Dear First-Year Student:
Welcome to LS&A. The educational opportunities available to you here are virtually unlimited. To assist you in making the most of your academic life at Michigan, the LS&A Academic Advising Center offers academic services, information, and supportive assistance.
During Orientation you will have a small group discussion led by your assigned first-year advisor. This session will be followed by two individual one-on-one sessions with your advisor. During these times your advisor will begin to get acquainted with you and will help you find the appropriate set of courses to start your college experience.
We recommend that you see your advisor at least once a term. Advisors can help you understand academic policies and procedures as well as help you progress with purpose toward a degree. They are knowledgeable resources to turn to if you are having difficulty in any class. Perhaps most importantly, advisors can be a valuable sounding board for you to test your ideas about what you want to do with your education.
The Academic Advising Center staff consists of more than twenty professional advisors who come from a variety of academic backgrounds. While you are free to see any one you would like, we strongly recommend that you find one advisor with whom you feel comfortable and visit that person on a regular basis. The opportunity to become well acquainted with one advisor means that you have someone to turn to when you need advice, a recommendation, or personal assistance. Most students continue to see the advisor they conferred with during Orientation.
In order to make the most of your educational experience at Michigan you need to take the initiative. Seek out the professors, the classes, and the advisors that best meet your needs.
Best Wishes for success and for exciting, productive years at Michigan.
Louis C. Rice, Ph.D.,
Interim Director
Academic Advising Center