Advising UGA Students

The Office of Student Academic Services in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences provides the guidance that helps UGA students build a foundation for success on campus and in their careers. Each week this summer, hundreds of incoming freshmen and transfer students are getting a glimpse of university life that goes beyond Ramsey Center and the residence halls as the classroom and prospective majors take center stage. With so many decisions to make, academic advisors are here to help students navigate the important academic choices that create the UGA learning environment:

[Franklin College] Advisors foster an environment of trust, respect, and mutual responsibility, while encouraging students to develop an appreciation for the enduring value of the liberal arts experience. Advisors educate students about the unique challenges and diverse possibilities at a large university. Students are encouraged to engage in a process of exploration and self-discovery that ultimately will lead to the realization of their academic and professional goals.

We speak often of the breadth and depth of the Franklin College, its academic offerings and majors, but the list of majors itself is inspiring, expansive, and yes, possibly daunting in many respects. The spectrum of services available to our student population mimic that of a small town; the academic knowledge to determine the specific classes and discover the right major for each student requires a United Nations-level degree of structure, experience, and at times, diplomacy. That's why our advisors' expertise is so crucial to what really matters on campus and the raison d'etre of the entire university: educating students. Thanks to the Office of Student Academic Services and the fine work they do to make our campus world go 'round.

Image: UGA students ringing the Chapel bell during new student orientation, 2014. Photo by Andrew Tucker, courtesy of UGA photo services.