ACADEMIC ADVISING

Each first-year student will be assigned to an academic advisor by the Graduate Coordinator. Assignments will be made before a student arrives at Georgia Tech or as soon as possible after a student’s arrival. The academic advisor is the Psychology faculty member who will serve to provide guidance in academic and related areas during a graduate student’s academic career at Georgia Tech. The academic advisor is often also the student’s research advisor (and may later act as Chair of the student’s Masters or Ph.D. Committee), however this is not always the case. Each student must have an academic advisor throughout his or her tenure in the program. An academic advisor is required for admittance into the Ph.D. program.

Function

The academic advisor’s function is to determine how to meet the goals and needs of the individual student most effectively and to provide guidance on graduate study, including: 1. course work 2. choice and structure of minor area 3. internships and other professional activities 4. resolution of problems with coursework as the student progresses through the program. The academic advisor must sign the student’s pre-registration card prior to registration each semester. Finally, because they will be acquainted with the student’s interests, goals, coursework and research, the academic advisor will play a part in the year-end evaluation of the student and receive the student’s annual report.

Meetings

After assignment, the student should request a conference with his or her advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate meeting with the advisor. Near the end of spring semester, prior to the end of the year evaluation deadline, the student should arrange a meeting with his or her advisor in order to review the student’s progress. After the end of the year evaluations are completed by the faculty, each student should arrange a meeting with his or her advisor to discuss the results of the evaluation.

Changing Advisors

Any graduate student can change his or her research advisor at any time and for any reason. Because successful completion of any graduate program requires a good working relationship between the student and faculty mentor, together with a match of interests, it is important that each graduate student be matched correctly with a research advisor. The student must realize that changing advisors should be done in a timely fashion because of research requirements. Changes can be made by first gaining approval for the transition from both the current and future advisors. The student should then notify the Graduate Coordinator of the change. Every effort will be made to fulfill the student’s request for an advisor change.