About Us
Academic Advising at St. Lawrence is accomplished through a variety of programs, each one designed to meet a specific need. These programs are coordinated and supervised by an Associate Dean who, as a senior member of the teaching faculty, knows the culture, structures, and people at the university. Along with the other staff working in Academic Advising Programs, the Dean strives always to respond to immediate student need—problem solving, advising, suggesting new directions. Through these programs, St. Lawrence aims to anticipate academic and other problems, to meet them directly, and so to encourage every student to better focus on her or his educational goals.
At the heart of St. Lawrence’s Academic Advising is the principle that each student is ultimately responsible—that is, each person “owns”—what happens during college. From the very beginning of their time here, students are urged to recognize that their four years are precious, a time of both exploration of myriad possibilities and conscious planning in light of this exploration. The college years need to be understood in just this way.
During the first semester of the sophomore year, after the rushed transition that is the first year has passed and the dust has settled over the summer, returning students are told “Ya Gotta Have a Plan.” The idea of planning—a major, minors, study abroad, career exploration, internships, community service, fellowships—is connected always to a liberal arts education as the exceptional path it is to the life (and career) each student imagines.
Our Academic Advising programs help with this exploration and planning in many ways. We work with the Registrar’s Office to see to it each student understands and uses our online Academic Planning and Registration (APR) system effectively. Academic Support offers workshops and one-on-one advice on time management, effective study skills, research papers, tests, and other topics. Academic Development works with students whose initial academic outcomes have been weak and gets them on track. Our Peer Tutoring program arranges one-on-one tutoring for students struggling in a particular course. The Office of Accommodation Services works with students who have diagnosed learning or physical disabilities. Our McNair Scholars program sponsors students from underrepresented populations to pursue a path leading to a Ph.D. while the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) guides students from the same populations toward careers in the licensed professions.
All of these offices are found in Whitman Annex—just stop by or call us at (315) 229-5964.