Mission
UC Merced undergraduate academic advising, in collaboration the campus community, promotes student success by empowering students to become self-directed learners and decision-makers. In an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and supportive, we provide quality academic advising and related services to help students develop sound educational plans and to take full advantage of their university experience.
Advisor Service Goals
- Promote appropriate progress to degree for native and transfer students.
- Provide students with advising resources and materials that are accurate, current, and understandable, using delivery formats that respond to student needs.
- Provide interactive advising in formats that meet student preferences and needs in timely and effective ways.
- Provide advising that is tailored to the distinctive needs of specific student populations, and reflects the unique environment of a research university.
- Facilitate student learning and self-advocacy in relation to reaching academic goals and career plans.
- Support implementation of faculty approved curriculum changes for courses and academic programs
As a result of advising activities in support of the above goals, UC Merced undergraduates will:
- Identify a major that aligns with your interests, values, strengths, career and educational goals
- Seek and apply credible sources of information regarding university and school requirements, policies, regulations and procedures to make informed educational decisions
- Seek and use resources to better understand your academic interests and opportunities
- Seek and use resources to develop the academic skills and resilience needed to succeed at a research university.
- Identify degree requirements and formulate degree plans in the expected graduation time frame.
- Recognize the value of developing a relationship with faculty and/or professionals within areas of interest to continue building a network that support my goals.
- Understand that participating in co-curricular and educational opportunities will help advance my professional and personal development.
- Recognize the value of developing a career pathway and having an action plan for both short-term and long-term goals.
Functions and Services in Support of Goals and Mission
Services for Students
- Support students in applying university and school policies, regulations, programs and procedures in service of their personal educational needs.
- Consult academic performance and implications of students’ performance on undergraduate program and degree completion (e.g. progress to degree).
- Notify students of significant changes to university or school policies.
- Be available to meet with students each semester to discuss class registration and degree progression.
- Help students explore interests, abilities and goals and how these translate into an academic major.
- Offer advice for course selection and satisfaction of degree requirements.
- Facilitate appropriate referrals to faculty members within the students’ area of interest.
- Assist students facing difficulties that affect their education.
- Refer students to appropriate university support services as needed.
- Facilitate the review and implementation of academic course articulation.
- Review eligibility for reinstatement, major change, double majors and school-based scholarships.
- Help students understand how to thrive at a research university like UC Merced.
Services for Faculty
- Clarify university and school policies, regulations, programs and procedures.
- Facilitate the review and implementation of academic course articulation.
- Collaborate on and implement curriculum offerings, revisions and requirements.
Services for the UC Merced Community
- Participate in campus initiatives to recruit, orient, and promote student success.
- Facilitate the development and implementation of institutional processes involving curriculum and advising.
- Develop and maintain advising resources that reflect current program requirements.
- Identify and communicate evidence of student needs in order to facilitate evidence-based institutional decision making in support of student success.
Services and goals informed by the CAS Standards for Academic Advising Programs.
Advising Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of academic advising, students will be able to:
- Identify a major that aligns with your interests, values, strengths, career and educational goals
- Seek and apply credible sources of information regarding university and school requirements, policies, regulations and procedures to make informed educational decisions
- Seek and use resources to better understand your academic interests and opportunities
- Seek and use resources to develop the academic skills and resilience needed to succeed at a research university
- Identify degree requirements and formulate degree plans in the expected graduation time frame
- Recognize the value of developing a relationship with faculty and/or professionals within areas of interest to continue building a network that support my goals
- Understand that participating in co-curricular and educational opportunities will help advance my professional and personal development
- Recognize the value of developing a career pathway and having an action plan for both short-term and long-term goals
