Academic Advising
Purpose of Program/Curriculum Advising
The purpose of program/curriculum advising is to assist students in planning and completing individual academic and professional plans. Advising is a two-way relationship. Both the advisor and the student have responsibilities with respect to a successful advising relationship. The Manager of Student Services plays an important role as well.
Each advisor is responsible for a broad understanding of the structure and content of the total MHA curriculum including course requirements, course sequencing, potential substitutions or waivers, and potential areas of concentration (i.e. graduate certificate and concurrent degree options). Students are responsible for communicating their interests and concerns to their advisor. The MHA Program Director is responsible for ensuring that the advising process is successful for both students and faculty. The Manager of Student Services assists students and advisors in managing the University of Washington procedures and processes.
Overall, the goal of advising is to assist students in:
- choosing specific courses or identifying areas of concentration/emphasis when appropriate for study (including waivers and substitutions);
- considering administrative internships (in-residence MHA Program);
- considering directed independent study project opportunities; and
- discussing and assisting in the identification of potential career opportunities in health services administration and/or medical management.
Faculty Responsibilities in the Advising Process
MHA faculty are strongly committed to providing high quality advising and counsel to MHA students.
- Each incoming student is assigned an advisor. If the relationship is satisfactory to both, it continues through both academic years.
- Faculty will be available for appointments with students.
- On occasion, faculty may elect to arrange group sessions with their advisees to discuss curriculum and advising matters of common interest. These will be arranged at the mutual convenience of students and advisor(s).
- Each faculty advisor is responsible for knowing the academic policies and procedures in the Program concerning:
- Procedure for course waivers and substitutions
- Program academic requirements
- Project advising, if applicable
- Internship advising, if applicable
- Job advising
Student Responsibilities in the Advising Process
Students are partners in the advising process and have a responsibility to:
- take the initiative to inform their faculty advisor of their individual interests, aspirations and specific needs and expectations from the advising relationship;
- identify a mutually agreed upon framework for timely and periodic meetings with their advisor (at least quarterly); initiate meetings with advisors;
- clarify any special time and/or scheduling constraints, as well as special needs, with their advisor;
- inform their advisor(s) of their ongoing progress; and
- consult with their advisor about any changes in their scheduling (e.g., decrease in credit load during one or more quarters).
Manager of Student Services
The Manager of Student Services oversees student services functions within the Program and assists students in regard to registration, curriculum/scheduling and University and Program policies and procedures. He/she acts as a liaison between the teaching faculty and students.
Process to Change Advisors
Students may elect to change advisors for any reason without concern that such a change will be viewed negatively. They are free to discuss potential changes with their current advisor, potential advisor, Manager of Student Services and/or the MHA Program Director. Once a decision has been made to change, the student needs to inform the Manager of Student Services and confirm the change with both the new and former advisors.
Availability of Faculty to Advise Regarding Special Areas of Interest
Each faculty advisor has special areas of interest and expertise within the health administration/management curriculum. A list of faculty and their special interests is available for your reference. Faculty members are available to assist students in choosing courses in specific areas of concentration and/or interest, and to serve as a resource to all faculty advisors.
Faculty have a special commitment, within their area of special interest and expertise, to:
- establish contact with relevant faculty in their area concerning curriculum options and their content;
- review course materials germane to their area, including course syllabi and feedback for those courses; and
- provide information to students and faculty concerning specific curriculum sequences to support an area of concentration within their domain of expertise.