Academic Advising
The Dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences has established formal academic advising periods that extend over several calendar weeks prior to preregistration in the fall and spring. The purpose is a dialogue about the student's long-range goals at Duke and how the coming semester's courses will contribute toward those goals. The student's advisment report and plan of study communicates an understanding that the student is prepared to carry out her or his objectives.
English majors are encouraged to choose an advisor from those faculty members who serve as advisors and who are available. The Undergraduate Assistant maintains records of advisors and advisees, and she will attempt to match students with the faculty member each prefers; if a student has no preference, she will assign an advisor. Students are often wise to request their English 90 instructor or advisors who represent the student's particular areas of interest (e.g., American literature, creative writing, linguistics). Once lists of advisees have been drawn up for that semester's advising period, changes cannot be made (until after the advising period) because each student's materials are transferred to the advisor. Therefore students wanting to change advisors must contact Carol Renegar in 305C Allen Building (684-6820).
During each preregistration period, a student whose first major is English must meet with her/his advisor in order to obtain her/his Personal Identification Number (PIN). A student whose second major is English should meet with her/his advisor to discuss progress towards completion of the major in English but will receive the PIN from the department of her/his first major.
The advisor posts a sign-up sheet or instructions for appointment times during the advising period on her/his office door. It is the student's responsibility to secure an appointment by her/his registration window. If the times listed on the advisor's appointment sheet are unsuitable, the student should explain the situation to the advisor and request another appointment.
A few simple steps will facilitate a useful advising session. Come prepared with the questions you need to have resolved. Bring a list of the courses for which you wish to register. Fill in the plan of study for the English major with your current and future courses. These are available in the undergraduate English office or can be printed from Major Plan of Study