Advisor Assignments

Academic Advisors are unique individuals in the fact that they are some of the few resource individuals on campus with whom you will be in contact with from your first day of classes through graduation.  All students at Southern Miss are assigned to an academic advisor.  Your academic advisor may be a faculty member in a field related to your major or a full-time professional whose specific responsibility and training is in the area of academic advising.  In addition to your academic advisor, you may also have a specialized advisor who works directly with student athletes, honors students, and other groups with unique needs.  Although academic advising officially happens once each semester, students should feel free to build a relationship with his/her academic advisor and address other questions to him/her throughout the year.  You will get out of this relationship what you put into it, and you should get to know your advisor.  Your advisor could and should be more to you than just someone who helps create your class schedule for the upcoming semester.  Advisors can offer professional guidance as you search for employment after graduation and may also write letters of recommendation for you for graduate or professional school.  Sometimes students want to change advisors.  You can do this with no negative consequences, and usually departments will accommodate the request for a new advisor.  You are in control of your academic destiny, and you should devote ample energy to building a good relationship with your advisor.  Your assigned advisor can be located via your Student Center.