Academic Advising Syllabus
Email: crousecenter@aurora.edu
Phone: 630-844-6870
Academic Advising Website: aurora.edu/crousecenter
Office Locations: Eckhart Hall 310 (Main Office), Dunham Hall 103, Alumni Hall 136
Office Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (school year); 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (summer)
Drop-In Advising: Fridays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (school year); 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (summer)
Call our main office at 630-844-6870 or request an appointment online.
Meet the Crouse Center staff.
Academic advising is a collaborative process that helps you develop an educational plan to reach your specific academic and career goals. Your advisor will also guide you in understanding the objectives and requirements of your degree.
The Crouse Center for Academic Advising provides personalized, proactive advising and mentoring to guide on-campus undergraduate students on their path to a successful academic experience at Aurora University. From your first day at AU, your dedicated academic advisor is here to support you in making informed decisions about your academic journey, connecting you with campus resources, and helping you to reach your goals.
Your advisor is a valuable resource in assisting you to:
- Creating Your Personalized Degree Plan at Aurora University: Together, you and your advisor will develop a clear and efficient plan for completing your degree, including course selection, understanding major and minor requirements, and staying on track for graduation. All students walk away from their first appointment with an advisor with an academic plan, start to finish.
- Exploring Majors and Career Goals with Your Advisor: Advisors help you consider various academic interests and potential career paths, enabling you to choose or change majors or minors that best align with your goals. If you are pursuing a pre-professional program, your advisor can help you research graduate programs and ensure you have the correct pre-requisite courses.
- Accessing Campus Resources through Academic Advising: Academic advisors can connect you with tutoring, internship and career services, campus life, and other resources that enrich your academic and personal development. Think of your advisor as your point person helping you get settled into AU!
- Supporting Your Success: Whether you need guidance in time management, goal setting, or overcoming academic challenges, your advisor is available and takes a proactive approach to help you succeed at AU.
The Crouse Center for Academic Advising is a team of professional, student-focused academic advisors dedicated to supporting the success of Aurora University students from orientation to graduation. We recognize that each student’s academic journey is unique, and we are committed to providing holistic, proactive, and personalized guidance through intentional and supportive mentorship. Crouse Center advisors are approachable advocates who empower students to make informed decisions, set meaningful goals, and thrive within AU’s inclusive and purpose-driven community.
Proactively incorporating the NACE competencies into academic advising greatly enhances the advising experience by preparing students not only for academic success, but also for career readiness and lifelong skills. Here’s how these competencies are integrated into academic advising in the Crouse Center:
- Critical Thinking
- Advisors help students analyze academic challenges and career options.
- Advisors encourage reflection on student’s decisions and strategies to overcome obstacles in order to develop fundamental problem-solving skills.
- Communication
- Advisors guide students on effective oral and written communication skills for class presentations, papers, and professional emails.
- Advisors offer resources or referrals for improving communication skills.
- Teamwork
- Advisors encourage involvement in group projects, clubs, or leadership roles.
- Advisors discuss the importance of collaboration in academic and professional settings.
- Technology
- Advisors support students in using university platforms (e.g., degree audits, online registration).
- Advisors encourage learning relevant digital skills related to their fields.
- Leadership
- Advisors identify and promote leadership opportunities on campus.
- Advisors coach students on developing leadership skills through clubs, organizations, or volunteer work.
- Professionalism
- Advisors discuss the importance of punctuality, responsibility, and ethics in academic work and beyond.
- Advisors model professionalism in all advising interactions.
- Career and Self-Development
- Advisors help students explore majors and careers that aligned with their strengths and interests.
- Advisors assist with internships, networking, and goal-setting.
- Equity and Inclusion
- Advisors encourage study abroad programs, multicultural events, and inclusive campus activities.
- Advisors help students appreciate diverse perspectives and cultural competence.
- Professional advisors are assigned to students from freshman year through senior year through a centralized advising model based on primary major.
