Mission and Values

About Advising

The Academic Advising Center is committed to the smooth transition and academic success of all Highline students. It is conveniently located in the lower level of Building 6 to provide a centralized advising experience. Our professional advisors are here to assist you with developing and evaluating educational plans and providing you with accurate information about college policies, procedures, resources, and programs. Our advisors work collaboratively with you to help identify degree requirements, learn to register for classes and identify campus resources relevant to your individual needs.

We look forward to working with you and helping you reach you full academic potential.

Our Mission

We view advising as a teaching and learning experience in which students actively engage in setting their educational goals and are inspired to realize the full academic potential. Through a relationship with an advisor and a vast network of resources and support, we will guide you to information and resources that help you successfully begin and complete a degree or certificate. Our goal throughout the advising process is for you to gain self-understanding that will inform your decisions about academic, career and life goals. We are committed to promoting opportunities for learning to students of all backgrounds.

Expected Outcomes of Academic Advising

• Students will create their own academic plan and identify program requirements relevant to their own college experience.
• Students will apply academic planning skills to self-register and track their own academic progress.
• Students will understand the importance and benefits of engagement with academic and pathway advisors, faculty, staff and other students (college navigators, peer mentors).
• Students will know how to access accurate information about policies, procedures and requirements.
• Students will be encouraged to make decisions that support their goals, abilities and aspiration.

Student & Advisor Responsibilities

Student

• Come to appointments on time, and cancel if you cannot attend.
• Come prepared for appointments by writing down questions and concerns in advance and if applicable, come with a list of courses you are interested in taking the following quarter.
• Accept responsibility for making your own plans and decisions. An advisor may provide advice, not make your plans or decisions for you.
• Use Degree/Program Progress to review your own program options and requirements. Review requirements you have already completed and plan for those not yet fulfilled.
• Define a primary plan to achieve your goals but also have an acceptable alternative.
• Become an educated consumer so you can make well-informed decisions;
  • ask for guidance and advice from reliable sources
  • get advice from multiple sources
  • the advice you receive does not meet your goals or “feels” wrong, get a second opinion. Ultimately, all decisions are yours.
• Be aware of Highline policies, procedures and practices, and when needed, ask for clarification.
• Create positive relationships with your advisors, faculty, and staff.

Advisor

• An advisor may provide assistance in helping students learn to make practical academic plans and decisions.
• An advisor may discuss a range of options available to the student, based on the students stated goals and how to think through the consequences of poor choices.
• Advisors may assist with the development of an academic plan consistent with the student’s stated goals, interests and abilities.
• Advisors will provide accurate information about policies, procedures and requirements.
• Advisors will create a positive working relationship with students, Pathway Advisors, staff and faculty.
• When appropriate, advisors will refer students to other campus resources and services.