Academic Advising
Working with a faculty advisor, students craft an educational plan reflecting their particular interests and abilities, and the College’s purposes and goals.
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Getting Started
Learn about which types of classes to take, and when, in order to get started in an area of study.ALEX
A network of academic centers, resources, and advisors to help you navigate your Hamilton experience -
Graduation Requirements
Hamilton requires you to take a few courses that focus on developing specific skills.Career Advisors
Advisors to help match your skills and interests with career options -
Preprofessional Advisors
Preprofessional advisors can help you make a plan of action to ensure you meet your goals.
A student’s educational plan is crafted with their faculty advisor and typically evolves over time, balances the freedom of an open curriculum and the breadth of a liberal arts education at Hamilton, and incorporates the College’s purposes and goals.
The Faculty Advisor-Student Relationship
- Provides guidance for well-thought-out exploration of various academic disciplines
- Sets goals for the selection and completion of a concentration
- Transcends conversations about course selection and helps students understand the support services available to them in the Dean of Students Office and elsewhere
- Encourages use of ALEX and the Career Center advisors to help prepare students for lives of meaning, purpose, and active citizenship.
Although pre-concentration faculty advisors vary in their approaches, all are eager to help students adjust to the intellectual demands of the College and to guide them toward success. At the same time, students assume major responsibility for their own education when they matriculate at Hamilton, and they must take the initiative to seek out advice and plan their education.
Advising Across Campus
Drawing on multiple sources of advice enables students to make the most of their college experience through a well-thought-out exploration of various disciplines, selection and completion of a concentration, consideration of options for off-campus study, and preparation for life after Hamilton.
Role
- Assist all students in crafting educational plans and addressing the College’s educational goals
- Only faculty advisors may approve course schedules, clear students to register, implement academic policies and procedures, sign academic forms.
Some intended student outcomes
- Make responsible, informed decisions about intellectual development
- Understand liberal arts education
- Address the College’s educational goals
- Understand academic requirements
Role
- Assist all students in navigating advising, academic support, and experiential learning opportunities, and with reflecting on and integrating learning
- Offer workshops
- Makes referrals to appropriate resources
Some intended student outcomes
- Discern purpose
- Identify and utilize networks of support
- Set and achieve goals
- Demonstrate flexibility and resilience
- Advocate for themselves
- Reflect on and integrate their learning
- Recognize and articulate their personal growth
Role
- Assist all students with career and academic exploration, job search skills and tools, and gaining career-related experiences
- Advising based on understanding students' interests, skills, and values
- Offer intentional curriculum-based programming
Some intended student outcomes
- Identify skills and interests
- Explore career options
- Communicate value
- Connect with alumni
- Establish short-term and long-term career goals
