Student-Advisor (Mentor) Relationship
Faculty advisors are assigned by the Director of the School of Drama and the area coordinators upon acceptance to the School of Drama. Students are academically advised by the University College's Fine Arts Advisor until they have earned 24 credits. After that (usually the first semester of the sophomore year), students will be advised by their SOD faculty advisor. The SOD encourages students to meet with and ask advice from the professors in their area during their Freshman year since they will be students’ academic and artistic mentors throughout their careers. Students and their faculty advisors have as a mutual goal the achievement of a productive academic program. The faculty advisor recognizes the responsibility to be knowledgeable about the curriculum requirements of the School, but the student also has the ultimate responsibility to know the requirements of his or her degree track.
Students have the responsibility to seek out their advisors during the appropriate times of pre-registration, registration, and “add/drop”. Decisions about a student’s academic/artistic program are reached jointly by the advisor and the student so that the student may progress in a timely manner towards fulfilling the degree requirements. Any registration changes made by the student without agreement of his or her advisor removes the School of Drama from any responsibility for the student’s program.
The student should not wait until the formal advising times to see an advisor but should feel free to seek, at any time, advice on problems or issues related to his or her academic career. Such problems may include (but not be limited to) issues related to specific courses; instructors in drama courses or in other departments or schools; the question of participation in outside productions; the preparations of audition materials or other professional materials; the question of the proper balance between curricular and extra-curricular activities and other issues that affect student life in general.
Students should plan to see their advisor as frequently as they feel necessary. “Checking in” periodically makes it possible for students, advisors/mentors, and the School to better communicate and solve problems. The faculty advisor is the principal communication link between the individual student and the School as a whole. In the School of Drama, the advisor acts as mentor, tutor, advocate and master artist to the apprentice student. Contacts between students and advisor should therefore be frequent and open. Students should feel free to discuss with their advisor any matter relating to the academic/artistic activities of the School. The student has the assurance of the School of Drama that such discussions will be held confidential.
Because of the vital nature of the student/advisor relationship, any student experiencing problems with an individual advisor should immediately contact the coordinator of their area or the Director of the School of Drama.