Courtenay-Dunglison | Dean Sandra Seidel | 924-3353 |
| Dunnington | Dean Sandra Seidel | 924-3353 |
| Echols-Humphreys | Dean Mark Hadley | 924-8873 |
| Echols Scholars (Webb House, Maupin House, part of Watson House) | Dean William Wilson | 924-3350 |
| Fitzhugh | Dean Carol Gutman | 924-3350 |
| Hereford College | Dean Mark Hadley | 924-8873 |
| International Residential College | Dean Karlin Luedtke | 924-3350 |
| Kent-Dabney | Dean Richard McGuire | 924-3353 |
| Lefevre-Metcalf | Dean Christine Zunz | 924-8873 |
| Lile-Tuttle | Dean Beverly Adams | 924-3353 |
| Page-Emmet | Dean Mary Stegmaier | 924-3350 |
| Student Athletes | Dean Rachel Most | 924-8873 |
| Transfer Students | Dean Frank Papovich | 924-3353 |
| Weedon, Malone and Kellogg | Dean Richard McGuire | 924-3353 |
Summer Advising
When you attend Summer Orientation you will have the chance to create a tentative fall course schedule during a Course Scheduling Workshop; you will also review your fall selection of classes with a faculty member. Be sure to make your preliminary course selections before you attend Summer Orientation. Plan to bring your tentative fall schedule, your AP test scores, SAT II test scores, and IB test scores to your Summer Orientation advising appointment. Your advisor will be interested in what courses you select for the fall semester, and the reasons you chose them. Don't forget to register for Summer Orientation!
Fall Advising
During the first few days of the fall semester, you will meet the Faculty Advisor to whom you have been assigned. You will meet with your advisor again in mid-November, and may discuss spring course possibilities at that time. Your faculty advisor is only one of many sources of help available to you (see below).
You are responsible for meeting the College area requirements. When you have questions about a major, your advisor will refer you to advisors in particular departments. When you declare a major at the end of your second year, you will be assigned an advisor in the major department you choose. Although your advisor will provide you with valuable help, at U.Va. you are expected to make your own decisions and to accept responsibility for those decisions.
Your Advisor CAN:
- Give you sound academic advice.
- Refer you to other academic support services.
- Serve as a sounding board.
- Help you choose suitable courses.
- Help you select a major and clarify your long-range plans.
Your Advisor CANNOT:
- Serve all your advising needs.
- Tell you what to do.
- Tell you what courses and professors to take.
- Be your only source of advice as you choose a major.
Other Sources of Advising
College Advising Seminars (COLA 101)
As part of a new program the College will offer 10 advising seminars on a range of topics. Students who enroll in these classes will be assigned to the instructor as their advisor.
Senior Residents and Resident Advisors
Members of the Resident Staff in your residence hall [Senior Residents (SRs) and Resident Advisors (RAs)], can also be of help to you throughout your first year. These people live in your building and are ready to answer many of your questions.
Foreign Language Coordinators
Most departments have a Foreign Language Coordinator who coordinates the lower level language classes (typically through the 202 level). Students with questions about testing, placement, etc., should contact the Foreign Language Coordinator.
Special Advising Deans
Students with questions about specific programs or areas should contact the Dean charged with overseeing that area.
Undergraduate Program Directors
Each major program in the College is overseen by an Undergraduate Program Director. Students with questions about major requirements, opprotunites, for majors, declaring a major, etc. should contact this person.
Faculty
Your professors are another excellent resource. Talk to your instructors; get to know them and be sure they know you