Academic Advising
The mission of academic advising at Rhodes College is to promote student learning. Faculty advisers serve as both teachers and mentors, guiding students in understanding the nature and purpose of a liberal education. Advisers assist students in developing educational goals, selecting appropriate courses, and planning coherent programs of study. Through this process, advisers encourage students to become independent, self-motivated learners who take responsibility for fulfilling degree requirements and pursuing their long-term academic and professional goals.
Assisted by the academic advisor, students learn to:
- understand the nature of a liberal arts education
- assess their strengths, challenges, and areas for growth
- formulate educational and career goals
- develop a course of action to achieve those goals
Student Success Resources
The Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success (CLASS) is a collaborative unit within the Division of Student Life that offers academic support, accessibility services, and student outreach. Its mission is to provide equitable access and student support, fostering skill development so that all students can develop, persist, and succeed in college and beyond. Staff members on the CLASS Team meet with students who need academic encouragement, mentoring, and individualized support.
- The Office of Academic and Learning Resources (ALR) supports student learning and holistic development by providing equitable access to academic support services. ALR offers academic coaching, supplemental instruction, workshops, and other resources to strengthen essential academic skills and promote lifelong learning. The office also connects students with departmental tutors and other campus resources to support their academic success.
- The Office of Student Accessibility Services provides reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids on a case-by-case basis for qualified students who have a demonstrated need for these services under the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. Accommodations are designed to meet student needs without fundamentally altering the nature of the College’s instructional programs. All accommodation requests are the responsibility of the student. Prospective students with disability access concerns should contact the Office of Admission. Enrolled students with disabilities should contact Student Accessibility Services to request accommodations and to discuss specific barriers to inclusion.
- Through the Office of Student Accessibility Services, ADHD/Executive Function Coaching is available to all students, with no diagnosis required. Laser Coaching consists of free group coaching sessions focused on planning and prioritizing each week. Private one-on-one weekly coaching is also available for an additional fee. Students and families can schedule a free consultation to learn how ADHD Coaching may fit their student's individual needs.
- The Office of Student Outreach & Support supports students as they face personal or medical challenges impacting their ability to be successful students. Support is tailored to the individual student’s needs. Support may include helping determine and evaluate options and make decisions, connecting to referral resources, and navigating college processes and policies.
Career Advising
The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) staff assists students in evaluating majors, exploring career fields, and preparing for post-graduation plans. Students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with a CCPD staff member as early as their first year to take advantage of career advising, internships, and programs that will lead to future success.
- Pre-Professional Advising
The Rhodes liberal arts curriculum provides students with a solid foundation for future study. As students enter their sophomore or junior year, they should identify faculty members who can assist with course selection and other academic opportunities to ensure they have the background needed to pursue an advanced degree. It is important to note that some graduate programs will require specific courses for admission, while others will consider a wide breadth of upper-level coursework to be more appealing. Students should consult their faculty advisor for guidance on the types of courses most relevant to an advanced degree in their chosen field of study or seek pre-professional advisement from designated faculty advisors in Medicine and the Health Sciences, Business, and Law. The advisors named below have this information and should be consulted early in one’s undergraduate work.
- Accounting: Professor Wendy Bailey
- Architecture: Professor Karl Erickson
- Business:
- Accounting: Professor Wendy Bailey
- Finance: Professor Jade Planchon
- Marketing: Professor Sujan Dan
- Civil and Foreign Service: Professor Stephen Ceccoli
- Clinical Psychology: Professor Amanda Hasselle
- Education Professions: Professor Joseph Kelly
- Engineering: Professor Ann Viano and Professor David Rupke
- Health Professions and Veterinary Medicine: Director Melissa Campbell
- Law & Mock Trial: Professor Anna Eldridge
- Ministry and Church-Related Professions: Professor Stephen Haynes and Chaplain Beatrix Weil
- Museum Curation: Professor Victor Coonin and Professor Joel Parsons
- Music: Professor Courtenay Harter
- Non-Profit Management and Administration: Professor Peter Hossler
- Spatial Data Analysis and Cartography: Professor Shaolu Yu and Professor Kate Shields
- Theatre: Professor Joy Brooke Fairfield
- Urban Planning, Urban Design, and Urban Public Policy: Professor Shaolu Yu
- Preparation for Graduate Study and Beyond
The Center for Career and Professional Development offers opportunities to engage with employers and graduate school representatives through programs such as Meet the Firms, Graduate School Expo, Fall and Spring Career Fairs, and other networking events.
Approximately 34.94% of Rhodes students will enroll in a graduate or professional degree program within a year of graduation. Students can enhance their marketability for graduate school by prioritizing academic study, participating in academic research, completing internships, and/or taking on leadership and service roles. Staff in the CCPD serve as a resource for students, offering guidance on graduate school applications, including essays and interviews.
To see where students are going after graduating from Rhodes College, view the Post Graduate Reports for graduate employment and graduate school information below: