Academic Advising

All psychology majors are assigned a faculty advisor by Dr. Joanne Hebden Palfai, Director of Academic Affairs (Rm. 149B). At a minimum, advisors answer questions about completing the concentration and registration procedures and requirements. Most advisors discuss many other issues with advisees, however, such as course selection, concentration structure and design, where to find help for various problems and/or issues, long-term career and educational plans, and opportunities for relevant research. At best, the advising relationship enriches and personalizes the experience of both faculty and students.

A list of all psychology majors and their advisors is posted on the bulletin board next to the main office door (Rm. 149) of the Psychology Department. During the registration period, you must sign up for an advising appointment; a sign-up sheet for scheduling the appointment will be posted on your faculty advisor’s office door. Be sure to make note of the day and time of your appointment—if for some reason you cannot keep your appointment, you are responsible for informing the faculty advisor in advance and for rescheduling. During the rest of the school year, you must contact your advisor directly to make an appointment.

If at any time you would like to change advisors, simply go to Rm. 149, the main office of the Psychology Department, and request a change of advisor; you will be assigned a new one at this time. New assignments will be based on your preferences, needs, and interests whenever possible. However, faculty time availability and schedules are also important considerations in these assignments.