Advising Notes
Guidelines
The recording of accurate advising notes after meeting with a student is considered "best practice" in academic advising. A history of the information discussed will assist advisors who work with the student in the future. In addition, if a dispute should occur in the future about a previous advising encounter, the advising notes will serve as documentation of the advice given to the student. Advising notes can assist the advisor in keeping track of the advising learning outcomes the student has mastered.
The advising notes should always describe the meeting with the student, but should not be written as an evaluation of the encounter.
Examples of Advising Notes
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Appropriate Notes |
Inappropriate Notes |
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Notes that will help the student: “Reminded the student to take math placement exam before registering for spring semester.” |
Subjective judgments about the student: “Student is clueless about how to select a major.” |
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Notes that will help future advisors: “Student plans to complete prerequisites for admission to the nursing program.” |
Referrals of a sensitive nature: Referred student to the Disability Resource Center. I suspect the student has a learning disability.” |
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Notes that include possible academic consequences: “Reminded student that her GPA must improve this semester to avoid a negative academic action.” |
Comments regarding a student’s instructor: “Student is dropping HIST 101 because of a problem with the professor.” |
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Referrals of a non-sensitive nature: “Encouraged student to make an appointment with a career counselor.” |
Personal concerns of the student: “Student’s parents are going through a divorce.” |
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Notes that include a list of recommended courses, along with the alternatives: “We agreed to the following 6 hours in Summer 08: HIST 101 and COM 111. Alternative to COM 111 is COM 115.” |
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Notes that will facilitate the relationship with the student: “Commended student for excellent grades last semester.” |
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