Advisors can make a large university seem less formidable.  Come in at least once each semester to review your progress, check requirements, and plan for next semester.  Students are welcome to come in more frequently.

Academic advising is available to undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Social Work.  Judy Switzky, M.S.S.W., and Belinda Velazquez, M.S.S.W., provide advising to all social work and social welfare undergraduates and all master's students.  Individual faculty provide advising to all Ph.D. students, first through a temporary advisor when a doctoral student enters the program and then through a permanent advisor or Major Professor who also serves as the Chair of the student's dissertation committee.

ADVISING COMPACT

The University holds advisors and students to the following responsibilities as part of an advising compact. 

Students are responsible for:

•    Knowing the requirements of their particular academic program, selecting courses that meet those requirements in an appropriate time frame, and monitoring their progress toward graduation;

•    Consulting with appropriate advisors designated to handle the kinds of questions or concerns they have;

•    Scheduling and keeping academic advising appointments in a timely manner throughout their academic career, as to avoid seeking advising only during busy registration periods; and

•    Being prepared for advising sessions (for example, by bringing a transcript, a list of questions or concerns, having a tentative schedule in mind, and/or being prepared to discuss interests and goals with the advisor).

Advisors are responsible for:

•    Helping students clarify their values, goals, and potential, and to understand themselves better;

•    Providing information about educational options, requirements, policies, and procedures;

•    Helping students plan educational programs consistent with the requirements of their degree program and with their own goals, interests, and abilities;

•    Assisting students in the continual monitoring and evaluation of their educational progress; and

•    Helping students to locate and integrate the many resources of the University to meet their unique needs and aspirations.

Who Is My Advisor?

Undergraduates and master's students:

• If your last name begins with A–L, Belinda Velazquez is your advisor.  Her office hours for appointments are: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 9:00-6:30 Wednesdays; and 1:30-6:30 Thursdays. She also sees "walk-ins" for those without an appointment 9:00-11:00 on Thursdays.

• If your last name begins with M–Z, Judy Switzky is your advisor. Her office hours for appointments are: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and Tuesday mornings 9-12:00.  She also has "walk-in" hours 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays for those without an appointment.

Call 608-263-3660 to make an advising appointment with either Belinda or Judy.

Doctoral students: Ph.D. students are assigned a temporary faculty advisor whose research interests correspond broadly with the student's interests. In their acceptance letters, new doctoral students are notified who their temporary advisor will be. The temporary faculty advisor assists doctoral students with course selection and general guidance. After doctoral students have taken some coursework and have chosen their topic of study for their preliminary exam, a permanent faculty advisor is chosen.