Your relationship with your advisor is one of the most important relationships you will have while a student at Randolph-Macon College. Your advisor will help you select classes, excel in your major/minor combination, and prepare you for your future beyond your Undergraduate experience.
The Advising Partnership
Office of Advising Resources
The Office of Advising Resources (O.A.R.) is located in the McGraw-Page Library on the 1st floor within the Higgins Academic Center. The OAR coordinates academic advising for the college. Additionally, it is responsible for making advisor assignments, providing resources related to the advising process, and serving as a resource for faculty, staff, and students. We also assist with providing referral information for students to promote academic success.
Registration & Academic Advising for New Students
During registration days for new students, you will be assisted by an academic advisor in selecting courses for the fall term. Prior to the start of the fall term, you will receive information through e-mail regarding the name of the academic advisor that you have been assigned. The name of your advisor will also appear on MyMaconWeb.
Faculty members at RMC serve as academic advisors to students. Randolph-Macon College has long prided itself on providing each student with a faculty advisor whose role is to provide one-on-one academic advising to each student.
Registration
Each semester, you will register for courses based on your class standing. Your class standing is determined by the number of earned hours, not the number of attempted hours. Earned hours are the number of hours you have already completed. Hours you are currently enrolled in do not count toward earned hours.
Class selection will be scheduled based on the following credit criteria:
- Seniors (75+ hours earned)
- Juniors (48-74 hours earned)
- Sophomore (21-47 hours earned)
- Freshmen (0-20 hours earned)
Advisor assignments and registration clearance
Incoming first-year and transfer students are assigned by the Office of Advising Resources to faculty advisors from a list of those faculty who volunteer during the semester prior to the student’s arrival. Once students declare a major, they may choose their own advisor. Regardless, prior to each registration period, each student MUST make an appointment with their academic advisor to receive ADVISOR CLEARANCE to select and enroll in courses. Students WILL NOT be able to register for classes until this clearance is granted by their advisor.
Changing your advisor
Occasionally, circumstances will arise that call for consideration of a change in advisor. You can find the change of advisor form by visiting “Student Requests” on MyMaconWeb. On the “Change of Advisor Request” form, you will be able to select your new advisor from the drop-down list and then submit your request. A notification will go to the selected advisor requesting their approval. Once approved, the Registrar’s office will process the advisor change and a notification will be sent to your former advisor.
Advisor & Student Responsibilites
The advisor/student partnership is an equal relationship. It is important to know that your advisor has duties to you in helping you excel in your academic goals, but you also have duties to your advisor in helping them help you.
The advisor will…
- Help students understand the curriculum
- Help students understand the Liberal Arts
- Help students coordinate their academic goals with co-curricular and extra-curricular goals and activities
- Support students in building relationships with other offices of support
- Assist students with the declaration of their major (to include exploration and advising)
- Provide guidance in course selection (both pre-major and post-major)
- Help students create an evolving four-year graduation plan
- Support students with preparing the graduation application
- Attend and support faculty development and training
The student will…
- Read and abide by all academic policies of Randolph-Macon College
- Demonstrate ownership in the advising process by obtaining knowledge about requirements and policies
- Learn academic program requirements
- Maintain an updated curriculum sheet on file
- Exhibit responsible behavior by being an active listener, providing contact data to the advisor, keeping scheduled appointments, and being receptive to professional guidance.
- Take responsibility for actions and decisions that affect academic progress
- Utilizes available resources, including those that are web-based, to monitor academic progress
- Consult with an advisor about deficient grades
- Meet with an advisor at least twice a semester.