John Martinson Honors Program

FIRST-YEAR ADVISING PREPARATION AND GUIDANCE

This information is for students who are in their first semester of college or enrolled in HONS 120/121 for the first time. Many students who are in their first year of honors participation may also be asked to use this list.

To be best prepared for your first advising session, you should follow this checklist IN THIS ORDER.

1. Participate in your HONS 120/121 session led by the Honors Office. Complete the required readings, answer the reading questions posed to you, and engage in the class discussion.
   • Beyond the University. Michael Roth. Introductory Chapter. [pdf]
   •  LIberal Arts Education and the 21st Century. Carol Johnson. [link]
   • Scientific Literacy Is Necessary. Andrew Zwicker. [link]
     
     
2. Complete this overview of advising: A Solid Advising Foundation [link]. This self-paced presentation tells you everything you need to know to be ready for your first academic advising session(s).
   
   
3. Find your advisor(s) on your Starfish Network.
   • If you have a major advisor, they will be listed as your MAJOR ADVISOR
   • If you are participating in athletics, they will be listed as your ATHLETICS ADVISOR.
   • If you participate in SOAR, BSE, or FAME/GAME, you may have an advisor from the SOAR Office listed
   • As honors students, your honors advisor is typically listed as SCHOLAR ADVISOR
4. Make your honors advising appointment now. But schedule it for after September 25.
   • If Meagan is your honors advisor, you will schedule with them directly through Starfish.
   • If Ian is your honors advisor, contact him directly (itoberm@siue.edu) to set up an appointment, as he does not have as many availabilities on Starfish.
5. Schedule your appointment with your other advisor(s), if applicable. You can plan to meet before or after your honors advising.
   • Major advising: REQUIRED
   • Athletics advising: REQUIRED
   • Minor advising: OPTIONAL
   • SOAR advising: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
6. Complete the work required prior to your honors advising appointment. To provide the most effective advising, there is work that first-year students must do in order to be prepared. This presentation walks you through that required works, and provides links to the resources you will need to complete the work.