MBC 101
Advising
All new students receive a faculty advisor and a staff mentor during their
first year at MBC. Faculty advisors help you with your registration each
term and are available to meet with you during weekly office hours or by
appointment. Students usually keep their faculty advisor for two years or
until they declare a major. If you want to change your advisor during that
time, you may discuss the change with the registrar.
In addition to the faculty advisor, every new student also has a staff mentor.
This individual is a staff member on campus who teaches the MBC 101 orientation
class throughout the fall semester with the help of an upper class student
peer advisor. Both are there to assist in making the transition to Mary Baldwin
as easy as possible.
Be sure to get to know your academic advisor, staff mentor, and peer
advisors. They will be a great support for you.
What can I expect from my Faculty Advisor and Peer Advisor?
- to be knowledgeable about the MBC curriculum and other academic related requirements and regulations and to competently communicate that information.
- to point out both academic opportunities and potential obstacles and to help you make connections between who you are — your own goals, interests, strengths and weaknesses — and the possibilities for growth and development that are available at MBC.
- to learn more about what it means to be a student of the liberal arts and an active, participating member of a learning community.
- to help you make informed decisions about your academic schedule, i.e. help you with the process of registering for courses each semester.
- to help lay out an initial, overall academic plan and to assist you in making a decision before the end of your sophomore year about a major (your chosen area of specialization).
- to be readily available (within one to two days, usually sooner) to answer questions and meet with you.
- to be respectful of your status as an adult and emotionally supportive and encouraging.
- in terms of special emotional, interpersonal, and other more personal concerns to be able to refer you to the college program or officer who can help you most effectively.