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About the Academic Advising and Planning Center

View the Academic Advising and Planning Center's office hours, staff listing, and contact information. Learn about the role of the AAPC at the College of Charleston below.

Our Vision Statement

Leaders in academic advising expertise, scholarship, and innovation.

Our Mission Statement

The Academic Advising and Planning Center (AAPC) prepares undergraduate students to navigate all aspects of academic planning by promoting an atmosphere that encourages self-exploration and resource utilization in support of academic success, as well as the timely and informed pursuit of an academic major.

We accomplish our mission by:

Engaging students in individualized, technology-enhanced advising appointments wherein they explore their interests, discuss course options, consider majors and plan for the future;
Establishing a relationship based on mutual trust with a diverse student population encouraging students to address academic strengths and challenges;
Actively seeking and providing professional development opportunities for internal and external colleagues.

Ethics Statement

The Academic Advising and Planning Center upholds the following actions to maintain high ethical standards. Additionally, we abide by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education's Statement of Shared Ethical Principles (PDF).

We agree to:

Prioritize the value of the student/advisor relationship and the student's development;
Evaluate each student's individual situation and respond appropriately;
Readdress ethical dilemmas as a group;
Organize meetings with our resource referrals;
Seek help and support from each other.

Student Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes are a set of achieved skills, abilities, knowledge or attitudes that have been demonstrated by the learner in a given learning environment. Visit the Student Learning Outcomes page for details.

As a result of academic advising and planning, students will be able to:

Create a personal path to degree completion
Make a timely and informed pursuit of an academic major
Use campus resources
Find relevant policies and procedures
Recognize the importance of balancing competing priorities

Academic Advising Dialogue

Academic Advising is not just about course selection. There are many factors that play a part in the advising conversation including student's goals, challenges, interests and strengths so that students can develop a thoughtful and intentional academic plan. Students also benefit from discussing academic major options and coordinating career goals with educational opportunities such as internships and study abroad. The image below represents not only the topics we discuss with students but also how much time in each appointment is involved in each part of that conversation. Note that course selection is the smallest part. Another part of the advising conversation involves the Academic Advising Syllabus (PDF), details the academic advising dialogue, homework expectations, and student responsibilities for academic planning.

Academic Advising Dialogue: Establish goals, recognize challenges and competing demands, identify values, strengths, interests, and abilities, develop action plan, and discuss courses

For more information, visit the Academic Advising Syllabus (PDF) page.

Advising at CofC

The Academic Advising and Planning Center serves primarily first year students, first semester transfer students, and undeclared students. View the Advising Model for details. Students assigned to our office are required to meet with their Academic Advisor at least once per semester and in some cases, twice.

Students who have not declared majors are advised through the Academic Advising and Planning Center. All entering degree seeking students are assigned an advisor in the Advising Center and have mandatory advising during their first year. Advising appointments with your assigned advisor in the Academic Advising and Planning Center may be scheduled online through Appointment Manager or by calling the Advising Center: 843.953.5981. Advising appointments should be scheduled beginning in September for the fall term and February for the spring term so that all students can be served prior to their registration time.

Students who declare a major during their first year are assigned faculty advisors through the academic department as well as the Academic Advising and Planning Center to ensure that students receive the focused advising in their discipline of choice and also have access to an academic advisor in the AAPC to consult regarding institutional requirements and resources.

Students are reminded that they are ultimately responsible for their own academic program and course load. Academic Advising and Planning Center services never replace individual student responsibility. The Academic Advising Syllabus (PDF) details the academic advising dialogue, homework expectations, and student responsibilities for academic planning.

Awards and Accolades

Professional Academic Advisors are recognized on the national and regional level through NACADA in the categories of New Outstanding Advisor (less than three years working the profession) and Outstanding Advisor-Primary Role. This is a very rigorous process and we are proud of the recognition members of the Academic Advising and Planning Center have received regionally as well as nationally.

The Advising Profession

Although the advising practice has been on college campuses in some form or fashion since the inception of higher education in the United States, the profession grew in strength and number with the advent of NACADA, the National Academic Advising Association in 1979, which currently has over 10,000 members worldwide. More information about the advising profession and scholarship can be found at NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising.

Articles of particular interest:

If you have a problem accessing our website or any information on it, please contact our main office at 843-953-5981 or advising@cofc.edu and we'll provide you with the information you need, as well as attempt to address the accessibility problem you bring to our attention.