PURPOSE / SCOPE:
Provide guidelines for academic advising.
POLICY:
Advising is one of the most important services provided by our faculty. Faculty advisors support and encourage academic and personal growth by providing guidance regarding academic planning, course prerequisites, elective selections, graduation requirements and career planning. Advisors also help resolve Academic Alerts and provide academic counseling throughout the academic year designed to enhance student success and help students progress toward graduation.
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine maintains an open-door policy. Full-time faculty members are expected to be in their offices during posted office hours and available to meet with students by appointment at other times as necessary to accommodate their students’ advising needs. Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to get help when needed.
Advising Process
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who provides academic guidance throughout the academic year as well as supportive care during the student’s time at ICOM. Even though assistance is provided for academic planning, students must be aware that they are ultimately responsible for staying on track with the academic program so that graduation requirements will be met.
Academic advising is expected of all full-time faculty and coordinated through their Department Chair. Academic advisors will meet with their advisees once in a group setting during orientation and at least once individually during the students’ first semester at ICOM. Students will meet or communicate with their advisors at least once each semester while attending ICOM, and may be advised more frequently.
In addition to their role as academic advisors, faculty will also meet with non-assigned students to provide additional help with course work. To ensure ease of scheduling, faculty are asked to either publish office hours for advisee meetings and other times when they are available or communicate a mechanism by which students may set appointments..
Academic Alert (for Years 1 & 2 only)
Students who receive a grade of 75% or less in any integrated exam will receive an Academic Alert from the Learning Specialists. The purpose of the Academic Alert is to inform the student of a potential problem while there is sufficient time in the semester to correct the deficiency. The Academic Alert is a signal to the student to meet with the instructor to discuss the problem and plan a strategy to ensure the student’s success in the class. Students are also recommended to contact their Academic Advisor for an individual meeting. The frequency of follow up meetings will be determined by the Learning Specialists.
Students on academic probation will meet with their academic advisors at least once a month, or more frequently as required by the Professionalism and Academic Review Committee (PAR Committee).
POLICY OWNER:
Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
APPROVAL:
Effective: 8/13/19
Last Reviewed: 8/20/19
Review Requirement: 3 Years