- Student Services
- Aurora University Undergraduate Catalog
- Undergraduate Academic Standards
Advisor and Student Expectations
| Advisor’s Expectations | Student’s Expectations |
|---|---|
| Create an open, respectful, and inclusive environment where all students feel a sense of belonging. | Schedule and attend advising appointments at least once each semester (three meetings required for freshman). |
| Answer student questions in a timely manner. | Attending advising appointments on time and prepared with questions, relevant paperwork, and course ideas. |
| Support and engage students in collaborative process of developing clear and attainable academic, career, and personal goals. | Ask for clarification if advice is unclear or specific, stated concern is not addressed. |
| Understand and effectively communicate Aurora University degree requirements, deadlines, policies, and procedures. | Check and take responsibility for contents of their AU email account on a regular basis with the understanding that this is the primary role of communication with students at the university. |
| Refer students to appropriate campus resources and services as needed to facilitate academic, career, and personal development. | Read and understand university degree requirements, deadlines, policies, and procedures as outlined in the online university catalog. |
| Consult with other advisors or other university employees when student presents questions in which you are unsure of the accurate response. | Review their academic progress utilizing the My Progress page in Self-Service (Student Planning) on a regular basis. |
| Maintain confidentiality in accordance with FERPA laws. | Explore and familiarize themselves with campus resources, services, and opportunities that will assist in meeting their goals. |
| Develop a holistic, proactive, and transformative relationship with all student advisees. | Participate in and assume full responsibility for all decisions and actions that may impact their academic, career, and personal goals. |
Below is a set of outcomes each student should learn by engaging in academic advising. The Crouse Center for Academic Advising wants to ensure that after meeting with their advisor,
Students will be able to:
- Understand the requirements for earning their degree.
- Navigate the academic features in Self-Service.
- Articulate the academic resources available on campus.
Suggested Professional Etiquette for Academic Advising
Often your initial interaction with advisors and instructors is via email. These tips will help ensure you make a strong first impression.
- Use your AU email address for all communications. An email coming from your official AU Outlook account is marked as legitimate and less likely to end up in a spam or junk folder. Sending an email through your AU email also acts as your digital signature.
- Always include a descriptive subject line. A brief explanation of the nature of the email is best: “Registration Questions,” “Advising Appointment,” etc.
- Include a proper greeting. “Dear Professor Williams,” “Hello Dr. Jones,” “Good afternoon Ms. Smith,” etc.
- Use complete sentences, proper grammar, and spell check. Don’t use texting abbreviations or type in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Proofread your message.
- Be polite.
- Be specific and concise. Include relevant, clear information, and keep your message short and sweet.
- Signoffs and signatures matter. Always end your message with a closing (“Sincerely,” “Regards,” “Best wishes,” “Thank you,” etc.) and your first and last name, as well as ID Number.
- Email goes where it’s told. Check — and double check — to ensure you’ve used the correct email address for the recipient.
Other Professional Tips
- Check your AU email daily and respond to emails in a timely manner.
- Schedule your advising appointment(s) early, especially for registration, if you need assistance. Don’t wait until the last minute!
- If you have access to online registration, register for classes as soon as you can, as classes fill up quickly.
- Take advantage of the advising and academic resources that AU has to offer.
- Come prepared to your advising meeting with questions and any concerns.
- A simple “thank you” goes a long way.
- Take advantage of office hours and drop-in hours.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Aurora University embraces principles of free expression and civil discourse, which are central to our ability to fulfill our transformative mission. We affirm that our campus community has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to hold opinions without interference, to engage in civil discourse and respectful disagreement, and to seek, receive, and impart diverse ideas in Aurora University venues. As educators, we prize our long and rich heritage of welcoming all learners and supporting their aspirations to achieve lasting personal and professional success. In pursuit of this purpose, we pledge our best efforts to celebrate diversity, advocate for equity, and practice inclusivity.
Aurora University is committed to providing a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect. Aurora University does not discriminate, or tolerate discrimination, against any member of its community on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex/gender, gender identity, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in matters of admissions, employment, or in any aspect of the educational programs or activities it offers.
Sex discrimination, sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and sexual exploitation), and interpersonal violence (including dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) are serious offenses that have major consequences for the victim, the respondent, and campus community and are prohibited by Aurora University Policy Statements A-1 and A-2 in the A-Book (student handbook). Aurora University is committed to addressing sexual misconduct and will not tolerate any sexual misconduct in accordance with Title IX and other relevant federal legislation. For additional information regarding this policy, please visit aurora.edu/sexual-misconduct.
Notice of mandatory reporting of sexual assault, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, and stalking: As an academic advisor, I am designated as a “Confidential Informant,” and must report all disclosures of sexual assault, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, and stalking to Aurora University’s Title IX Coordinator. If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact one of the campus’s confidential resources, such as Counseling Services at 630-844-5416, Health Services at 630-844-5434, or the University Chaplain at 630-844-6866. You may also seek assistance or support measures from Aurora University’s Title IX Coordinator by calling 630-844-4578 or emailing abrady@aurora.edu.