Academic Advising

Academic Advising at Ohio Wesleyan University

Each first-year student is assigned an academic advisor before arriving on campus. Most advising assignments are made based on a student's intended major or initial academic interests, though other criteria are considered as well. Many students will switch to another advisor as they select or change their course of study. 

Advisors help students select courses for semester schedules, explain OWU's academic policies and procedures, and recommend campus resources, programs, and support services.

Academic advisors also assist students as they create or refine an academic plan, articulate short- and long-term academic goals, decide on a major course of study, identify research or internship opportunities, explore graduate school or career options, and, more generally, navigate their college experience as it relates to academic and personal success and understanding the value of OWU's liberal arts education.

In addition, academic advisors play a pivotal role in guiding and supporting students as they take increasing responsibility for learning about academic requirements, making informed decisions about curricular and co-curricular opportunities, and taking ownership of their academic planning and goal-setting.

For these and other reasons, a student's relationship with their academic advisor is one of the most important relationships that student will develop while at Ohio Wesleyan University.

The Office of Academic Advising

Students' first option is meeting with their advisor to review major requirements, plan semester schedules, and discuss other important advising-related matters. If students are not able to meet with their advisor and have an immediate advising needs, the academic advising staff can provide support in a number of ways, including:

• Answering questions about university, distribution, competency, major, and minor requirements
• Providing information about important dates and deadlines—e.g., When the registration portal opens or the last day to withdraw from full-semester courses
• Supporting students who want to change to a new advisor
• Explaining academic policies and processes—e.g., the specifics of OWU's academic standing policies or the process for getting approval to take courses at another institution
• Writing and submitting petitions and appeal statements