Handbook - Mechanical Engineering - Iowa State University

YOU AND YOUR ADVISOR
Your academic advisor will work with you to ensure you are making satisfactory progress towards your
academic and career goals. Seek advice from your advisor as you would seek assistance from a legal or
financial advisor, keeping in mind that:
Your advisor can only advise you with respect to completion of the requirements for a
mechanical engineering degree; he or she cannot and will not make decisions for you.
Your advisor can provide you with an objective perspective and help you find ways to resolve
many issues.
Academic advisors in the Kiewit Undergraduate Student Services Center can help you find answers to
questions you may have and direct you to other campus resources. For questions related to financial aid
or housing issues, you should contact financial aid counselors and residence advisors. Don’t wait for your
advisor to contact you if you have questions or are experiencing academic problems - by then it may be
too late! You are invited to drop by the Kiewit Undergraduate Student Services Center anytime during
office hours, Monday through Friday. Although you may set up an appointment with an advisor after the
first two weeks of classes, appointments are not generally required. Students are also free to contact
their advisor through email.
Every student has a formally assigned advisor (the advisor’s name is located on AccessPlus under
―Current Student Info‖ and also on your degree audit). More often than not, you will have a quick
question that any one of the advisors can answer. If you prefer, however, you may request to visit with
or schedule an appointment with your assigned advisor.
Advisors in the Kiewit Undergraduate Student Services Center will be kept informed about your academic
progress. They will receive copies of most correspondence to you from the University. Even though your
advisor will be available to assist you, you are expected to be aware of University policies. You are also
expected to know your degree requirements and to plan schedules in order to meet those requirements.
Finally, your advisor can help you only to the extent that she/he understands your concerns.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
You, the student, are responsible in making sure your program of study satisfies all
graduation requirements.
• Be aware of all important dates/deadlines (i.e., last day to drop a course, scheduling dates, etc.)
• Know which catalog/bulletin is dictating your degree requirements
• Review the mechanical engineering degree requirements and identify critical paths (i.e. the path to
ME 436 is a seven semester sequence that begins with Math 165!)
• Plan your program of study
• Review your degree audit and resolve any questions you have about it in a timely manner
• Capitalize upon the resources at your disposal
Lack of awareness of the policies, procedures, and expectations of the College of
Engineering and the University will only result in a delayed graduation.
2009 Kiewit Undergraduate Student Services Center
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