The Advising Process
Lawrence has a faculty-based advising system. All full-time members of the teaching faculty serve as academic advisors to students. New students are assigned to faculty advisors on the basis of academic interests and availability of faculty for advising. Junior and senior students are required to have advisors in their majors. Any student, however, may change an advisor by completing the Advising Change Form available in the registrar's office and obtaining the signature of the new advisor on that form.
Philosophy of Advising
The philosophy that underlies academic advising at Lawrence reflects the university's emphasis on student responsibility and independence.
Students have the responsibility for planning and pursuing their own academic programs. All students are assigned a faculty advisor to help with understanding strengths and weaknesses, setting goals, and utilizing resources at Lawrence.
Advisors are not expected to make decisions for advisees except in the case of an underload or overload request, nor are they expected to engage in a personal counseling relationship. Advisors are required to sign petitions and forms only if they have had the opportunity to provide their best advice on the decision.
Advisors have the responsibility to advise. Students have the responsibility of making decisions.