Every industrial engineering student has a faculty member as an academic adviser who guides the student through his or her program until graduation. The faculty adviser is assigned to the student in the first term of the sophomore year. Close and continuous contact with the faculty adviser is encouraged. During the student's initial entry into the department (either through the first year engineering program or as a transfer), the undergraduate coordinator for the department acts as the adviser and helps with developing an initial study plan and registration for classes for the first time.
IE Faculty Advisor Responsibilities (What you can expect your advisor to do):
- Assist you in understanding the purposes and goals of higher education and its effect on your life and personal goals
- Be accessible for meeting with you via advising appointments (e.g., in person, virtually, email)
- Assist you in utilizing university resources to maximize your educational and personal potential
- Provide accurate information about graduation requirements for your BSIE and about Pitt policies and procedures
- Collaborate with you to develop an individual plan for meeting elective requirements
- Facilitate your working with faculty, staff, and resources at Pitt
- Assist you in monitoring and accurately documenting your progress towards meeting your IE degree requirements. Please note for dual majors, minors, and/or certificates that are administered by other departments, you should work with an advisor in that department on your progress.
- Assist you in defining and developing realistic academic and professional goals by assisting you to
- take responsibility for your educational plans and goals
- explore and clarify your values and your educational and career goals
- define and develop your unique abilities, goals and aspirations
- Maintain confidentiality
IE Student Responsibilities (What you are expected to do):
- Communicate with your advisor, follow up if you do not receive a timely response to emails, reply to emails from your advisor
- Schedule advising appointments or make contact with your advisor each semester
- Arrive on time and be prepared for each appointment
- Be an active learner by participating fully in the advising experience
- Bring questions or material for discussion to your appointment
- Ask questions if you do not understand an issue or have a specific concern
- Know the requirements of the BSIE program and make sure that you are taking the courses required for graduation
- Read the advising and enrollment email sent by the undergraduate program director each fall and spring
- Attend the advising seminar held by the undergraduate program director each fall and spring
- Become knowledgeable about school policies, deadlines and procedures
- Maintain a record of your progress toward your degree requirements (use the check sheet found here.) - Bring this document to each meeting with your advisor
- Clarify personal values and goals
- Provide your advisor with accurate information about your interests and abilities
- Identify university resources, career opportunities resources
- Follow through with all recommendations from your advisor
- Accept responsibility for your decisions and be aware of your actions and how they affect you, your academic progress, and your financial aid status
IE Undergraduate Administrator Responsibilities (What you can expect our Undergraduate Administrator to do)
- Lift your advising hold once permission is granted by your advisor
- Provide you with any permission numbers needed to enroll in an IE course (with approval of your advisor or the course instructor)
- Assist you in solving other enrollment issues
- Assist you in determining who to go to for help with enrollment in non IE courses
- Answer basic questions about curriculum requirements
- Process paperwork for transfer credits, course repeats / grade replacements, etc.
Adapted from Wichita State University