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Students: What You Should Know

Using the results of the completed New Student Survey, background information, and academic data, the Assistant Dean for Advising assigns an initial advisor who shares some common interests and experiences with the new student. The advisor will be a member of the Furman faculty or administration.

To get to know your interests, experiences, and educational goals
To more intentionally monitor your first semester experience
To be available to meet with you during the Initial Course Election period each semester
To be available to meet with you at other times you and/or (s)he determine
To know the basic graduation requirements
To know about special requirements (e.g. prerequisites)
To be familiar with the introductory curriculum to help you select courses appropriate to your interests and abilities
To facilitate your development of thinking and learning skills, independence, responsibility, and contributions to the larger community
To offer advice and assistance if you should experience academic or personal difficulty
To refer you appropriately to campus offices that offer additional resources and support
To continue her/his development as an academic advisor

To share your interests, experiences, and educational goals
To assume ultimate responsibility for fulfilling all requirements for your baccalaureate degree
To be familiar with academic regulations such as class attendance; deadlines related to course elections, enrollment, withdrawal
To make and keep advising appointments each semester
To prepare for your advising appointments by making preliminary course selections
To demonstrate openness to the advisor’s suggestions before making final decisions
To keep your advisor informed in a timely manner of your academic achievements, difficulties, and other factors that influence your education and life at Furman

Your advisor will contact you at the end of July for introductory purposes and to review your fall schedule for needed adjustments when you arrive on campus
When you arrive on campus you will meet your advisor at the Advising Reception
You will have an individual appointment with your advisor when you can get to know each other better and decide on final class changes
You will continue to meet with your advisor often during your first semester and at least once a semester after that, although we encourage more frequent contact

You may request an advisor change at any time after the first week of classes by completing a request form and returning it to the Assistant Dean’s Office, ADM 206.
When you declare a field of study (generally during your sophomore year or early junior year) you will be assigned a new advisor in that major department

Understand that you do not have to declare a major field of study immediately and that you are not required to do so until you near the 70 credit limit
The general education requirements at Furman offer numerous opportunities for you to take courses in an array of academic disciplines both to stimulate your intellectual curiosity and to help you determine which field(s) of study are of most interest to you
Take advantage of assessment resources offered by the Office of Career Services (interest inventories, personality assessments, etc.) and the Lilly Center for Vocational Reflection
Discuss your deliberations with your academic advisor
Make an appointment with the chairs of departments in which you have an interest to discuss the requirements, graduate school, and/or career opportunities for which that major will prepare you
Once you have determined the field of study, you and the department chair will complete the field of study declaration forms, have them signed by the appropriate faculty, and return the forms to the Office of Academic Records

ACC (Accounting) ART (Art) BIO (Biology) BUS (Business) CHM (Chemistry) ECN (Economics)	MUS (Music) NSC (Neuroscience) Dual Degree Engineering Pre-Health SUS (Sustainability Science)