academic advising RESOURCES There are a number of resources available to help you make a successful transition from high school. Advising resources will help you as you decide upon and work through your degree program in LS&A. Orientation resources will help you acclimate yourself to UM and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Academic resources will help insure your academic success, and the Learning Communities will expand your experience to the variety of academic and enrichment opportunities available at UM. To take advantage of the benefits of these resources, it is essential that you take the initiative to use them. Here are a few that are available to you: Advising Resources Academic Advising Center 1255 Angell Hall, (734) 764-0332 The Academic Advising Center serves LS&A undergraduates by: Helping them make informed decisions about educational goals and the LS&A curriculum. Encouraging them to formulate an academic program appropriate to their interests and abilities. Assisting them in evaluating their academic progress and performance. Providing them accurate information about LS&A policies and procedures. Furnishing them an opportunity to explore the purposes of a liberal arts education. At orientation, students are assigned an LS&A general advisor who will tailor advice to individual students' needs. Students are encouraged to keep in close contact with their advisor throughout their undergraduate career and to get to know their advisor personally. General Advisors are available to discuss degree requirements, rules, deadlines, procedures, academic plans, and study skills. Concentration Advisors are available to discuss particular requirements of each department's concentration. Appointments are generally made through individual departments. Bachelor in General Studies (BGS) Advisors are available to discuss requirements and the design of a Bachelor in General Studies degree. Individual Concentration Program (ICP) Advisor is available to discuss the feasibility of designing an individualized concentration. Recent ICPs include community studies, environmental studies, and international relations. Pre-law, pre-health, and pre-business Advisors are available to discuss options and entrance requirements for these graduate programs. Specialty Advisors in pre-architecture, pre-engineering, School of Education, School of Music, and Study Abroad are available to LS&A students interested in those programs. Residence Hall Advising LS&A Academic Advisors holds weekly office hours on site at the residence halls. Academic Peer Advisor (APA) Trained peer advisors, living in the residence halls, are available to discuss basic academic information. LS&A Peer Academic Advising Office (PAAO) G150 Angell Hall, (734) 763-1553 PAAO is staffed completely by undergraduates. Providing peer advising, PAAO presents students with an opportunity to share and receive experiences in an informal fashion. The office maintains such resources as course evaluations and examinations. PAAO also stocks graduate catalogs from schools across the country as well as the latest in post graduation materials. Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs G411 Mason Hall, (734) 764-7297 Overall educational, operational, and administrative activities of LS&A Student Academic Affairs (SAA) including Academic Standards, Academic Advising, Academic Information and Publications, and Academic Audit, is the responsibility of the Assistant Dean. College policy and procedure that govern all aspects of student academic life are administered by SAA under the direction of the Assistant Dean. In extraordinary circumstances, students may appeal to this office for personal assistance when normal avenues have been exhausted. This office coordinates the work of the College's Academic Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for ensuring principles of fairness and due process in cases of academic misconduct. In administering the Code of Academic Conduct, the Assistant Dean acts as an ombudsman in helping resolve problems arising between instructors and students. Also, the Assistant Dean coordinates communication and liaison efforts between SAA and faculty, academic departments, and programs within LS&A and throughout UM. Academic Standards Board 1255 Angell Hall, (734) 764-0311 or (734) 764-0332 Members of the Academic Standards Board help students individualize their programs of study and may grant exceptions to College-level academic policies and degree requirements. A student may discuss with a member and, if necessary, petition in writing for a waiver or modification of College rules. (Honors students petition the Honors Program Office; Residential College students petition the RC Academic Advising Office.) They also administer academic discipline. The purpose of academic discipline is to help foster good performance and to protect a student's chance of graduating from the College. The Board has further responsibility for readmitting students dismissed because of unsatisfactory performance and for interpreting academic standards. Academic Auditors 1409 Mason Hall, (734) 763-3101 Academic Auditors check for completion of all LS&A requirements upon submission of graduation materials, inform students of their progress toward graduation, and authorize graduation. They can also provide a Verification of Graduation letter which states that requirements have been met and a degree will be awarded.