What does it mean to be a College Advisor?
If you've talked with colleagues on campus who participate in advising for undergraduates, and have wondered what it entails and whether it's something you would like to do, we've provided this page to answer the basic questions about the role.
The Network
Duke has a network model of advising, which means there are many people on campus who support students as they navigate their academic experience here. The network includes academic deans, specialized advisors (DAEs, Prehealth, Pre-professional), peer success leaders, and major advisors, but the college advisor has a unique position in the network as the only required point of contact for students. College advisors are assigned a small roster of incoming students each year, who they help orient and welcome to Duke. Every registration period, students must meet with their college advisor to discuss their course choices for the following semester. This conversation is centered around registration but can include a broad discussion of how the student is doing, and where their experiences and coursework are leading them.
How Much Time is Involved?
Depending on the time one chooses to spend beyond required meetings, advisors can reasonably expect to spend 4-8 hours in the summer, and 30-40 hours during the academic year on advising. This time is concentrated during the weeks of registration meetings, which happen in June/ July, October/ November, and March/ April. Advisors work with their advisees until they declare a major, usually their fourth semester, but many students maintain contact with their advisors throughout their time as students.
Why Advise?
Advisors can make an important difference in their students' lives. It is a great way to connect with students and help them get the most out of their time at Duke. Many advisors find their advising experience to be one of the highlights of their work.
Some of the advising responsibilities:
- To help students think broadly about their education and their academic and personal goals
- To encourage students to engage fully in their classes, to establish relationships with faculty, and to take advantage of campus resources
- To help students understand the basic curriculum requirements and the reasons for them
- To help students think about potential majors and assist them in the major declaration process
- To refer students to the appropriate support resources as needed
The AAC provides training and ongoing support for all advisors.
The Process
We generally recruit new advisors each year beginning in February. There's a half day training session required of all new advisors, along with online training modules to supplement your learning, and tons of resources and support from the AAC offered throughout the academic year. If you're interested in becoming an advisor, complete the form below, and we'll be in touch with you in February, with more information.