ACADEMIC ADVISING

Gonzaga University offers a wide variety of courses and programs. So that students may take full and informed advantage of these many offerings, the University places great emphasis on academic advising.

All students are assigned to faculty advisors who can provide information about programs and requirements. These advisors are given information on the academic background of the advisees. Although advisors assist in drawing up class schedules and checking for individual requirements and prerequisites, students have the personal responsibility of fulfilling the academic requirements as set forth in the University Catalogue.

All students must have their schedule of classes approved by their advisor each semester. At mid-term each semester, advisees should meet with their advisors to receive mid-term grade reports, review academic progress and discuss appropriate future course schedules.

Advisors are available for consultation during their designated office hours and other times by arrangement. The University expects that students will take advantage of the assistance which advisors can provide in course planning, interpretation of University policies and requirements, clarification of academic and career goals, understanding and using established processes for exemptions to University policies, and making use of the opportunities provided at Gonzaga for a satisfying and profitable experience.

Although advisors cannot change University policy or departmental requirements, they can assist students in submitting a petition for a waiver to the appropriate office. Students should take special care that all approved petitions are placed in their permanent file in the Registrar’s office. They should also make sure that both they and their advisors keep copies of such material.

Close and long-term relationships with advisors can obviously be very helpful in the educational process. Advisors will sometimes take the initiative in contacting their advisees, but students are expected to visit their advisor at regular intervals.

Students are free to request a change of advisor. Forms are available in the Academic Deans’ offices.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students are presumed to have sufficient maturity to recognize their responsibility for regular class attendance. Since illness or other good reasons may prevent attendance, Gonzaga University has a standard policy on absences. This policy stipulates that the maximum allowable absences are two (2) class hours (100 minutes) for each class credit. For the three-credit class, the maximum absence is, therefore, six class hours (300 minutes). Classes scheduled to meet for more than 50 minutes have more than one class hour for each meeting (e.g., a class which meets for 75 minutes has one and one-half hours for each scheduled meeting). Instructors may report absences to the Registrar’s Office, which will in turn notify the students. The proper grade for excessive absence is “V,” which has the same effect as F and is counted in the GPA. Participation in school activities or athletics does not exempt students from this standard policy on absences. The fact that a student has met other course requirements (such as papers) is not sufficient to change a V to a passing grade.

ACADEMIC SERVICES (link)

This office is designed to centralize into one area services for students and faculty regarding academic information, advising, and academic policies. This office serves students and faculty needing assistance with:

• Academic planning
• Special advising questions and cases
• Dual enrollment student advising
• New student registration
• Withdrawals/leaves of absence from the University
• Academic standing/Academic probation
• Academic transition issues
• Academic crisis
• Academic Honesty
• General academic policy issues