91´«Ã½

In order to deliver consistent advice to students in a holistic manner that considers all University regulations and support services, 91´«Ã½ and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences employ full-time non-academic staff members to handle most routine enquiries about academic programs of study. These advisors actively collaborate with each other, and operate simultaneously but not necessarily in tandem with faculty members who have specialized program expertise. Generally speaking, and subject to change, their roles are understood to entail the following:

• Academic Advising Centre staff offer guidance to prospective students, first year students (below 30 credit hours), undeclared students and those transitioning between programs.
• Full-time advisors employed by the Office of the Dean offer guidance to students who have declared a program in the Humanities and Social Sciences, with emphasis on students who have completed 30 to 60 credit hours. They also provide assistance with course selection for students with more than 60 credit hours based on audit reports.
• Office of the Registrar staff offer guidance to students who have completed 60+ credit hours. For instance, an Assistant Registrar is primarily responsible for advising students on their academic progress and on the overall components of degrees for the purpose of graduation, based on their expertise in understanding the University Calendar, ensuring that academic policies and procedures are enforced and maintained. This includes preparing an academic degree audit.

Notwithstanding the above, a department is often the first point of contact for a student, and full-time advisors external to the academic unit may not be familiar with program or course details. Conversely, the Office of the Registrar, the Academic Advising Centre, the Dean’s Office, full-time advisors and students depend on academic units for timely and appropriate revisions to curriculum.