Family role

Family members are crucial to a student’s success. Today’s college students often look up to their family members as mentors and role models. Positive reinforcement can be extremely helpful. It is important for family members to engage in their student’s academic planning and decision-making. And it is equally important that they help their students become self-advocates.

We have academic advisors ready to share their wisdom and experiences with your student. However, we understand that it will be a transition to shift primary responsibility from you, as a family member, to your student. We want you to know the roles your student and the advisor share in the advising experience. And we want to encourage you to turn responsibility over to your student. With your encouragement, we know that your student can grow into an amazing professional and Elon alum!

Student role

Student responsibility is the key to all development and learning (Davis & Murrell, 2003). We emphasize the student role as the more responsibility the students have for their educational journey, the more meaningful it will be. Academic advisors and family members encourage students to grow into this responsibility. In all, students will:

  • Be responsible for their own learning and understanding
  • Monitor their own academic progress
  • Learn the degree requirements of Elon University
  • Communicate with their advisor regarding issues and/or concerns about academic or student life
  • Attend classes
  • Manage time to be best prepared for classes
  • Become familiar with university resources
  • Understand and adhere to university policies

Academic advisor role

Advisors do more than help students register for class. Advisors foster and encourage personal and intellectual growth in students (Crookston, 1972). They are well-informed about Elon’s student resources, which enables them to assist students in navigating these resources and opportunities. They assist in the student developing a meaningful education plan that is compatible with the student’s personal and/or career goals. The advisor continues to encourage the student to take ownership of their educational journey in the following ways:

  • Help the students understand their personal responsibilities toward academic success
  • Monitor student progress and guide the student toward academic success
  • Act as a liaison between the institution and student
  • Act as an advocate for the student
  • Refer the student to appropriate institutional resources

      Source: Menezes, M. D. (2005). Advisors and parents: Together building stronger advising relationships. Retrieved from the NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site.