School of Humanities and Sciences
Academic Advising
"Having an adviser work with me one-on-one really helped make the transition to the college academic world a lot easier. I feel the Exploratory Program fostered a sense of support and guidance and, at the same time, independence.”
-- Alana Murphy, occupational science/occupational therapy major
Academic Advising
One of the hallmarks of the Exploratory Program -- what sets Ithaca College apart from many others -- is the strong academic advising students receive from the moment they step onto campus. Faculty members participate on a voluntary basis and are actively involved in specialized advising workshops meaning they are well versed in the issues faced by exploratory students and personally invested in their future success.
Prior to their first semester on campus, exploratory students are paired with an adviser, with the assistance of the Office of Academic Advising. In almost all cases the adviser is either their Ithaca seminar instructor or a professor teaching one of student's other fall semester classes. Advisers thus share their passion for the subject, providing frequent and meaningful contact throughout the entire process.
As a result, exploratory students in seminars see their faculty advisers up to four times a week for 14 weeks in their first semester. Year after year, students who have completed the Exploratory Program give high marks to faculty members' accessibility and close student-faculty interaction in alumni surveys.