About CLAS Advising
Student advising in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is coordinated by the CLAS Academic Services Center.
The Center oversees 27 staff and more than 400 faculty who advise students in all of the College's academic departments and majors. The Center's goal is to make sure that CLAS students on the Storrs and regional campuses have the support they need to make informed decisions about their academic careers.
About the CLAS Academic Services Center
The Center provides advising and other academic services to students, staff, and faculty in CLAS. The Center's staff represent the CLAS Dean for a variety of undergraduate academic services. Our advisors frequently meet with:
- Students who require a dean's signature for an academic form.
- Students who have questions about general education and other degree requirements.
- Students who have issues or concerns related to transfer and campus changes.
- Students from other UConn schools and colleges who are considering a CLAS major.
We encourage students to schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss complex issues.
Storrs Campus Advising
When students at the Storrs campus formally declare their major, they will be assigned a faculty or professional advisor in their major department to assist them through the completion of their degree program. View a list of academic advisors by major.
Regional Campus Advising
All regional campus students are assigned an advisor by the director of Student Services. Students should feel free to contact their assigned advisor, the appropriate advising office below, or the Academic Services Center on the Storrs campus with any questions or concerns.
| Campus | Office Location and Contact |
|---|---|
| Avery Point | Branford House, Room 307 (860) 405-9024 |
| Hartford | Office of Student Services, First Floor (959) 200-3743 |
| Stamford | 1 University Place, Room 2.01 (860) 251-8484 |
| Waterbury | Student Services Suite, Room 228 (203) 236-9871 |
Advising and Expectations
Academic advisors are staff or faculty members selected by a department to guide students through their major requirements. In most cases, students are assigned an academic advisor when they declare a major.
A successful and productive advising/mentoring relationship involves collaboration between the advisor/mentor and the student. The advising/mentoring relationship should allow the student to meet academic degree requirements and gain relevant experiences outside of the classroom.
Finding Your Advisor
Students wishing to access their advisor information should log into the Student Administration System, select Student Center on the left, and their advisor will be listed on the right-hand side of the page under Undergraduate Advisor.
If a student does not have an advisor listed in the Student Administration System, the student should contact the CLAS Academic Services Center.
Please note that most faculty members are not available during summer and winter breaks. If a student has a faculty advisor and needs advising during one of those times, they should contact the CLAS Academic Services Center.
Advisee Responsibilities
As a student advisee, you should:
- Take initiatives that allow you to identify your strengths, talents, and interests.
- Plan a program of study and co-curricular activities in support of these strengths, talents, and interests.
- Know and follow University requirements, School/College requirements, and major requirements.
- Learn about the curricular, co-curricular, and career resources that the University offers.
- Review your Student Admin record regularly, especially your Advisement Report, which provides details on requirements met and not yet met and your course enrollment.
- Meet with your advisor regularly and go to your advising appointment prepared.
Advisor Responsibilities
Staff and faculty academic advisors are expected to:
- Support students in a process of self-assessment to identify their individual strengths, talents, and interests.
- Assist students in developing meaningful educational plans, including relevant experiential learning and co-curricular activities.
- Know and understand University requirements, School/College requirements, and major requirements in your field. This may require consultation with the School/College Advising Center and/or the Registrar.
- Be familiar with the University’s curricular, co-curricular, and career resources.
- Be accessible on a regular basis through office hours, email, or phone.
- Maintain confidentiality. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) restricts the sharing of students’ information to “school officials with legitimate educational interest.” Anyone else wishing to have access to a student’s records, such as parents or guardians, must have the student submit a release form before any information about the student’s academic record can be shared.