Academic Advising

The Howard University Framework for Academic Advising

Howard’s advising model includes professional staff advisers in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, professional staff advisers in the undergraduate Schools and Colleges, and faculty advisers.  Advisers work collaboratively to support students’ successful matriculation.  This model is aligned with advising models at 30% of private four-year institutions and is based upon:

1. students’ call for accessible and accurate academic advising, consistent and written advising policies and processes, and increased advising resources. 
2. faculty’s lack of access to adequate print and electronic resources(bulletins, policy manuals, Banner, etc.) and to personnel able to resolve recurring systemic enrollment, registration and academically-related challenges 
3. the university’s commitment to undergraduate retention and timely degree completion. The Howard University advising model is an integrated and collaborative approach grounded in three principles that emerge from our rich tradition of academic excellence, faculty and staff collaboration, and our collective role in sustaining a vibrant intellectual community.    This integrated structure minimizes artificial barriers that separate faculty advisers and staff academic advisers, and places emphasis on transformational rather than transaction advising.  As depicted below, students are at the center of “advising circles” that offer holistic support through their academic journey.