Sources of Academic Help and Advice
Association Deans
To facilitate academic advising, every student is placed in an “Association.” For most students, your Dean is determined by your first-year housing assignment but Echols Scholars, Student Athletes, Casteen Scholars and Transfer Students have a dean based on affiliation rather than housing. Your Association Dean’s primary responsibility is to advise you on academic matters and refer you to the various agencies and offices the University has established to assist you. Do not hesitate to call on your Dean. Each of the Association Deans schedules office hours in Garrett Hall, and the College staff will be happy to arrange an appointment for you. Let your parents know the name and phone number of your Association Dean. The staff know how to contact a Dean quickly in the event of an emergency. A “Dean of the Day” is also on duty every Monday and Wednesday through Friday afternoon from 12:30–2:00 p.m., and on Tuesdays from 2:00–3:30 p.m. in Garrett Hall (no appointment is necessary). Associate Dean Gordon M. Stewart is responsible for the administration of rules and procedures.
Faculty Advisors
Every entering student is assigned a faculty advisor. Students typically meet their advisor during Fall Orientation. Although it is hoped that students will remain with the same advisor until they declare a major, this is not always possible. The College will assign a student a new advisor if the first-year advisor is not able to continue through the second year.
Students often ask why they were not assigned an advisor in their area of academic interest. Experience has shown that students benefit greatly from an advisor whose academic interests vary from their own. Additionally, first- and second-year students often have multiple areas of interest, and most first- and second-year students change their academic focus before settling on a major at the end of their second year. The breadth of academic interests students exhibit and the rich diversity of academic disciplines at U.Va. make it impossible to assemble a group of advisors who share specific academic interests with each student.
At the end of the second year, all College students will need to declare a major and will then be assigned an advisor in the major department they choose.
All Faculty Advisors are trained to be general academic advisors, and are prepared to help you or refer you to the appropriate person, whatever your interests. Although your advisor will provide you with valuable help, at U.Va. you are expected to make your own decisions and to accept responsibility for those decisions.
Your Advisor CAN:
- Give you sound academic advice.
- Refer you to other academic support services.
- Serve as a sounding board.
- Help you choose suitable courses.
- Help you select a major and clarify your long-range plans.
Your Advisor CANNOT:
- Serve all your advising needs.
- Tell you what to do.
- Tell you what courses and professors to take.
- Be your only source of advice as you choose a major.
Directors of Undergraduate Programs
Each major program in the College is overseen by an Undergraduate Program Director. Students with questions about major requirements, opportunites for majors, declaring a major, etc. should contact this person.
Special Advising Deans
Students with questions about specific programs or areas should contact the Dean charged with overseeing that area.
College Administrative Staff
The staff in the College of Arts and Sciences perform a wide range of adminstrative duties (see the list for specific assignments). Contact the appropriate staff person if you wish to schedule an appointment with one of the Association Deans.
Academic Support Services
Department, Program, and U.Va. School Web Sites
Foreign Language Coordinators
Most departments have a Foreign Language Coordinator who coordinates the lower level language classes (typically through the 202 level). Students with questions about testing, placement, etc., should contact the Foreign Language Coordinator.
Department Chairs
Each academic department in the College is under the directorship of a department chair. All questions about departmental policies should be directed to the Chair.