Academic Advising | Lesley University

At Lesley, academic advising is not just a service; it's a partnership dedicated to guiding students on their path to success. We are committed to providing students with a proactive and holistic advising experience tailored to their unique needs.

Within our coordinated advising model, students receive specialized guidance from advisors aligned with each academic area: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Education, Art & Design, and Liberal Arts & Business.

Our advisors employ a student-centric approach, recognizing that every individual has distinct goals, interests, and challenges. Through one-on-one consultations, group workshops, and ongoing communication, we aim to foster an inclusive, supportive environment that empowers students to explore their academic and professional aspirations.

Getting Started: Advisors and Advising Resources

Upon acceptance into a program, all students are required to initiate contact with their academic advisor, marking the beginning of the academic advising and program planning process. Advisors assist with inquiries on a wide range of topics that may include university policies, registration procedures, course sequencing, elective choices, licensure exams, and other program-specific requirements. Acting as liaisons between students and university support offices, advisors play a crucial role in facilitating a seamless academic experience.

We are here to help you get started, and throughout your program! Connect with your academic advisor now.

Have questions? Check out the FAQ page, the Advising Linktree, or contact your advisor directly for additional resources. Academic and faculty advisor contact information is also accessible through the Self-Service portal, allowing students to proactively engage with available supports.

Undergraduate Advising

Your advisor is here to point you toward academic choices that will put you on the path to your career goals. From first year through senior year, you’ll meet with your advisor to go over your degree requirements and discuss your course selections. Before you sit down with your advisor, you can search through our complete course catalog.

Degree Requirements

Please refer to the appropriate Academic Catalog if you have any questions. You can also connect with your Academic Advisor or look under “My Progress” under “Student Planning” on Self-Service to view a comprehensive list of your degree requirements.
General Education Requirement

Please refer to the appropriate Academic Catalog if you have any questions. You can also connect with your Academic Advisor or look under “My Progress” under “Student Planning” on Self-Service to view a list of your General Education requirements.
Field Experience

Field experience—applying your knowledge outside the classroom—is one of the touchstones of a Lesley education. That’s why we require all students to complete at least one field experience in their major in order to graduate. This could involve classroom teaching, an internship, or research with a faculty member. These experiences give you the opportunity to explore fields of interest and gain valuable professional experience.

Graduate Advising

Graduate student advising is facilitated by program-affiliated advising teams who understand the complexities of graduate academic programs, careers and licensure requirements, and scholarly needs. Each graduate student is paired with both an academic advisor and a faculty advisor. Together, this advising team is responsible for coordinating academic advising services and ensuring effective support for students. Frequent collaboration between faculty and academic advisors ensures comprehensive support for students' academic progress and information on requirements and available opportunities.

Responsibilities of Advisors

Engage students
Create student-advisor collaborative relationship
Assist students in achieving program goals
Discuss courses
Encourage exploration across disciplines

Promote integration of academic and life experiences
Assist student graduation within appropriate timeline
Prepare student for graduate study and/or a professional career

Expectations of Students

Communicate with advisor
Check Lesley.edu email
Attend pre-registration and other advising meetings
Have advisor sign off on course selections each semester

Monitor progress of meeting program requirements
Understand and use university resources
Meet deadlines