Academic Advising

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At Randolph-Macon, academic advising is about much more than registering for classes.

From your first days on campus, you’ll have people helping you understand how college works, discover your strengths and interests, make thoughtful academic choices, and connect what you are learning today with the person you want to become.

That academic advising evolves as you do. First, you’ll begin your RMC experience with an Academic Success Advisor focused on helping you make a strong transition to college. Then, after you declare a major, you’ll develop another important mentor—a faculty advisor in your field who can help you navigate your discipline, pursue meaningful academic experiences, and develop a path to a career.

Advising that Grows With You A connected team in your corner

You’ll have several advisors during your time at Randolph-Macon— and that’s on purpose.

Academic Success Advisor

Every first–year student is paired with an Academic Success Advisor through the Center for Student Success. This is your expert in the transition to college–a professional to help you learn to navigate academics and life. Your Academic Success Advisor will be your instructor for EDGE 181 and 182, your first-year transition courses, and a sounding board to help explore who you are and who you want to be. Ultimately, they’ll help you build a four-year academic plan.

Meet the Academic success Advising Team

Faculty Advisor

As soon as you are ready to declare a major (and no later than the end of sophomore year), you’ll add another mentor to your team: your faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor doesn’t simply know which classes you need to graduate; they are an expert in your field. They understand the questions scholars are asking, the internships and research opportunities available in the discipline, and the paths RMC students have taken before you.

why Faculty mentorship matters

Pre-Professional Advisor

If you are interested in attending professional school like med school or law school, we encourage you to connect with a pre-professional advisor. This graduate school-focused mentor does not take the place of your major advisor; instead they provide additional support in advising, maximizing resources, and professional school admission requirements/application process.

Your advising journey starts at the Center for Student Success

Located in McGraw-Page Library, the Center for Student Success is home to not just your Academic Success Advisor, but a network of people and resources that support your journey —including tutoring and academic coaching, accessibility resources, new student transitions, career development, and international education.

Whether you need help choosing a major, thinking through your academic plan, finding a tutor, exploring an internship, or simply figuring out who can answer your question, it’s a place to start.

Visit the Center for Student Success

An Academic Success Advisor for every first Year

The inside scoop on EDGE 181 and 182

Academic Success Advisor teaches EDGE 182 first-year transition seminar

Need advising help now?

meet the team

The Advising team is part of the Center for Student Success , supporting students and faculty advisors. (Faculty can find advising resources on Buzznet.)
Jill Grant Headshot

Jill Grant

Associate Dean for Academic Wellbeing

Phone: (804) 752-8871
Email: JillGrant@rmc.edu

LaNea Winston headshot

LaNea J. Winston

Assistant Dean for Academic Advising

Phone: (804) 412-1368
Email: LaNeaWinston@rmc.edu
Schedule LaNea J. Winston

Frequently Asked Questions about Advising at RMC

Who is my advisor during my first-year at Randolph-Macon?

Every first-year student is assigned an Academic Success Advisor through Randolph-Macon’s Center for Student Success. Your advisor is an expert in helping students make the transition to college and will be a consistent resource as you learn how to navigate academics at RMC.

Your Academic Success Advisor can help you choose courses, understand degree requirements, explore possible majors, build an academic plan, strengthen your study and time-management strategies, and connect with other resources across campus. Just as important, they’ll get to know your interests, strengths, and goals so they can help you make thoughtful choices about what comes next.

First-year students also have the opportunity to work closely with their Academic Success Advisor through EDGE 181 and EDGE 182, a two-semester course sequence focused on college transition, academic success, exploration, and career preparation.

During this first-year period, you will also have a student mentor called an advising captain. And if you have already declared a major, you may have a faculty advisor too!

When do I get a faculty advisor?

Once you declare a major, you’ll work with a faculty advisor in your academic discipline. Your faculty advisor brings expertise in the subject you’ve chosen to study and can help you identify the courses, experiences, and opportunities that will help you go deeper in your field.

Faculty advising at Randolph-Macon is about more than staying on track toward graduation. Your advisor may help you identify research opportunities, internships, study abroad experiences, graduate or professional programs, and career possibilities related to your interests. Many RMC students say that relationship is one of the most important in their lives!

What is the difference between an Academic Success Advisor and a faculty advisor? Can I have both?

Your Academic Success Advisor specializes in helping you navigate college successfully: exploring your interests, developing an academic plan, building effective habits, understanding requirements, and connecting you with resources across campus.

Your faculty advisor is a professor within your major who brings deep knowledge of your academic discipline. They can help you make decisions within your major and connect you with opportunities such as research, internships, graduate study, and career paths related to your field.

These relationships don’t necessarily operate as a strict handoff. Depending on where you are in your journey and what support you need, your Academic Success Advisor and faculty advisor may both remain part of your advising network. Randolph-Macon’s goal is to give you a strong circle of support as your interests and ambitions develop.

How do I find my academic advisor?

Your assigned academic advisor is listed in MyMaconWeb. New students also receive information about their advisor by email before the beginning of the fall semester.

If you’re not sure who your advisor is—or aren’t sure which advisor you should contact—the Academic Advising team in the Center for Student Success can help you find the right person.