Departments & Programs

serves as an academic adviser to undeclared students within the School of Culture & Society
offers advice on course selection, assists with registration and facilitates entry in a major
establishes and evaluates academic goals
assists in understanding and navigating college policies and procedures
connects students with other college programs and resources
provides two types of advising: one-on-one and group advising

One-on-One Advising

prior to each registration cycle: review schedule, course load, update program planners
throughout the semester: explore career goals, provide most updated brochures and fliers from prospective departments
recommend that they meet with department chairs and/or pre-major advisers in their prospective department
recommend that they meet with staff members in Career Services to discuss and review career possibilities and goals

Group Advising

Group advising occurs during the 10 week Open Option Orientation class. Each orientation class has an instructor and a Peer Adviser. The course instructor is the Assistant Dean, who typically teaches two sessions, and one or two C&S faculty members. The Assistant Dean coordinates all sections and prepares material for the other instructors and for the Peer Advisers.

Role of Peer Advisers

In addition to an instructor, each class section also has a peer adviser. The peer adviser, an upper-level fellow student, provides an additional source of knowledge and the experience of being a student who entered TCNJ as Open Option in Culture & Society and successfully made the transition to a Culture & Society major or majors. In class, the instructor and peer adviser serve as facilitators, guiding students through the readings, class discussions, group activities, and assignments. Peer advisers also serve as mentors and assist students in selecting courses prior or during a registration cycle.