If you鈥檙e an undergraduate Arts student, OASIS is the right place to get the information you need, including advice and support regarding your degree and your academic trajectory. Before meeting with a Faculty Advisor or with one of the OASIS team, it's important that you understand what an advisor can and cannot do in the advising process, and where your own responsibilities lie in making decisions about planning your degree. These responsibilities are outlined as follows:

Advisee Responsibilities

As a student, it is your responsibility to:

• Be respectful of your advisor(s).
• Understand and accept that you are ultimately responsible for your education and for your own decisions.
• Familiarize yourself with McGill鈥檚 policies, procedures, and requirements as they relate to your academic success and/or degree completion.
• Be aware of and abide by the academic eCalendar听and by the relevant deadlines stipulated therein.
• Utilize the听resources available听to inform yourself on your degree requirements and options.
• Make regular contact with your advisors and don't wait until the last minute to schedule your appointments.

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For your appointments with your academic advisor(s):

• Show up鈥攐n time鈥攆or all advising appointments. Cancel appointments that cannot be kept.
• Prepare for and be an active participant in your advising appointment; ask questions when you have them.
• Provide accurate and truthful information when being advised.
• Follow through on plans-of-action identified during advising sessions.
• Your appointment is one-on-one with an advisor; parental / third-party participation is discouraged.
  • Your file is confidential; advisors cannot discuss the details of your situation with a parent / third party present.
  • The discussion and exchange of information is solely between you and your advisor.
  • Should you permit a parent / third party to remain in your meeting, they may attend as a silent participant only.
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For requests you may have made and which may听have been refused:

• Recognize the authority of the decision-maker, and that their decision has been made in good faith.
• Understand that not all exceptional circumstances result in approvals, nor is everything appealable.
• Be resilient, utilize available听resources and work with your advisor regarding the options presented to you.

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Advisor Responsibilities

Your academic advisor鈥檚 responsibility is to:

• Welcome each student as an individual and respect differences in experiences, culture, strengths, challenges, values, and educational and life goals.
• Listen actively and empathetically.
• Provide a high-trust and confidential environment in which to share questions, aspirations, concerns, and interests.
• Clarify the nature and behavioural expectations of the advisor/advisee.
• Provide timely and accurate educational information.
• Explain, interpret, and clarify institutional and Faculty policies, procedures and requirements.
• Assist advisees in defining and developing educational plans.
• Discuss the advisee鈥檚 academic performance, and, if necessary, help the advisee formulate a plan to improve their academic standing.
• Monitor the progress of advisees to ensure that they are satisfactorily completing all graduation requirements and successfully progressing toward completion of their degree.
• Communicate and emphasize the advisee鈥檚 responsibility for satisfying degree requirements
• Refer advisees to those resources that can enhance or supplement their academic or personal experience.
• Guide advisees to campus resources and special services available to them.
• Assist advisees in preparing an academic plan that is consistent with their abilities and interests.