Academic Advising

Click on any of the following links for information:

• Advisor Assignments
• Academic Advising Center
• School of Business Student Services Center
• School of Education Student Services

Academic advising is a two-way process that requires the serious involvement of both student and advisor. Academic advisors help students make informed choices about courses, majors, and careers. With the assistance of academic advisors, students are encouraged to explore the many opportunities for intellectual, personal, and professional growth at The University of South Dakota.

Advisees are expected to:

1. Know and understand the general education, college, major and minor requirements necessary for their graduation.
    
2. Arrive on time for scheduled advising appointments.
    
3. Prepare a preliminary schedule prior to their advising appointment.
    
4. Be honest and forthcoming about their academic progress and performance in their course work.
    
5. Monitor and keep informed about their progress toward the completion of graduation requirements.

Advisors are expected to:

1. Know and understand the general education, college, major and minor requirements for students in their department and/or college.
    
2. Understand that students may be subject to the requirements under different catalogs and to know how to access relevant information.
    
3. Ask students about their academic progress and plans for the future.
    
4. Be familiar with campus resources to answer non-academic questions as well as questions regarding career options.

Departments are expected to:

1. Facilitate faculty training to ensure accurate advising and the broader mentoring of students.
    
2. Disseminate information to students regarding internships, scholarships, campus organizations, and other opportunities for intellectual growth.
    
3. Provide students with clear methods of tracking their progress toward graduation.
    
4. Design and implement a mechanism by which to inform students about advising appointments.

New students with declared majors within the College of Arts & Sciences and students who have not yet declared a major are advised by the Academic Advising Center. The Academic Advising Center also acts as a clearinghouse for the declaration or changing of majors. Students in the College of Fine Arts are assigned faculty advisors through their departmental offices. Students interested in degrees within the School of Business or the School of Education are initially advised by the student services centers affiliated with those areas.

Lucky Huber, Director
20 Arts & Sciences Bldg.
605-677-5381
advising@usd.edu

The Academic Advising Center provides general academic advisement for all USD students. In particular, the Center’s staff advises new students that have declared an Arts & Sciences degree and individuals who have not declared a major. Students can receive answers for many academic questions, such as the following: What classes should I take? How do I declare a major? How do I add/drop a class? Where can I find a tutor?

The Academic Advising Center is an excellent resource for all students who seek to improve their academic success. It offers classes and individual instruction to strengthen test-taking, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. The Center provides focused support for students on academic probation and for those requiring assistance with the regental proficiency exam. The Center is also home to the First Year Experience (FYE). FYE includes programs such as New Student Orientation and Learning Communities. In an effort to help students in some of their first-year classes, the Center also conducts a Supplemental Instruction Program through the First Year Experience.

Rhonda Hulkonen
Assistant Dean-Student Services
Beacom School of Business, 104 Patterson Hall
605-677-6268
Rhonda.Hulkonen@usd.edu

The Beacom School of Business Student Services Center (SSC) assists undergraduate students majoring in the business areas of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Health Services Administration and Management (Human Resource Management). The SSC helps students with their informational needs and supports the faculty advisors in the School of Business. All freshmen and sophomore students who plan to major in a business field work with the SSC professional advising staff as they complete the general education requirements of the University and the prerequisites for admission to the Beacom School of Business majors. Additional assistance is available relating to transfer credit, study skill development, academic appeals, scheduling issues, and referrals.

Sherri Bosse, Advisor
School of Education, Delzell 113/114
605-677-5612
sbosse@usd.edu

The School of Education Student Services (SESS) faculty advisors provide a comprehensive program of advisement that supports students from initial teaching career awareness to teacher preparation, assessment, placement, certification, and follow-up. In addition, advisement is provided as to the requirements and assessments necessary to achieve status as a highly qualified teacher based on the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. This Centralized Advisement Model is used for all undergraduate students completing a teacher certification program. Students seeking a secondary education or K-12 major should also have an advisor in their content area.