Each Hendrix student has a faculty advisor who serves as a
central academic resource and mentor to the student. All Hendrix academic
advisors are full-time faculty members, where serving as an advisor is a part
of their teaching responsibilities at the College.
At Hendrix, academic advising is a cooperative partnership
between the faculty advisor and student advisee. Though advisors and advisees
work together, final responsibility for using the faculty academic advising
system, planning and monitoring academic progress, and knowing and completing
all graduation requirements rests solely with the individual student.
On a basic level, advisors assist advisees in developing their
understanding of the academic curriculum, degree requirements, and expectations
of the College. They provide their advisees with relevant information
concerning Hendrix academic policies and procedures and encourage student
engagement in Hendrix academic and community life.
Advisors also facilitate and support their advisees in the
process of identifying, clarifying, and evolving their individual academic,
professional, and life goals and values. More specifically, advisors assist
their advisees in developing a course of study that is consistent with their
goals and values, including the selection of an academic major related to their
interests and abilities.
Hendrix provides a variety of resources to assist students and
advisors in understanding the academic programs of the College, including
guidance for appropriate initial courses as well as the sequencing of courses
in each major. These tools are designed
to promote each student’s initiative and independence in directing their own
academic program and progress. The two
principal academic resource documents are the Hendrix College Catalog and the
Guide to Academic Planning.
New Student Advising
Every new student at Hendrix is assigned a faculty advisor from
the Council of New Student Advisors (CNSA). Most new students remain with their
new student advisors through their first three semesters of study. Students
must declare a major and choose an advisor within the department or program of
their major during their fourth semester of study.