About the Academic Advising and Planning Center

Our Vision Statement

Leaders in academic advising expertise, scholarship, and innovation.

Our Mission Statement

The Academic Advising and Planning Center (AAPC) prepares undergraduate students to navigate all aspects of academic planning by promoting an atmosphere that encourages self-exploration and resource utilization in support of academic success, as well as the timely and informed pursuit of an academic major.

We accomplish our mission by:

  • Engaging students in individualized, technology-enhanced advising appointments wherein they explore their interests, discuss course options, consider majors and plan for the future;
  • Establishing a relationship based on mutual trust with a diverse student population encouraging students to address academic strengths and challenges;
  • Actively seeking and providing professional development opportunities for internal and external colleagues.

Ethics Statement

We abide by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education's Statement of Shared Ethical Principles (PDF). 

Additionally, we strive to:

  • Prioritize the value of the student/advisor relationship and the student's development;
  • Evaluate each student's individual situation and respond appropriately;
  • Readdress ethical dilemmas as a group;
  • Organize meetings with our resource referrals;
  • Seek help and support from each other.

Student Learning Outcomes

It is our goal that students are able to do the following as a result of academic advising and planning:

  • Create a personal path to degree completion
  • Make a timely and informed pursuit of an academic major
  • Use campus resources
  • Find relevant policies and procedures
  • Recognize the importance of balancing competing priorities

The Academic Advising Dialogue

Academic advising is not just about course selection. There are many factors that play a part in developing a thoughtful and intentional academic plan, including the student's goals, challenges, interests, and strengths. Students also benefit from discussing academic major options and coordinating career goals with educational opportunities, such as internships and study abroad. The image below represents not only the topics we discuss with students, but also how much time in each appointment is spent on each topic. Note that course selection is the smallest part. For more details on the academic advising dialogue, homework expectations, and student responsibilities for academic planning, see our Academic Advising Syllabus (PDF).

 Pie chart of time spent on different activities in an advising appointment

 

 Advising at the College of Charleston

The Academic Advising and Planning Center primarily serves first-year students, first-semester transfer students, and undeclared students. Students assigned to our office are required to meet with their Academic Advisor at least once per semester.

Which students are served by the AAPC?

Students who have not declared their major are advised through the AAPC. All entering degree-seeking students are assigned an advisor in the Advising Center and have mandatory advising during their first year. Advising appointments with your assigned advisor may be scheduled online through Appointment Manager or by calling us at 843.953.5981. Appointments should be scheduled beginning in September for the fall term and February for the spring term so that all students can be served prior to registration.

Students who declare a major during their first year are assigned faculty advisors through their academic department as well as the Academic Advising and Planning Center. This ensures that students receive focused advising in their discipline of choice while keeping their access to an AAPC advisor to consult regarding more general college requirements and resources.

Students are reminded that they are ultimately responsible for their own academic program and course load. Academic Advising and Planning Center services never replace individual student responsibility.

The Advising Profession

Although the advising practice has been on college campuses in some form since the inception of higher education in the United States, the profession grew in strength and number with the advent of NACADA, the National Academic Advising Association. Founded in 1979, it currently has over 10,000 members worldwide. More information about the advising profession can be found at NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising.

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