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Faculty Advisors

 

Any faculty member not on leave may serve as a major advisor.  We recommend that you visit the faculty web pages and see whose interests overlap with yours.  Also, many students select a major advisor who has served as their instructor or pre-major advisor.  Contact that faculty member directly (email or in person) to see if she or he is able to serve as your major advisor.

Once a student has found a willing advisor, they should bring to their first meeting a declaration form and three yellow schedule cards.  These forms can be picked up at the Registrar’s office.  Together, the student and the advisor fill out one of the cards to make sure that a major is feasible in eight semesters (pencil is advised for this first time through!).  Since Junior Year Abroad privileges must be applied for, it makes sense at this initial stage to not include any JYA plans. 

Once the advisor has determined that the course of study is feasible, the major fills out two yellow cards in ink.  The advisor signs both cards, and keeps the penciled version for her own file on the student.  The advisor also signs the declaration form.  The student then gets the signature of the chair of biology on the declaration form, gives one of the yellow cards to Lina Spallone or Susie Painter in the departmental office, and delivers the declaration form and the remaining yellow card to the Registrar.