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Welcome ...

In support of the teaching mission of Texas State University-San Marcos, the College of Fine Arts and Communication’s Office of Academic Advising provides information and guidance to students with majors in our College who are seeking to complete the requirements of the Baccalaureate Degree. Toward that end, the Advising Office works with departmental advisers to ensure that each student receives information that will lead to successful completion of requirements leading to graduation from the University.

The College of Fine Arts and Communication delivers advisement to students through a two-tiered system. On the departmental level, students majoring in art, mass communication, music, speech communication, and theatre receive professional advise about their chosen major and other issues that pertain to being a successful student within the department. On the college level, professional advisers provide information important to the larger issues of degree completion.

The College of Fine Arts and Communication’s Office of Academic Advising, is dedicated to the delivery of quality advising. In order to provide a quality advising program, careful attention is given to the selection and training of all personnel. The advising program is committed to thorough training for new advisers and staff members as well as ongoing professional development for all staff.

The needs of students, progressing through complex degree requirements, are best served by an advising program that functions with close communication ties between the College Advising Office and individual departments. A strong liaison between these two divisions insures the continuity of quality advising. Providing students with the highest quality advising from matriculation to graduation is the ultimate goal of the Advising Program of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

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Roles and Functions of the Advising Center

A departmental adviser is generally a member of the University faculty who has favorably responded to an invitation to serve as an adviser for majors or minors within the discipline. The College Advising Center adviser has been trained specifically to respond to student needs not designated within the departmental adviser's role. Based on the premise that academic advising is a systematic process, there are five essential roles and functions that all advisers must fulfill if they are to be judged successful. These include:

1. Communicate specific and accurate information.
2. Be available to students.
3. Possess a supportive attitude toward students.
4. Serve as a role model.
5. Participate in adviser support programs.

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Objectives of the Advising Center

To assist our students in attaining an education, the concern of the School Advising Office is twofold:

Informational Objectives

      To provide accurate information regarding college and institutional policies, procedures and regulations, educational options, core and major requirements, curricular offerings, registration procedures and deadlines.

      To maintain accurate and complete advising records based upon all information available.

      To complete degree plans and graduation checks for those students interested in obtaining a degree as a major in one of our five departments.

      To refer students to available institutional and/or community resources, programs, and support services.

      To work with departmental faculty advisors within the College, with the undergraduate advisors in other schools, and with representatives of other institutions to provide students with the most current information available about majors, departments, and programs within our College.

Developmental Objectives

      To assist students in understanding the purposes, opportunities and challenges of higher education.

      To assist students in planning an educational program consistent with their interests, abilities and talents. When necessary, to assist students in finding alternatives to their educational goals.

      To monitor the student’s progress toward academic and life goals.

      To assist students in planning appropriate steps to correct academic difficulties.