Image of Academic Advising Center Building. Red-brick, colonial building with trees.

The Academic Advising Center (AAC) is located on East Campus (see on map) and oversees academic advising for Duke students until they declare their major during sophomore year.

Who Are We? 
The Academic Advising Center oversees academic advising for all Trinity College students until they declare a major during their sophomore year. The AAC has assigned you a Quad Advisor who will support you during your first two years at Duke.

What Does Your Quad Advisor Do? 
Your Quad Advisor will advise you broadly on your academic pathways, help you choose courses, provide guidance on curricular issues and opportunities, and serve as a resource to help you make the most of all that Duke has to offer. 

Contact Us

Reach out to your Quad Advisor, or contact our office:

  1. Find your Quad Advisor's contact info on our Who We Are page.
  2. By phone: 919-684-6217 (Monday through Friday, between 9:00-4:00 ET).
  3. By email: advising@duke.edu.

Mission

The Academic Advising Center (AAC) supports Trinity College’s mission to provide a superior liberal arts education. We empower students to explore with purpose, reflect deeply, and engage fully in their academic journey through values-based advising that fosters intellectual growth and lifelong learning. Through advising, we help students approach the curriculum—both its requirements and its guiding principles—with clarity and thoughtful intention.

Advising Philosophy

We approach academic advising as a collaborative and relational process grounded in values-based decision-making and an appreciation for each student’s unique story, goals, and ambitions.

Our approach to advising is student-centered and holistic. We create an environment where students are welcomed into the Duke community, encouraged to think critically about their academic and personal pathways, and are supported as they explore opportunities for growth. Through engaged, empathetic advising conversations, we guide students in connecting their values to academic choices and making thoughtful plans that align with their aspirations.

At its core, advising at Duke is about more than course selection or graduation logistics. Our work centers on reflection and discernment, helping students chart purposeful pathways based on their values and goals rather than prescriptive measures of success.