Oregon State University recognizes that quality academic advising is integral to the academic development and well-being of students. Quality academic advising includes both the prescriptive elements of advising (assisting with course selection, maintaining curriculum checklists, tracking degree progress and completing degree audits, etc.) and the developmental aspects of advising (major and career decision making, integration in campus and academic cultures, assistance with and referrals surrounding issues affecting a student's academic success, etc.).

While each college has developed an advising system sensitive to the needs of its academic disciplines and departments, there is consistency in that each also has a head advisor. Undeclared students receive advising through the University Exploratory Studies Program (UESP).

VISION

As a collective, the academic advising community at Oregon State University aspires towards providing the highest quality support to both the learning efforts and experiences of our undergraduates.

MISSION

Oregon State University academic advising promotes persistence, engagement, completion, and advancement through an inclusive and mutually-constructed teaching and learning process centered on each student’s educational, career, and life goals, and we support the institutional opportunities and responsibilities OSU has as the land grant institution for the state of Oregon.

GOALS

OSU academic advising reflects the institutional goal of providing "transformative education that is accessible to all learners." Our goals are to:

  1. Assist students in understanding the nature, purpose, and potential of higher education.
  2. Mentor students as they explore and clarify their values and their educational, career and life goals.
  3. Collaborate with students as they make meaning of their experiences, work to actualize their academic interests, and implement their educational plans.
  4. Provide timely and accurate information, requirements, opportunities, policies, and procedures to students and colleagues.
  5. Teach students to utilize university resources to maximize their unique educational and personal potential. 
  6. Engage in ongoing assessment of student learning and our advising programs to assure the efficacy of our efforts.
  7. Work continuously on our competency as academic advisors and educators with regard to
    1. inclusive and socially just practices 
    2. the conceptual, informational, and relational components of our work.

COMMITMENTS

We will be actionable and accountable to our students through timely, accurate and intentional advising.

We will foster inclusivity and belonging and seek to mitigate and dismantle systematic barriers that negatively impact student persistence, degree completion, and well-being.

We will work to establish a reciprocal relationship with students based on an ethic of care, shared responsibility, and accessibility.

We will be stewards of a culture of critical thinking, sustainability, growth, and social responsibility. 

We will engage in data-informed practice and support solutions and innovations to meet the evolving needs of our students.

We will create and perpetuate an engaged community of advising practice that will be a collaborative umbrella over our diverse academic colleges, schools, departments, and programs. 

PDF of Vision & Mission Document