ACTS

30-60-90
Roadmap to Success

Throughout Your College Experience

Ongoing Benchmarks

Freshman
(0-29 credit hours)

Sophomores
 (30-59 credit hours)

Juniors
(60-89 credit hours)

Seniors
 (90 or more credit hours)

 

Academic Advising- Your Roadmap to Success

The Academic Advising mission at Missouri Southern is an educational process that, by intention and design, facilitates students’ understanding of the meaning and purpose of higher education and fosters their intellectual and personal development toward academic success and distance learning.

Vision

At Missouri Southern State University, academic advising provides students with the opportunity to build a relationship with their advisor for the purpose of gaining assistance in planning their educational career, in learning the skills needed for academic success, and in learning how to access the variety of resources and services available to them on the Missouri Southern campus.

Academic advising is an extension of teaching. Academic advising is a collaborative educational process whereby students and their advisers are partners in meeting the essential learning outcomes, facilitating student academic success, and outlining the steps for achievement of the students’ personal, academic, and career goals. This adviser/student partnership requires participation and involvement of both the adviser and the student as it is built over the student’s entire educational experience at Missouri Southern. Both the student and the adviser have clear responsibilities for ensuring the advising partnership is successful.

 

What to Expect

Advising: Students, Parents and Advisers Working Together

It’s helpful to understand that students, parents and advisers each play a unique and vital role in student success. Because FERPA guidelines limit what advisers can reveal about their advisee, it is best for the student to have open communication with both their parents and the adviser.

College students begin to develop their independence and chart their life direction as they transition from high school to college. It is an exciting time filled with change and opportunity. Good communication between students and parents, provides an opportunity for parents to become allies with advisers to strengthen the college experience for the student. Each party relies on each other to uphold their special role.

 

Student Roles

  • Primary responsibility for learning and academic success.
  • Monitor your own academic progress.
  •  Understand the degree requirements and University policies.
  • Attend all classes.
  •  Manage and balance study, work and social time.
  • Use University resources that will help you succeed.
  • Practice good communication with parents.
  • Work with your adviser to explore educational options or address concerns.

 

Parent roles

  • Be available to support and encourage your student.
  • Offer advice when appropriate.
  •  Encourage independence in a safe environment.
  • Allow students to make their own decisions using information presented to them.
  •  Talk about expectations for successfully blending family values and experiences with transition to college life and autonomy.
  • Encourage your student to ask for help if needed, but let them do it for themselves and in their own way.
  • Understand that the transition to college is a challenge for you and your student: parts of it will be easy, other parts more difficult. Do it together and trust each other.

 

Advisor Roles

  • Monitor student progress and guide toward academic success.
  • Help student understand their responsibilities and support them.
  • Provide assistance and refer to campus resources as needed.
  • Advocate for the student.
  • Help clarify and develop an educational plan to meet personal and career goals.
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