Academics

Undergraduate Student Advising & Mentoring Guidelines

Background

Academic advisers embedded in the College guide our undergraduate students toward success each semester. With deep knowledge of our curricular requirements and student needs, these advisers play a vital role in ensuring students sign up for the right classes at the right moments in their studies.

JDC faculty also have an important role to play in the advising process by reinforcing key messages, covering co-curricular opportunities, and inquiring about student needs and roadblocks.

In addition to helping students progress toward their degrees, faculty advising provides a valuable channel for feedback from students on what’s working well, what challenges they’re encountering and what they’d like to see more of.

The advising process

Each semester, faculty are assigned an advising cohort of 20–30 undergraduate students. (Advisers are assigned their advisees based on students’ last names.) Assignments are designed to maintain advising relationships from one semester to the next.

It is the student’s responsibility to request an advising appointment, but faculty should encourage all students to participate in academic advising. And if you haven’t yet spoken to an assigned advisee, you might reach out to invite them to schedule an appointment.

Advising appointments run for 15–30 minutes. Strive to meet students in their preferred venue, whether on campus, on Teams or over the phone.

10 things to talk about in advising sessions

  1. The perils of “self-advising.” Students who register for classes without consulting with Dr. Eldridge risk delaying graduation by a semester or more. They might also end up taking classes in a sequence that isn’t optimal for their learning.
  2. Internships. Students who complete internships gain experiences and build networks that greatly improve their odds of landing a job in media after graduating. An internship counts as a 3-credit in-major elective and requires at least 120 contact hours. To qualify for an internship, a student must have first completed MMC 3602, MMC 2100 and VIC 3001.
  3. Professional portfolios. Students should be thinking about an online presence from early in their studies. This includes organizing articles, photos and other media and developing a strong personal brand. Students have complimentary access to Adobe Portfolio, and this is one helpful tool they can use to create a professional website.
  4. The importance of early registration. Classes fill quickly. Students who register as soon as they are eligible stand the best chance of getting the required classes they need and the electives they want.
  5. The importance of clips and involvement in student media. Students should be reminded of how important it is to get published, including in student media. Each semester, The Crow’s Nest offers paid staff positions (most range from 10–20 hours a week), along with unpaid contributor opportunities, for students interested in participating on a smaller scale.
  6. Equipment & resources available. Students have access to video and photography equipment. They should consult with the VideoWorks technical manager for further information.
  7. Scholarships, awards, competitions. In addition to general scholarships available to USF students broadly, journalism majors qualify for speciality scholarships unavailable to the broader student population.
  8. Office hours. Many students don’t understand exactly what office hours are all about or why they should attend them. An advising session is a good opportunity to explain the value of office hours.
  9. Academic integrity policy. Our academic integrity policy is more than a punitive framework. It’s a code of conduct that incorporates core journalistic values and can be treated as a resource in students’ professional development.  The policy is available on our website.
  10. Your research. Students often don’t know about the research faculty are involved with, but would benefit from learning about the goals, methods and results of these efforts.

6 questions to ask students

  1. How are things going?
  2. Are you facing any challenges or barriers?
  3. Are you taking classes in person? Online? Are you finding the right mix of modalities?
  4. What are your thoughts on how you’d like to apply your degree?
  5. What skills do you most want to learn in the program?
  6. Is there anything that would make your experience at USF even better?

FAQs

How often should students seek faculty advising?

Ideally, once a semester. But at least once an academic year.

What if my advisee asks a question I don’t know the answer to?

That’s OK! One of the most helpful things faculty can do is point students toward offices and resources that can support their academic journeys. Here are some questions you may encounter, and the appropriate places to direct students to.

If I drop a class, will it affect my financial aid?

Questions about tuition and financial aid are best directed to that office. The rules can be complex and every student’s circumstances will be different.

https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/student-life/financial-aid/index.aspx 

I’m dropping class XYZ. I can just pick it up next semester, right?

Maybe, maybe not. If an upcoming schedule hasn’t yet been published, you can check with the Department chair or office manager for a sense of whether a particular class will be on the books. Same for semesters further down the track.

What can I expect from an internship experience?

We have some resources on the Departmental website. The internship coordinator can provide further information.

https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/departments/journalism/internships-and-jobs/index.aspx 

I’m dealing with a lot of stress and it’s affecting my wellbeing. Can I get help?

The Wellness Center is a good resource for physical and mental health care. Students can schedule individual and group counseling sessions. All co-pays are covered by fees students are already paying.

https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/student-life/wellness/ 

Can I get help with my writing?

The Student Success Center offers writing consultation services.

https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/student-life/student-success-center/ 

I’m experiencing a crisis at home and I’m really struggling in school. Can you help me?

You might direct this student to the Wellness Center, but when 

https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/student-life/student-outreach-program/index.aspx 

Is it OK if I take course XYZ before course ABC?

This is really going to depend.

Should I take notes during an advising session?

This is a best practice. Note-taking helps build continuity from one semester to the next, given the large gaps of time that typically occur between advising visits.

Why do we have four-year and two-year plans?

Students come to the Digital Communication and Multimedia Journalism major in two ways. Some are First Time in College students who have decided to study journalism and declared it their major. They’re on a four-year track. Others are transfer students who already have a number of credits under their belt, including courses from within the major. They’re on a two-year track. Depending on exactly what they’re taken prior to coming to USF, these transfer students may end up focusing largely or almost entirely on electives when they come into the major.

If students know exactly what courses to take, can they still benefit from advising?

Yes! Setting a good schedule is just one benefit of advising. Advising can also connect students to a wide range of resources that can help them in and outside of the classroom.