Purpose of Advising
The purpose of college advising is to assist students in making informed decisions about their educational pathways and to connect students with the tools they need to be successful at Southeastern Community College.
The Role of Faculty Advisors
Faculty advisors are available to work with students who have met the requirements of a particular program of study and are ready to enter that program.
Advising Tips for Students
- Be prepared to choose your own classes! Advisors can only advise; they cannot select classes for you.
- Review your transcript in Self Service or Watermark Student Success.
- Look up the course schedule located on our website in advance before you come in to register! If you come in with a list of classes prepared, registration will be a much more efficient process.
- Transfer students: Know the requirements of the college you are wishing to transfer to! We cannot guarantee what courses another school will accept as part of their programs.
- Ask for help! You may be surprised by what is available to you if you ask.
Student Responsibilities as Advisees
- Schedule appointments to meet with your advisor on a regular basis to ensure you are on the right path (this includes calling to cancel or reschedule in a timely manner if necessary).
- Know your graduation plan and graduation requirements.
- Come prepared with all relevant materials (including a copy of your graduation plan, information from your desired transfer institution(s) if appropriate, questions you may have, etc.).
- Follow through with actions discussed during the advising session.
Advisor Responsibilities
- Maintain an open, caring, and professional environment
- Be available to students through email and office hours
- Be knowledgeable about program offerings, college policies and procedures, and graduation requirements
- Assist students in developing educational and career goals
- Refer students to appropriate campus resources to meet their academic needs
What is Watermark?
Watermark is an early alert referral system implemented to help students succeed in their academic goals. SCC began using Watermark, a software retention tool, in January 2017. It allows faculty and staff to monitor student progress and gain a deeper understanding of their successes and challenges. Students can use Watermark to access transcripts, view grades and attendance, and to communicate with their success team.
Success teams are established for each student based on their program of study to include instructors, the student’s advisor, and Student Services staff serving as Success Coaches. The success team works together to determine student success factors based on the real-time early alert data provided in Watermark and reaches out to offer support and assistance early, when academic or personal interventions will be most effective for success at SCC.
