From our Mission Statement: “In keeping with its Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic heritage and identity, Gonzaga models and expects excellence in academic and professional pursuits and intentionally develops the whole person — intellectually, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.”
Welcome to Gonzaga University, an academic community that sets a high bar for achievement and commits to supporting you to achieve your best. You have succeeded in your educational journey to this point. We want you to succeed here as well. The first step: recognizing that the educational process is structured differently at the university level. That difference involves more choices and more responsibility on your part. So, beginning with New Student Orientation, step up to the greater freedom and responsibility that will be yours. Embrace the goal of excellence and relish the challenges on the path to achieving it in realizing your educational dream.
Gonzaga wants you to have ambitious aspirations for your time here, and for your lives after graduation. Faculty and staff are dedicated to assisting you as you make choices and organize yourself to achieve your goals. The academic advisor assigned to you is a key resource toward achieving your educational success. Whether you are exploring to find a field that ignites your passions or know exactly what major you intend, you need your academic advisor.
Your academic advisor is a faculty member or professional advisor who has been where you are – beginning college. Your advisor will help you learn about navigating a university education at Gonzaga. Your advisor can put you in touch with other offices that can assist you in exploring your interests or career goals, or in finding help if you are having academic difficulty. Your advisor can be a sounding board as you calibrate to the level of independent thought, quality of work, and self-organization that are expected of university students.
Remember, though, your advisor is only half of a relationship. The other half is you. So, here are some guidelines for getting the most out of your advising relationship as you begin your time at Gonzaga.
- Identify the questions you need answered and take those questions to the meeting with your assigned academic advisor on Monday, August 29, before the first day of class.
- Become familiar with curriculum requirements and track your progress towards graduation. It is your responsibility to know and comply with all GU academic policies, procedures, and deadlines.
- Initiate regular contact with your academic advisor, at least once per semester.
- Use your advising sessions effectively: make appointments, arrive on time, bring needed materials, and ask specific questions to gather information or to clarify confusion.
- Take responsibility for decisions regarding your academic career and for your academic performance.
Orientation includes a designated time for you to meet with your academic advisor. Show up. The meetings take place on Monday, August 29th, at 11:15am, immediately following Academic Convocation.
Patricia O’Connell Killen, Ph.D. is Gonzaga’s Academic Vice President. As a graduate of Gonzaga, she knows what it is like to be excited and maybe a bit nervous about being a new first-year student.