What is Academic Advising?

Penn State’s Academic Advising Program is designed to help students set educational goals, use resources to discover academic opportunities, and connect those opportunities to your goals.  Through academic advising, you will think about the purposes, processes and results of your education.

Penn State Greater Allegheny's Advising Office is located in the first floor of the Frable Building. Students who are exploring or undecided about their academic college and/or major, consult with the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) advisers.  DUS encourages students to meet their academic potential through well-informed educational planning, as well as through meaningful experiences. 

DUS also provides oversight for all advising programs for the Greater Allegheny campus, including meeting all new students during NSO (New Student Orientation) and Welcome Week events.   

What are the responsibilities of advisers and advisees?

To protect the rights and responsibilities of both student and faculty, the adviser neither grants nor denies administrative approval. The student must assume final responsibility for the successful completion of all graduation requirements.

The Adviser’s Role

  • To understand University procedures and the academic concerns of students
  • To understand the expected standards of achievement and the student’s likelihood of success
  • To discuss suitable career objectives as demonstrated by student abilities and interests
  • To plan a course of study and offer advice about courses, adjustments, prerequisites, etc.
  • To refer students to other resources when appropriate
  • To keep informed and current regarding the specific college and department

The Advisee’s Role

  • To acquire information for course scheduling, program planning, and graduation requirements
  • To seek academic and career information needed to meet educational goals
  • To become knowledgeable about University and college policies, procedures, rules, etc.
  • To be prepared with accurate and relevant materials when meeting with the adviser
  • To consult with the adviser at least once every semester  

What’s new in advising at Penn State?

Penn State LionPATH is an expert-based, empirically grounded advising and information system delivered online. It was created to supplement student/adviser relationships and to engage students in interactive inquiry for informed educational planning.

Penn State LionPATH offers students a variety of services, including providing each student with the name of his/her adviser; providing an update on the student's cumulative grade-point average (GPA); assisting students in exploring majors; and giving students the ability to drop and add courses and/or withdraw from the University. In an ongoing effort to provide students with the best possible services and information, options will continue to be added to LionPATH as needed.

To learn more about LionPATH, please visit http://www.lionpath.psu.edu.

To learn more about advising, please visit http://www.psu.edu/advising.

Appointments

Make an appointment to meet with your academic adviser or to discuss a change from one college/major to another, plan for your next semester or discuss your academic goals.

Academic Planning

Learn how to explore your academic choices, make informed decisions, and manage a total Penn State experience. 

Academic Support

You don’t have to succeed in class by yourself.  There are many resources and people available to support your efforts at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Policies and Procedures

Find answers to academic policy and procedure questions at Penn State by searching these references.