The goal of academic advising at Miami University is to assist students in steadily gaining ownership over their college experience. Through dialogue, advisors teach you to value the learning process, apply decision-making strategies, put the college experience into perspective, set priorities and evaluate events, develop thinking and learning skills, gain personal and intellectual maturity, and make informed choices.
During the orientation process, you will work with an academic advisor from your academic area to answer questions about your academic program, course selections, and career opportunities in your major. If you are undecided, Oxford students will be assigned to a student Success Navigator in the Office of Exploratory Studies. Regional undecided students will be assigned to a professional advisor. When you choose a major, you will transition to an advisor in your academic division or department. Your academic advisor or student success navigator is your best resource to help you plan your academic schedule, offer guidance on academic success, and ensure that you graduate in a timely manner.
What Advisors Can Do
Advisors can help you:
Know your degree requirements for graduation and use advising tools toward timely degree completion.
Craft an educational plan based on their abilities, aspirations, interests, and values
Understand where to find answers to questions.
Discover and integrate co-and extra-curricular activities and programs that enhance your academic/collegiate experience and prepare you for your future.
What Advisors Can't Do
Advisors can't:
Ensure that you get into every course exactly when you want to take it.
Change University policy or alter academic requirements.
Know what you need unless you communicate your needs.
Force you to meet or to read advising-related communications.
Guarantee that you will succeed in every class.
Who is my advisor?
To find your academic advisor’s or student success navigator’s name and contact information, follow the steps below:
Log in to myMiami
Search for the "Who is my advisor?" tile. Click on the tile and it will take you to your advisor or navigator’s information.
Your academic advisor or student success navigator is the person you should contact with any questions you have about your academic plan.
What’s the best time to meet with your advisor or navigator?
All first-year and transfer students should meet with their academic advisor or student success navigator between September and early November in the fall semester to plan for their winter term and spring semester and again between mid-February and late March in the spring semester to plan for the following summer term and fall semester.
Follow these guidelines to make the most of your advising relationship and to better ensure your academic success at Miami:
Contact your advisor or navigator each semester during the windows of time noted above to arrange an appointment.
Click on the appointment tab on the left side navigation bar. You will see any scheduled appointments or appointment invitations.
At the bottom of the screen click on the blue button that says “Schedule or Drop-in For an Appointment”.
Follow the prompts to schedule an appointment with your advisor or navigator
You will receive an email confirmation of your scheduled appointment.
Meet with your advisor or navigator if you are experiencing difficulties, need clarification on academic requirements or policies, are considering a new or different major, or are preparing for graduation.
Come to your advising session prepared with a list of your questions.
Use the worksheets below to prepare for your orientation and first-semester advising sessions.
Action Steps to Take After the Advising Appointment
Make a list of next steps to complete with your advisor or navigator during your appointment:
Additional Advising Help
If you need immediate assistance and cannot locate your advisor or navigator quickly, contact one of the following advising resources:
The advising office in the academic division of the department of your major:
Regional Campuses and College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science (Hamilton: Second Floor, Rentschler Hall; Middletown: 001 Johnston Hall; Regadvising@MiamiOH.edu)
Provide information and support to international students, including programming, workshops, and advising; support faculty development for working with international students; provide advice on study abroad opportunities
Provide information and advising on honors requirements as well as programming relevant to high-ability students, including advisement for prestigious fellowships
Ensure that Miami student writers receive helpful feedback and support on their writing from well-trained peer consultants and are assisted in developing as effective writers in varied contexts and genres.
Coordinate accommodations, auxiliary aids, accessible technology and support services to ensure students with disabilities have an equitable and inclusive Miami University experience.
Provide socio-emotional support, guidance on out-of-class activities and engagements, consultation on roommate conflicts, and assistance on transitioning into college life
Provide academic support to all Miami University students through academic counseling, coaching, tutoring, and other services designed to support students in their achievement of academic goals
Provide mental health counseling on an as-needed basis, support students through programming centered on well-being, and lead mental health and well-being support groups
Offer comprehensive referrals and manage special student cases and situations such as students who have stopped out, have registration holds, have not yet registered for an upcoming term, or are facing other barriers to success
Provide career development advising (to include choosing a major and career planning) for students as well as training for professional job search readiness, and connecting with employers for internships and full-time career opportunities through career fairs, on-campus interviews, and job postings on Handshake.
2nd floor Rentschler (Hamilton) 001 Johnston Hall (Middletown)
Provide professional academic advisors available by appointment and, at certain times of the week, during drop-in hours; provide guidance on the Miami Plan for Liberal Education, divisional and major requirements, choosing a major, and career planning.
Provides academic support in the form of tutoring for individual courses, essay reviewing for all courses, and academic coaching/mentoring to help students make a successful transition to college learning. Appointments are scheduled through the Navigate platform with both virtual and face to face offerings.
Offer an educational support program funded by the United States Department of Education, whose goal is to help eligible first-generation, income eligible, or Student Disability Services affiliated students.
Offer free, confidential counseling to students facing personal difficulties, family or individual crises, and mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, and traumatic experiences. Support students in exploring identities, values, and goals. Provide community-based referrals when appropriate.
Coordinate accommodations, auxiliary aids, and support services to ensure access to the educational and University life setting for students with disabilities. Support access planning for students with, but not limited to, learning, psychological, medical, physical, attention, and autism spectrum disabilities. Students are encouraged to engage with SDS to receive accommodations. Connecting with SDS starts with student self-disclosure.
