ENCHIRIDION HANDBOOK

Enchiridion Online Version > 2004-2005 >
Part III: Academic Mentoring and Advising

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest of Villanova’s four undergraduate colleges. At the undergraduate level the College offers 30 majors and 18 interdisciplinary concentrations to approximately 3800 fulltime and 150 part time students. Central to the curriculum for all arts and science students is a 21 course integrated liberal arts core with an emphasis on writing, critical thinking, intellectual sophistication, and cultural understanding. The College’s core curriculum is the largest required of almost any college in the country and a hallmark of our mission to the liberal arts and sciences.

Each year the College enrolls about 900 new and first year students. Most science students enter with a declared major; the option of entering with an undeclared science focus in the non biological sciences is also available. All arts students enter undeclared, thus providing options for them to explore academic possibilities. The College requires all students to declare a major by the end of sophomore year. To properly mentor and advise these students is a complex and challenging task. Consequently, the College has defined a two phase system of mentoring and academic advising to meet students’ needs.

The first phase of mentoring and academic advising (for undeclared freshman and sophomore arts and science students) is provided through the Academic Advising Office located on the fourth floor of the Saint Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts. To support an intensive system of academic mentoring, the Center provides technical and qualitative training for faculty and student mentors. Committed faculty implement a comprehensive program that assists students in defining academic, career, and personal goals--with an emphasis on integrity and responsibility.

Developing an appropriate academic plan to insure degree progress is a core enterprise of the Center. Unlike the curriculum of Villanova’s professional schools, the initial three semester curriculum for arts students involves choices in course selection whereby they can explore and individualize coursework so as to clarify their academic and career goals. Furthermore, faculty and staff members of the Advising Center engage students as early as possible in thoughtful discussions about academic and other opportunities such as interdisciplinary concentrations, internships, service learning courses, and study abroad. Clearly, this requires significant knowledge, skill, and sophistication on the part of faculty mentors. Hence, the College commits significant resources to faculty and student mentor training.

Well trained and tooled faculty are also able to provide students with informed access to the vast array of University services such as the College’s Math Learning Resource Center, the Writing Center, language tutors made available by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, as well as the University’s Center for Learning Support, Career Services Center, Counseling Center, and Campus Ministry.

A full time Director and Assistant Director, 40 faculty mentors, a fulltime secretary, a graduate assistant and 10 student mentors staff the Academic Advising Office and implement its goals. By design, everyone connected with the College’s Academic Advising Office except secretaries and the graduate assistant have teaching responsibilities.

For the benefit of students’ academic and personal growth, The Office’s directors and other staff members promote working linkages with the Director of Internships, College advisors for professions in health and medicine, law and business; and with the College Director of Undergraduate Grants and Fellowships. To support the career choice discussions, the Advising Center staff in collaboration with Career Services and other University offices provide workshops and services tailored specifically for Arts and Sciences students. For example, students may need structured assistance in career preference testing, career attainment strategies, time management, interviewing skills and resume development.

The second phase of the College’s program occurs once the student selects an academic major. At that time, the chosen department assigns a faculty advisor who will guide the student in completion of requirements for the major. The discussions and planning begun at the mentoring level continues, and goals and plans are refined as the student approaches graduation. Departmental faculty advisors have access to training provided by the Academic Advising Office; they are also able to provide the expert advice to students in their chosen disciplines.

For many Arts and Science students, their career path does not lead immediately to the market place; rather, many choose to pursue advanced degrees within or outside of their major areas of study. To this end, the members of our various departments provide direction, advice and resources aimed at helping students make appropriate choices involving graduate education. Plus, the Director of Grants and Fellowships provides services and support to prepare students to compete for the most prestigious graduate scholarships and fellowships such as Marshall, Gates, Fulbright and Rhodes.

Beginning in the summer incoming students are introduced the College’s comprehensive mentoring and advising system via telephone contact. The faculty caller welcomes the student and reviews academic choices such as math and social science, language placement, the results of advancement placement test scores and answers other questions that may arise. The principal motive for this contact is to initiate what will become a personal relationship between student and mentor before the student arrives on campus. This relationship is the hallmark of our program.

Get to know your faculty mentor. He or she can help you to adjust to university life or at least point you in the right direction. You should consult with your mentor at least once a semester during pre-registration to ensure proper course selection and advancement in your academic program. The mentor can be of assistance in sorting out major/minor and graduation requirements at pre-registration time, although these are things that you should come to master.

Your mentor and academic advisor may be called upon for assistance in making decisions, but it is ultimately your responsibility to understand the requirements of the chosen degree program and to plan for the orderly fulfillment of graduation requirements.

While the best advisee/advisor relationships are long term, students facing difficulties in an advisement relationship may request a change. The new advisor must come from within the College advising pool. If the change is acceptable to the new proposed advisor (and chairperson in the case of a student with a declared major) the relationship is made official by changing the student’s record on the University student record system.

The dean, associate deans, and assistant dean also are available to assist you. If you have an academic or personal concern which you do not feel comfortable discussing with your advisor, make an appointment to speak with one of these individuals. Requests for leaves of absence and other extraordinary actions must be submitted in writing and approved by a dean.

A. Primary Mentoring and Advising Contacts

Undeclared Arts Students Academic Advising Office
451 St Augustine Center
Dr. Nancy Kelley, Director
Karima I.A. Bouchenafa, M.A., Assistant Director
as.advising@villanova.edu
http://www.artsci.villanova.edu/advising
610-519-4661

Health Professions Advisor
Dr. John Friede
143 Mendel Hall
http://healthprofessions.villanova.edu
610-519-4833

Law School Advisor
Karen M. Graziano, J.D.
463 St. Augustine Center
610-519-7427

Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Advisor
Dr. Charles Cherry
464 St Augustine Center
610-519-6957

Teacher Certification
Dr. Connie Titone
302 St. Augustine Center
610-519-4624

Internships
Dr. John O’Leary, Director
451 St Augustine Center
http://www.villanova.edu/internships
610-519-4232

Study Abroad
International Studies Office
Mr. Lance Kenney, Director
Middleton Hall, Second Floor
internationalstudies@villanova.edu
http://www.internationalstudies.villanova.edu
610-519-6412

National Scholarship Advisement
Office of Undergraduate Grants and Awards
Ms. Jane Morris, Director
138 St Augustine Center
http://www.villanova.edu/uga
610-519-5928

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