/
Holistic Academic Advising

Holistic Academic Advising

Purpose

Academic advisors assist students (graduate and undergraduate) in planning a program of study reflecting their interests, abilities, and educational life goals. While the advisor assists the student in monitoring their academic progress toward graduation, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to meet all academic requirements for their academic program. Furthermore, students are expected to familiarize themselves with the academic policies provided in the catalog and the student handbook. 

Holistic academic advising moves beyond a transactional model that revolves around course planning and extends into a more integrated, sustained, and personalized approach that supports a broad definition of student success. This approach is consistent with EMU values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith.  

Procedure and Roles 

An Academic Advisor 

  • Engages in short and long-range planning with advisees that supports their vocational and other educational goals as well as their family and community responsibilities

  • Helps advisees discern their vocational goals as they identify their interests, strengths, and skills

  • Is familiar with Catalog, as well as the technical (software) infrastructure systems for advising

  • Meets regularly with advisees (at least once per semester in person)

  • (Undergraduate) guides advisees through the EMU general education requirements, including education about the value of “the liberal arts” (general education) 

  • Assists advisees in selecting courses for each semester, keeping in mind full-time status for undergraduate and some graduate, and timely degree completion  

  • Counsels advisees in dropping/adding classes at various points in the semester and is aware of add, drop, withdrawal dates 

  • Approves student registration clearance, add/ drops in a timely manner 

  • Monitors advisees’ academic progress and performance

  • Refers advisees to other campus resources (i.e., Academic Success Center, Career Services, Counseling Center)

The Dean for Faculty and Student Success sets the strategy for undergraduate holistic academic advising at EMU. In collaboration with others, they communicate information about advising, provide regular and ongoing training to faculty for the advising role, and regularly evaluates advising services.

Each academic department/program carries out the delivery of direct advising services to students. The department chair/program director is responsible for training new faculty for disciplinary aspects of the advising role and assisting in assigning students to advisors. The number of students assigned to any faculty person for advising should not exceed 20 without a stipend at the discretion of the dean.

Staff whose primary work is advising may have more than 20 students. 

See the holistic advising manual for expanded procedures and guidelines.

Communication

Employee handbook

MyEMU 

Steward

Dean of Faculty & Student Success 

Stakeholders

Advisors

Registrar

Students 

Approving body

Provost Council

Review Cycle ( last approved)

3 yrs (August 2025)