Academic Advising Protocol
1.
Background
During 2014/15 a Task and Finish Group met to consider the student and staff experience of
academic advising, with a view to enhancing the University’s practice in this area. The Group
made a series of recommendations, which were approved by the University Teaching and
Learning Committee at its June 2015 meeting.
During 2015/16, an implementation group will meet to explore requirements and next steps
for the full implementation of the Group’s recommendations from 2015/16. In the meantime,
this protocol sets out the principles and processes that underpin academic advising at the
University of Sussex.
2.
Principles of academic advising
Academic advising at the University of Sussex is underpinned by the following principles:
i.
All students shall have access to effective and supportive academic advice as part
of the standard teaching and learning process, focussed on the holistic
development and progress of the student towards academic and career objectives.
ii.
Academic advising is an integrated part of the student experience rather than a
bolt-on activity or a service that is used only when things go wrong. The role of the
academic adviser is to support student progress at the course level, through timely
discussions about progress, the provision of academic support and guidance or
referral to appropriate specialist professional services as necessary.
iii.
It is the role of the Director of Student Experience to oversee the operation of
academic advising in a School.
iv.
It is expected that all faculty will participate in academic advising as an integrated
aspect of learning and teaching. Academic advising is not be undertaken by
Doctoral Teaching Assistants or Associate tutors. A cap of 25 academic advisees
per member of staff should be introduced.
v.
The University’s IT infrastructure is used where possible to systematise booking
and monitoring the organisation of academic advising appointments.
vi.
School systems for allocating academic advisors ensure that:



students are allocated an advisor with subject knowledge relevant to the degree
title
students remain with the same advisor for the duration of their studies, except
where this is not possible, for example owing to sabbatical
students can request a change of academic advisor
3.
Academic advising processes
The University is working towards:
i.
The implementation of the following schedule of academic advising for all
students.
First year students
Week
Group
0/1
academic
advising
meeting
Week
2/3
1-2-1
meeting to
set goals
Week
6/8
Further
Group
academic
advising
meeting
Follow up
1-2-1s to
reflect on
progress
as
appropriate
February
/ March
Second year students
TB1
1-2-1
Week
meeting to
3/4
reflect on
goals for
year 2
TB2
1-2-1
Week
meeting to
3/4
discuss
progress
Third year students
TB1 Week
1-2-1
4/5
meeting to
reflect on
goals for
year 3
TB2 Week
1-2-1
4/5
meeting to
discuss
progress
ii.
The ongoing development of online briefing information and training for academic
advisors, clarifying the purpose of the role, the expected outcomes and when to
make referrals to other services.
iii.
Further development of the range of data about student progress that is available
to support academic advisors in their role.
September 2015