Kentucky State University provides a full range of academic advising and personal counseling services to students. Every effort is made to ensure that each student receives personal attention and assistance with his/her problems and concerns. Students, however, are expected to take the initiative to seek any needed assistance.
The fundamental purposes of the Office of Academic Advising are to direct and coordinate the University's Academic Advising System, to assist students in the development of meaningful educational plans, and to increase student retention and degree completion by providing a comprehensive advisement and support system.
Academic advising at Kentucky State University begins with new Student Orientation. Subsequently, students are assigned a general education or a major advisor according to the following criteria:
- New degree-seeking students (Associate or Baccalaureate) who declare a major at the point of admission to the University are assigned a "Major Advisor" within their chosen fields of study (See definition below).
- New degree-seeking students (Associate or Baccalaureate) who choose not to declare a major at the point of admission but plan to pursue a degree are listed as "undeclared" and are assigned faculty and staff advisors who are prepared to meet students' advising needs. Students may stay with their advisors until they complete 60 semester credit hours and declare a major, at which time they are assigned to a Major Advisor.
- Non-degree-seeking students (Visiting/Transient) are advised by the personnel in the Office Admissions.
General education advisors are experienced faculty and staff who have demonstrated continuing commitment to the importance of providing students with personal attention and guidance in the planning and pursuit of their academic objectives. Advisors are typically responsible for approximately 20-25 students who are listed as "undeclared."
Major advisors, just as general education advisors, provide academic and career advice to each student who has selected a major area of study in preparation for a career of the student's choice. The major advisor serves as a useful source of information regarding such matters as degree requirements, research opportunities within the field, graduate study, and other career employment opportunities. From their first day at Kentucky State University, students are encouraged to take an active part in their learning. Early and sustained interaction with advisors is a good beginning.