Introduction to Advising in the College
Find out how the College is here to support your academic success!
The College of Arts and Sciences values each student for what they bring to our community. For that reason, we provide each student with a team of advisors who are committed to providing holistic, supportive guidance-- your Pre-Major Advisor, your Academic Advising Dean, and your Major Advisor. We work actively to assist you in charting an academic path that is responsive to your ambitions and respectful of your right to make the choices that matter. Read more about your advising team below!
The College also hosts the College Advising Fellows. Under the leadership of the College's Director of Undergraduate Advising, this core group of pre-major advisors is committed to the continual improvement of advising in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Your Pre-Major Advisor
As an student in the College, you have a Pre-Major Advisor for academic guidance from the time you step on grounds in your first semester until you declare a major. For some students, this Pre-Major Advisor is also your COLA or EGMT instructor. For others, your Pre-Major Advisor is a member of the College Faculty who specializes in undergraduate advising. Your Pre-Major Advisor is committed to your academic success and is a great resource for:
- Help settling in your first semester
- Questions about your general education requirements
- Questions about course selection for the upcoming semester
- Getting your advising hold lifted before course enrollment
Need to find out who your Pre-Major Advisor is? They are listed in SIS under “program advisor". Email them to make an appointment-- they are eager to help!
Your Academic Advising Dean
Every student in the College has an Academic Advising Dean who serves as an essential advising resource. Your Advising Dean stays constant across your undergraduate career. The Academic Advising Deans work in Monroe Hall, home of the College’s undergraduate advising offices. The undergraduate advising office staff can set you up with an appointment to meet with your dean and there is also drop-in advising on weekdays from 2:30-4 through zoom "Dean of the Day".
Reach out to your Academic Advising Dean for:
- Conversations about your academic and life goals
- Help when you are struggling academically
- Referrals to other support offices
- Questions about academic policies
- Help with College forms and procedures
You can find your Academic Advising Dean by following the link below. To make an appointment, call 434-924-3351, M-F, 8-5 or stop by Monroe 101.
Academic Advising Deans
Your Major Advisor
When you declare a major, that department will assign you a Major Advisor who will replace your Pre-Major Advisor and will be your main point of academic advising until you graduate. Prior to declaring a major, you can also seek advice from each major’s Director of Undergraduate Program (DUP), a departmental faculty member who assists students in the process of declaring a major. If you are considering a specific major, we encourage contacting the DUP early so you can successfully prepare to declare and complete the program.
Majors Overview
Together, your Pre-Major Advisor, your Academic Advising Dean, and your Major Advisor form your core advising team in the College. They care about you and your academic success and are eager to get to know you! Check out these other resources as well.
Advising for Your Life After UVA
Advising at UVA goes beyond charting your academic course for four years of study: there is also a wealth of resources to help you develop and refine ideas about what you want to achieve and where you see yourself headed after graduation. Regardless of your major, your UVA education will prepare you for success after graduation, honing your critical thinking skills, refining your problem-solving abilities, improving your collaborative skills, training you in effective communication, and strengthening your ability to meet new challenges.
When you are ready, check out the College's resources for Career Advising and Preparation.