Academic advising for Linfield students

Every Linfield student has a faculty or professional advisor who provides guidance and mentorship throughout the Linfield journey. Consultation with and/or approval by the advisor is required for many of the academic program decisions that students make. Because academic advising is based on a system of shared responsibility, students are expected to prepare for and attend regular meetings with their advisors throughout their studies at Linfield.

Links to Student Advising Information

• Preparing for your advising appointment
• Complete Pre-Registration Checklist
• Register for classes using the Registration Guide page
• Declare Your Major

The student’s responsibilities in the advising relationship are to:

• Take the initiative to contact and become acquainted with your faculty advisor, and help your faculty advisor get to know you. Be mindful of the need to work with your faculty advisor during posted office hours or make other arrangements in advance.
• Consult with your faculty advisor about changes in your academic progress, course selection and academic, career and life goals.
• Notify your faculty advisor immediately whenever a serious problem (medical, financial, personal) disrupts your ability to attend classes or interferes with your ability to focus on your education and to perform your best work.
• Prepare for meetings with your faculty advisor by gathering relevant decision-making information, creating a list of questions and drafting a course schedule (if the meeting is focused on course selection for the coming semester).
• Keep a personal record of your progress toward your degree. Organize official college documents (catalog, Academic Evaluation, etc.) and bring them with you to advising meetings.
• Be familiar with the Linfield Curriculum, GPA, and major(s) and minor(s) requirements. Schedule courses each semester in accordance with those requirements.
• Follow Linfield procedures when registering for courses and making adjustments to your class schedule.
• Observe academic deadlines. Know when to register and when to drop or add classes. Schedule an appointment with your advisor well in advance of these deadlines.
• Take the initiative to investigate options for changing advisors if you no longer have an interest in the advisor’s area and/or a positive relationship is not developing. A change of advisor request can be completed through the Declaration of Academic Program/Change of Advisor Form through Etrieve.

Advising Resources

• Pre-Professional Advising
• Nationally Competitive Scholarships
• Major Declaration and Switching Advisors
• Information for Undecided Students and assistance in choosing a major

Academic Resources

• Academic Difficulty
• Zero to Success in 100 Days
• Keeping on Track

Forms

• Academic Plan Worksheet (Word Doc | PDF)
• LCs and Degree Requirements Worksheet (PDF)
• Declaration of Academic Program / Change of Advisor
• Weekly Schedule Worksheet (Word Doc | PDF)

I'm struggling in my classes. Where can I go for help?

Learning Support Services provides help to students with time management, note-taking, and test-taking strategies. Tutoring for specific courses may also available. 

Can I take summer classes and transfer them to Linfield?

Yes. Credit earned at another accredited institution can be transferred to Linfield and applied toward a student’s academic program. Students wishing to take classes at another school may obtain pre-approval for such work by completing the Approval for Study at a Domestic Institution Outside Linfield University form (available from the registrar’s office).

How do I change Advisors?

Students are welcome to change faculty advisors at any time however, once a major has been chosen, the faculty advisor must be in that academic department. Change of advisor requires approval from the new advisor. Students uncertain about the choice of a new faculty advisor should ask for assistance from the Office of Academic Advising. View a list of Linfield's faculty advisors for more information.

I am double majoring. Do I need to declare a faculty advisor for each major?

If you are double majoring, it is required to have a faculty advisor for each of your majors. You may do this by obtaining approval of both new advisors on the Declaration of Academic Program / Advisor Change form in Etrieve.