Academic Advising

Students enrolled in all undergraduate schools and colleges are assigned advisors to assist them in planning and following a given educational program of study. An Advisor’s assistance is invaluable in helping students define a given program of study or career goal. If you have declared a major, look in the Student Reference Manual and Directory of Classes or on Banner Web for Students at Howard University’s official website for advisory/registration information and the name of the advisor in your major who has been assigned to you. If your major is undecided, go to the Advisory Center, Office of Student Services, or Dean’s Office in your school/college for a consultation. Students in graduate and professional schools are also required to utilize their academic advisors as assigned in progress towards completion of their educational programs. The advisor’s signature is required on all registration cards, change of program forms and related academic forms.

• All Art major students are advised by the appropriate Program Area Coordinators.
• First Year Students are initially advised by the Program Coordinator, a designee, or Chairman of the Department of Art.
• Students are required to plan programs, register for courses and discuss their career goals with their Area Coordinators who may provide further counseling, if necessary.
• To withdraw from a course the student must receive the instructor’s signature and the academic advisor’s signature. The Chair of the Department of Art will not sign without the above signatures.
• It is the responsibility of the student to make regular appointments (at least 3) with their advisor each semester for the purposes of pre-registration advisement and updating of all Departmental academic forms.
• Students experiencing classroom difficulties are advised to seek resolution with the instructor of the class.  If the student cannot resolve his problem on that level they should request a conference with the Chair of the Department.
• Transfer students are advised by the Program Coordinator. Eligible transfer credits must be from an accredited institution and in courses for which the student made a “C” or better.  Note that only the credits transfer in, not the grades.  All courses taken at other institutions are not automatically eligible or accepted. Course Credit can only be transferred in if Howard University offers a course with similar content as that taken at another institution. Also, some courses may be contingent upon level of coursework reflective of the Program in the Department of Art, particularly those courses with extensive applied computer technology and software techniques. In those incidences, the student will only receive credit up to the level that the evaluators indicate.  Be advised that transfer students may have to extend their time at Howard University in order to take the required courses in the proper sequence.

You are urged to contact your advisor on any matters related to your educational progress. You are responsible for helping your advisor help you by sharing essential information about your academic progress, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and goals. All students must report to their advisor prior to every General Registration period. Ideally, students should see their advisors at least three times per semester, at the beginning, near the midterm, and at the conclusion of the semester.

All advisory sessions should be documented. Student should seek out advisor assistance any time they are experiencing a problem or have outstanding issues. Students are discouraged from registering for courses without consultation and advisor approval of their academic program.

Students have a right to expect their advisor to:

• Have posted reasonable office hours of availability throughout the academic semester
• Maintain appointments with students on a timely basis
• Be knowledgeable about educational program requirements, curriculum, and professional and career opportunities within their field of expertise
• Be knowledgeable about academic requirements, institutional policies and procedures to ensure academic success
• Seek information they do not know or refer you to the appropriate campus resources as needed

Students have a responsibility to:

• Read and understand the academic policies and procedures contained in official Howard University publications and on its official website
• Consult with their advisors during registration periods for course scheduling and any program modification
• Inform their advisor of any academic difficulties, program or career changes
• Maintain scheduled appointments with their advisors and be prepared for advisement sessions with any supporting documentation or materials which could assist the advisor

Provide advisors with feedback and follow through on advisor recommendations as needed.