The purpose
of these initial meetings is to discuss the student's overall
adjustment to life on the Notre Dame campus and to provide
information about resources available to assist students with
academic or other concerns.The meetings may be arranged at
the initiative of either the student or the advisor. Students
are encouraged to initiate additional meetings whenever a
need arises; advisors follow closely the academic progress
of first-year students and schedule follow-up appointments
as warranted.
Assignment
of incoming first-year students to an academic advisor is
made by mid June. Advisors spend most of the month of June
reading the application file of each student, including high
school records, test scores, and other background information
compiled in the process of admission to the University. This
information is then used with each student's course selection
form (returned by an early July deadline) to build an appropriate
class schedule for the fall semester. During July, advisors
may contact students from time to time by phone, e-mail, or
surface mail concerning their course selections. Over the
course of the summer students may contact their advisor regarding
course selection and other academic issues by writing or calling
the First Year of Studies (574-631-7421).
Peer
Advising
In
addition to the advising service described above, carefully
selected senior students work on teams with the academic advisors
to ensure that all first-year students have the opportunity
for contact with the First Year of Studies as early as possible.
While the purpose of these meetings is also general adjustment
to college life, the focus is primarily on issues related
to social and residential life as well as information on resources
and opportunities available, including academic support systems
and course assistance. Each first-year student will be scheduled
to meet with a peer advisor during the fall semester.
