Faculty Advisors
The system of academic advising that aids your entry into college life exemplifies Vassar’s traditional interest in fitting academic and social activities to the individual student. You will be assigned a faculty pre-major advisor, taking into consideration the interests that you list on the Statement of Academic Interests form included in this packet. The first meeting for freshmen with their pre-major advisors is from 10:30am–11:30am on Wednesday, August 26. This meeting provides an opportunity for you to become acquainted with your pre-major advisor, along with his or her other pre-major advisees, and to discuss any questions that you might have. On Thursday afternoon, August 27, you will have an individual half-hour appointment with your advisor for final approval of your course selections before registration. Throughout the year you will need to meet in person with your advisor to obtain approval to add or drop a course, to elect a course under the non-recorded option (NRO), to pre-register for the following semester, or to request any kind of special permission.
At Vassar, you will discover overlapping layers of academic advice, and you will need to take the initiative in seeking particular kinds of information. While pre-major advisors and major advisors can assist you in coordinating your program, no one faculty member can be expected to know the catalogue and all the considerations implicit in its text. If you need specific information about a course or a department, you should speak to the appropriate instructor or department chair. Individual teachers and departmental or program representatives are available in their offices both during the initial days of the semester and as the term progresses.
After Orientation, it is your responsibility to schedule all appointments with your advisor. Learn your advisor’s office hours and arrange to meet with him or her in advance of all pertinent deadlines. Most faculty members can be reached via email. If you are unable to reach your advisor, your instructor, or a department chair, please contact the department assistant to leave a message that you wish to make an appointment.
More general questions about college policies and procedures and about your overall curricular planning throughout your years of study may be asked of the dean of freshmen in the Office of the Dean of Studies.