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Your Academic Advisor

One of the most important relationships you have with a faculty member is the relationship you have with your academic advisor. You should make every effort to establish and maintain a good relationship with your academic advisor.

Who Is Your Academic Advisor?

Every major in Arts and Sciences is assigned as an advisee to a faculty member in her/his major department or to a pre-professional academic advisor.

Your academic advisor's name appears on your degree audit (MySam) as well as your portal myisu.indstate.edu.  If you believe there is an error or have questions, please contact our office at 812-237-2411 for assistance.

Contacting your academic advisor

You can reach any member of the University faculty through the online directory.

You should make appointments with your academic advisor at least once each term; new students are encouraged to meet with their advisors more often.  Only your academic advisor can give you your advising PIN.

Concerns?

If you have an academic advising question and are unable to reach your advisor, please contact the department of your advisor (ie. History, Communication, Psychology, etc). 

If you have concerns about advising, your are encouraged to talk with your advisor then the department chair over your advisor first.  If there are no resolutions, please come to Student Academic Affairs in the CAS Dean's Office (SH 209) or call 812-237-2411 and speak with Kelly Wright. 

Remember, your goal is to have a good professional relationship with your academic advisor.  You should take the time to prepare for any advising meeting to insure it will be successful for you and your advisor.

Preparing for an advising appointment

  • Make an appointment.  Some things can be handled by phone or email, but a "real" advising interaction is helped by face-to-face contact.
  • Bring materials.  If you plan to talk with your advisor about your academic performance, be certain you know your grade report; if you are there to discuss good decision-making around course selection, bring a current degree audit with you (and review it before you arrive); if you want to talk about career opportunities, research ideas, internship or other service experiences, bring the relevant information.  Some advisors will ask you to keep an advising record and bring it with you to all meetings.
  • Follow-through.  If your advisor refers you to the Career Center, or the Registrar, or another office on campus, be certain you follow-through and let your advisor know what happened.