Our holistic, proactive, and inclusive approach to advising at Marquette University centers on building relationships with students to support their academic performance and success at every stage of their academic journey beginning with their admission and through graduation. Grounded in the Jesuit concept of cura personalis, advising the “whole student” helps our students reach their full potential. This collaborative process strives to provide students with accurate, timely, and supportive guidance while also recognizing their individual values, motivations, and lived experiences. In addition to helping clarify the role and responsibilities of students, advising helps foster increased student responsibility to develop and achieve academic and career goals. Advising is an essential process that engages students in ongoing reflection on the impact of decisions they make both inside and outside the classroom.

Advisors are important advocates for students and often their first point of contact on campus. Students can find their assigned advisors online via the Student Homepage in CheckMarq.

Adviser and Student Expectations

Marquette University is committed to the shaping of students’ intellectual and personal development. Academic advising contributes substantially to this mission. It assumes a good working relationship between advisers and students. At Marquette University we strive to provide advising within the following set of expectations:

Students can expect their advisors to:

• Provide timely individual guidance, connection to resources, and help in problem-solving throughout the different stages of a student’s academic journey.
• Support the development of a plan to achieve student’s personal, academic, and professional goals, helping students anticipate and address challenges, and advocate for their best interests.
• Attend meetings prepared, available to listen, and ready to communicate in ways that respect who students are and where students come from.
• Maintain confidentiality and understand the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Foster a supportive and flexible environment, via multiple communication channels, to help students feel comfortable.
• Remain up to date on academic program requirements, policies and deadlines.
• Be knowledgeable about campus resources and provide advice and guidance on how to access and use them.
• Effectively document advising notes to maintain a historical record of communication and support provided throughout a student’s academic career.

For advisors to serve the holistic needs of Marquette students as they progress in their academic programs, students take responsibility for the following: 

• Embrace the idea that advising is a collaborative partnership to maximize individual potential.
• Be actively engaged in the process of developing personal and academic goals. This involves providing honest and accurate information about interests, values, goals and challenges.
• Prepare for advising sessions by developing semester schedules that fulfill graduation requirements
• Practice professionalism, including honoring all advising appointments and communicating respectfully and in a timely manner. Take responsibility for understanding academic program requirements, policies and deadlines. Be familiar with the undergraduate bulletin and the academic calendar.
• Be familiar with common Marquette University technology platforms.

Note: The above statement evolved from a collaborative effort including members of Deans Council, CAPS, UBUS (University Board of Undergraduate Studies) and MUSG (Marquette University Student Government). The NACADA core values are the source for much of the foundational information contained herein. The policy was reviewed by all these groups in October 2023; revised endorsed by these groups in December 2023; and approved by University Board of Undergraduate Studies on 1/17/24.