Advisor Role and Responsibilities

Vision, Mission, and Strategy for Advising at Loyola

Vision

At Loyola University Maryland, we empower students to take ownership of their academic journey and to become successful independent and life-long learners.

Mission

The advising mission at Loyola University Maryland is to promote student success consistent with the University mission and to inclusively help all students to discern and achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals through advising and mentoring.

Strategy

Advisors provide students with accurate information, encourage discernment about curricular options, and assist students in understanding the purpose and value of academic policies.  Advisors utilize an "advising as teaching" mindset with developmentally and situationally appropriate advising techniques. Through advising, students are able to shape and consider the core, major, and co-curricular choices that can best meet their short-term and long-term goals.

Responsibilities

The faculty advisor has three areas of responsibility when working with advisees: academic advising, career exploration, and mentoring.

Academic Advising 

Understand the Loyola Curriculum

The current curriculum at Loyola University Maryland requires the satisfactory completion of at least 40 courses (three- or four-credit) and at least 120 credits for an undergraduate degree. Beginning with the Class of 2025, the curriculum will require the satisfactory completion of at least 38 courses (three- or four-credit) and at least 120 credits for an undergraduate degree. The overall curriculum is divided into three principle parts: the core, the major, and free electives. 

Know Your Advisees Academically

Each student has different academic and personal needs. Encourage all advisees to develop a four-year plan and assist in planning their program of study for the next term. Meet with your advisee at least twice each semester to evaluate their academic progress. Recognize student effort and achievement and point out areas needing improvement.

Use Advising Tools Effectively

Student Planning is the electronic database tool that is utilized by faculty, students, administrators, and staff at Loyola to view real time information. Perceptive Content (WebNow/Image Now) allows you to view documents for your assigned advisees quickly from your web browser. More information on these tools, as well as academic worksheets, degree audit information, and other helpful resources may be found on the Advising Technology page. 

Prepare Advisees for Registration

Encourage advisees to contact you to make an appointment before registration. You may need to arrange for additional office hours prior to and during each registration day. Discuss course selection and several alternative selections with each student. Students are not permitted to register unless they have obtained their faculty advisor’s written or electronic permission.

Approve Choices Knowledgeably

Your official approval for registration means that you think that the choices the advisee is making are appropriate for the advisee’s course of study. Advisors have the right to refuse approval for an advisee’s choice if they do not think a student’s request is appropriate. 

Career Planning

To advise students in career planning and exploration, encourage each advisee to discuss career and vocational plans, including practical experience and/or graduate study possibilities, with you.  Assist advisees with understanding the connections between a major and/or minor, internships/research experiences and future careers. Encourage your students to visit the Career Center early and often to become familiar with its services.  Recommend that your advisees speak with other faculty members or mentors in their areas of interest for a broader perspective of life after Loyola. 

Mentoring

To fulfill your role through personal mentoring, we encourage you to become acquainted with your advisees outside the formality of the office or classroom. Serve as an active listener for your advisees. Impart your knowledge gained from experience and recommend possible pathways, while making a conscious effort to empower your advisees to find their academic voice and take ownership of their decisions. We also encourage you to become acquainted with on-campus resources and to refer students to these offices if necessary.