Trinity professors, staff, and resident mentors act as a team that helps guide each student through the maze of college life. They will provide your child with everything from assistance creating his or her academic program, to an introduction to the different aspects of our close-knit campus community.

"We are impressed that Trinity's faculty and staff are so responsive to our daughter's needs…. The personal attention from the faculty at Trinity is just unheard of, and Ellen really likes all her professors. She's also appreciated the mentoring program, not only with her faculty advisor, but also with her student mentor. Ellen communicated with both of them during the summer prior to her first year."

Jim Smith and Mary Dooley Smith, Riverside, CA
Parents of Ellen Dooley '08

Trinity University provides strong academic advising for all its students and particularly supports a program for first year students so that they receive considerable attention and assistance from their faculty advisors. Not only does the faculty advisor and student mentor work with the students on orientation to Trinity, class schedules, and program decisions, but they accompany the new students to registration. The academic advisor will be a member of the full-time teaching faculty of Trinity University. The Office of Residential Life appoints the student resident mentors, who reside in the same residence hall as their charges.

Professor Curtis Brown, a member of the Department of Philosophy at Trinity, aptly describes the University's position. "We regard advising, both of majors and of beginning students, as an important faculty activity. When advising is done well, it can aid beginning students in planning an educational strategy that will enable them to learn about subjects in which they have an interest, develop new interests, satisfy University requirements, and determine which subjects might be suitable majors for them to pursue."

In the summer preceding enrollment in the fall:
First year students receive the names of their faculty academic advisor and their student mentor the summer before they begin at Trinity. The student should expect a letter, email, or call from the faculty member and the mentor. Students will register for courses once they arrive on campus and have met with their advisor.

During the first two years:
Trinity generally assigns advisors without regard to the entering student's intended major or area of interest except for those planning to study academic disciplines with a highly sequenced course structure. This includes health professions, engineering science, computer science, music, or those who wish to enter the five year education program.

Once a student declares a major:
Usually in the spring semester of the second year, students will be assigned an advisor from their major department.

WHAT STUDENTS MAY EXPECT FROM ADVISERS AND MENTORS

Resident Mentors

• Mentors will correspond with the students in their advising group during the summer preceding enrollment.
• Mentors assist each student's faculty advisor, guide their advisees to planned activities, and accompany their groups through the first registration process in the fall semester.
• Mentors maintain contact with their advisees during the entire first year.

Faculty Advisors

• Faculty advisor's will meet with their advisees prior to registration each semester and at other times when assistance is needed.
• Faculty advisor will be available during scheduled office hours or at other mutually convenient times.
• The advisor will serve as a major resource in solving academic problems at various times during the academic year.
• The advisor will be familiar with the Courses of Study bulletin and the Advising Handbook and will help their advisees assume responsibility for program planning and course selections.
• Faculty advisor will be able to provide a referral or act as a resource for questions an advisee may have in special areas.

Any questions or concerns about advising may be directed to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Sheryl R. Tynes.