Why Do I Need an Adviser?
The University is much easier to negotiate if you have good counsel. Academic Advisers know a great deal about classes, professors, and specific SMU policies and structure. The advising center is a great place to start and develop your academic portfolio.
Academic advising is an important process for each undergraduate student at SMU. All students must meet with their assigned academic adviser prior to enrolling for an academic term. At this time, the adviser will assist students in planning majors and minors, understanding their Degree Progress Reports and scheduling courses that will count towards their graduation requirements. After the initial required advising session, students are encouraged to seek assistance from their adviser when considering adding or dropping courses.
For an effective advising relationship, students must be prepared when meeting with their adviser. The student must initiate the advising appointment. Prior to the meeting, the student should obtain through Access.SMU a Degree Progress Report which provides detailed information concerning completion of degree requirements and be familiar with different academic programs of interest. The adviser will give assistance to the student, but students have the final responsibility for the accuracy of their enrollment, the applicability of their courses towards their degree requirements, and their academic performance.
Students are assigned an academic adviser by their academic dean. Students who enroll without first meeting with their assigned academic adviser may be subject to sanctions including, but not limited to, the following: cancellation of the term enrollment and restriction from the self-service enrollment functions
