University of Southern Maine

At probably every college and university, each student is assigned an academic advisor.  That’s because the school knows it can be valuable for students to talk with professors about more than just what is going to be on the next test.  But assigning students to one “Academic Advisor” can confuse students. Students sometimes get the feeling the faculty advisor they are assigned to is the only person they can ask questions. Not true! Also, students sometime feel the advisor should have all the answers to every possible question. This is also not true. Actually, every professor and every staff person can be your advisor. By asking questions from several people, you will find some are naturally much more helpful to you than others. You will get along really well with some and you can gravitate toward them and ask them more questions even though they aren't your "official" advisor. Perhaps you may even decide to change your academic advisor. But, again, the key is that you should not rely on your official academic advisor for everything.

O.K., but what kinds of stuff could you go and talk with a professor or staff about? Helping you discover that is one of the major goals of ARS110. As a new student at USM, you will be meeting new people. In ARS110, we want to take advantage of that to help you learn how to meet people who can help you create a valuable college education that is uniquely your own. Some students begin college with a special interest, hobby, or passion. You can use that to build connections and a network of academic relationships right away. The topic doesn't have to fit into your eventual major. It might even be something that you didn't expect to study further in college. It may be a topic that isn't covered in any course. They key is that the topic is something that you enjoy and will motivate you to reach out on your own to discover new people and resources. You may discover these new connections help you out in ways you couldn't have imagined.

O.K., that's fine, but even though most professors can be helpful and nice, nevertheless, for lots of students talking with a professor is easier said than done! A big part of ARS110 is intended to help you with that. Everyone needs support and encouragement because college is definitely a series of ups and downs. In ARS110 we can build academic friendships within the class that each student can use as a stepping stone toward making more connections. One thing everyone in the class will have in common is that it is your first semester at USM. In the ARS110 calssroom, we will do several activities that help support and encourage our communication skills and confidence. As we get to know each other and the guest presenters that will visit the class, we'll reflect on listening skills as well as speaking and writing. In doing so, we will hope to help make your transition to a new school successful by helping you connect with new people and resources in your new environment.