Every matriculated student at Marist College is assigned to an academic advisor. When a student enters the College with a declared major, they are generally placed with an advisor within their chosen academic discipline. Undeclared students are assigned to an advisor who will work closely with their advisees to help them seek out an area of study that is consistent with their interests, abilities and future plans.

New students to the College will be assigned an advisor prior to the start of the new semester.  Generally, students entering for the fall will be assigned their advisor around the first week of August.  New students enrolling for the spring term will be assigned an advisor by the second week of January.  Once a student is assigned an advisor, they will receive an email with important information regarding the advising process at Marist.

Your advisor knows Marist College, its programs of study, its academic policies and requirements, and its course offerings - particularly in his or her discipline. An advisor can be of invaluable help in working with you to plan your years of study. Most importantly, your advisor can be the person who helps you to better understand how various courses can come together to form a meaningful academic experience. While an academic advisor is not a personal or a career counselor, he or she can help you to find additional support, explore career choices, develop realistic expectations, and seek answers to important questions.

Marist's advisement model is both developmental and intrusive. Toward that end, advisors recognize that students have varying wants, needs, and interests at different points in their academic careers, and the guidance and information that a regular advisement process provides can help students transition from one milestone to the next. Advisors usually post their office hours. During these hours, you can usually drop by to speak to your advisor or to make an appointment for a more in-depth discussion. If your advisor is also one of your instructors, it is relatively easy to request an appointment after class. Administrators who serve as advisors may have administrative assistants who can help you make an appointment.  Students are required to consult with their academic advisors during registration periods to discuss course selection and have their registration hold removed.

Education is a shared responsibility between the College and the student. The College provides educational opportunity and guidance. The student's responsibility embraces not only study, the writing of papers, and the completion of assignments, but also knowing College regulations, course requirements, and the like. In short, students should learn what the College expects and requires of them.

Although several people on the faculty and staff monitor students’ progress toward completing graduation requirements, students at times make costly mistakes or miss opportunities because they have left themselves uninformed or allowed themselves to be misinformed. They should read the Catalog and other sources of information, and they should seek the advice that is available to them. Even students who do not feel the need for advice should remember that advisor approval of registration is necessary, and they should visit advisors regularly as a safeguard against unknowingly straying from regulations or requirements.

Yes, in most cases. It is possible to change your advisor at any time during the academic year. The change request can be made by completing the Advisor Change Form in myMarist > Student tab > Advising-Undergraduate. You will be notified when the advisor change has been made.  Your old advisor and your new advisor will also be notified.  If you requested a particular advisor, we would do our best to make that change. If the change is not possible, a staff member from CAAS will contact you. We suggest you meet with your new advisor as soon as possible. It is wise to request an advisor change well before the registration period, thus allowing adequate time to meet with your new advisor.

Yes. Although some students might have the same advisor during their time at Marist, there are often circumstances which require a change. For example, if you decide to switch your major, you will be assigned to a new advisor within your major field. Students with undeclared majors will be reassigned to someone within their newly declared major. Sometimes circumstances such as a faculty leave will also require a change of advisor. In all cases, you will be notified of the change via email. Please note that advisors are not assigned for minors, your major field advisor can help guide you through the ways in which you have specialized your program of study.

Yes. While your major academic advisor is your main point of contact, there are other sources of support that can supplement the information your academic advisor provides. For example, your First Year Program Coordinator can help you to make the most of advisement periods by helping you prepare before you see your academic advisor. If you are a student-athlete, you will work closely with the Center for Student Athlete Enhancement who will also help you prepare for your advising appointment by discussing scheduling, study hall, and other special services that are available to you.

Students in the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) or Accommodations and Accessibility programs will work closely with staff on balancing course schedules, time management, and study skills. Lastly, Resident Assistants, tutors, and other students may often be available to answer your questions and provide guidance on your academic requirements.