About Academic Advising
Academic advisors are professional staff or faculty who have been specifically trained to help you with your plans and goals during college and beyond. They are available year-round to introduce you to opportunities and help you make decisions about your academic journey.
Advising is a Partnership
At UW-Madison, advising is a partnership between you and the network of advisors you build during your time here. Advising is not limited to certain topics or specific months of year. Your advisors are here to introduce you to opportunities and help you make decisions.
Here are a few things academic advisors can offer:
- Expertise on academic requirements: Advisors know what courses you need to complete and are excellent resources to help you plan your coursework.
- Four-year planning: Advisors can help you set goals, develop long-term plans, and stay on track for graduation.
- Assistance working through challenges: Whether it’s a hold on your account, challenges in a particular class, or personal struggles impacting your life on campus, academic advisors can offer advice and connect you with resources across campus.
- Getting involved on campus: Academic advisors are incredibly knowledgeable about campus and can help you engage with campus organizations, volunteer opportunities, research, and many other programs.
- And more! When you aren’t sure where to turn, academic advisors are a great first stop.
On this page
Advising Pro Tip
It is highly recommended that every student schedules at least one advising appointment each semester!
Assigned Advisors
Every student at UW–Madison has at least one assigned academic advisor. That assigned advisor is based on which school or college you’re in, what you’re studying, and how far into your academic career you are. Some students might only have one assigned advisor, while others have multiple. Learn more about each type of advisor below.
School or college advisors
Some UW–Madison students are admitted directly into a school or college—but not necessarily into a specific major.
If this is you, you’ll begin your time on campus assigned to an advisor or an advising team from that school or college.
Cross-College Advising Service (CCAS) advisors
CCAS is a community of advisors who support undecided and exploring students. If you’re not prepared to select a major quite yet, CCAS advisors can help you explore and select coursework that’s right for you!
Major or certificate advisors
Once you declare a major, you’ll be assigned an academic advisor specific to that major. In most cases, this advisor will replace your general school or college advisor.
If you were directly admitted into a major or declared a major at SOAR, you’ll already have a major advisor when you begin your first semester. If you decide to declare a certificate, a certificate advisor will also be assigned to you.
Specialized advisors
Students who are part of specific programs may also be assigned to additional advisors with expertise in the requirements and expectations of those programs.
Examples include athletics, academic programs like the Center for Educational Opportunity, and scholarship programs like POSSE and the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program—just to name a few.
Career advisors
Some schools, colleges or major programs assign career advisors to their students. These advisors are specialists in career advising, and are an excellent resource for students at any stage of their academic journey. To learn more about career advising, visit careers.wisc.edu.
Ready to connect with an academic advisor?
Preparing For an Advising Meeting
To make the most of your advising meeting, it’s helpful to prepare in advance. The suggestions below can help you make the most of your time.
Remember: Final decisions are always up to you. Your advisor is a guide and resource, but you are ultimately responsible for your academics.
Self reflect
Before you meet with your academic advisor, spend some time reflecting on your personal goals, interests, strengths, and skills. Think about what motivates you, the subjects you enjoy most, and the areas where you’d like to grow.
This information will be critical for an advisor to best support you.
Prepare questions
Come with specific goals and questions to guide your conversation. Here are some examples:
- I’m interested in exploring [topic], what courses do you recommend?
- What extracurricular activities would you suggest to prepare me for my desired career?
- Am I prepared to graduate by [date]?
Do your research
To make the most of the time you have, it’s important to do some preliminary research based on what you’re hoping to discuss. This might include requirements for your major, course options or ideas, career interests, or study abroad programs that interest you.
No matter what you plan to discuss, check DARS ahead of time so you know what your degree progress looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answer: No. Your education records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). You would have to give written consent to UW–Madison before any information was shared with external parties without you present—including your family. Learn more about FERPA.
Your advisor is responsible for clarifying information about university policies and procedures, as well as major requirements. It’s their job to stay up-to-date so you can trust their advice. It’s also important to remember that you’re in charge of your education, and advisors are here to help!
Advisors will provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment where you can feel safe asking questions and discussing your needs. Advising appointments are confidential, unless there are special circumstances (learn more about mandatory reporting requirements for advisors).
You can expect advisors to make suggestions, explain the benefits and drawbacks of decisions, and make referrals to the right services. Sometimes your assigned advisor may also refer you to another academic advisor to help you with specific questions.
Your assigned advisor will often change when you officially declare your major. You might also add new advisors if you declare multiple majors or certificates.
Absolutely. Meeting with different advisors is a great way to learn more about programs that you’re interested in. There are also advisors for non-academic units like Financial Aid who are available to everyone.
You can search for advisors or advising services through Starfish, or go directly to an advising unit’s website to figure out how to schedule with someone who isn’t assigned to you. Your assigned advisor may also refer you to another academic advisor to help you with specific questions or concerns.
Some advisors do limit appointments to students who are assigned to them. If you are unable to make an appointment with a particular advisor, check that advising unit’s website for contact information and reach out to that advisor directly. You can always ask your assigned advisor for further guidance.
For Parents and Families
Although advisors do not work directly with parents and families, we realize they are an essential part of a student’s support system. We recommend that parents and families encourage students to reach out to their advisors and connect with campus resources!
Interested in connecting with resources for parents and families of enrolled UW-Madison students?