OSU Advising Vision, Mission, Goals, Commitments*

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 has a Director of Advising and a designated lead for New Student Advising. Each also adheres to the following core principles for advising at OSU.

VISION

The academic advising community at Oregon State University aspires to provide the highest quality support to the learning efforts and experiences of our undergraduate students. 

MISSION

Academic advising at Oregon State University supports students to achieve their educational, career, and life goals. Through an inclusive and mutually constructed teaching and learning process, we foster student persistence, engagement, and advancement. Our work reflects our responsibility to the individuals and communities in the State of Oregon and beyond.

GOALS

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

  1. Collaborate with students as they make meaning of their experiences, work to actualize their academic interests, and implement their educational and career plans.
  2. Provide timely and accurate information about requirements, opportunities, policies, and procedures to students and colleagues.
  3. Teach students to utilize university resources to maximize their unique educational and personal potential. 
  4. Assist students to understand the nature, purpose, and culture of Oregon State University and the potential of undergraduate education.
  5. Engage in ongoing assessment of our advising practice, structure, and programs to assure the efficacy and improvement of our efforts.
  6. Work continuously on our competency as academic advisors and educators, especially regarding
  • inclusive and socially just practices 
  • the conceptual, informational, and relational components of our work

COMMITMENTS

We commit to:

  • Be accountable to our students through timely, accurate and intentional advising
  • Foster inclusive communities and work to mitigate and dismantle systemic barriers that negatively impact student persistence, degree completion, and well being
  • Establish reciprocal relationship with students and campus partners based on an ethic of care, shared responsibility, and accessibility
  • Engage in data-informed practice and support solutions to meet the evolving needs of our students
  • Model and facilitate critical thinking, sustainability, growth, and social responsibility
  • Create and sustain an engaged community of advising practice that serves students from OSU’s diverse academic colleges, schools, departments, and programs and centers advisor professional development

 

*2026 revision. Adopted by the Academic Advising Council on March 11, 2026