Academic Advising Processes

Note: Academic advising is only to be conducted by full-time faculty. PTF will not be assigned students.

Graduate faculty advisors provide counsel and assistance concerning a student's total program, coursework and educational interests. Faculty advisors help to ensure that the student establishes a smooth relationship with the university and has a productive graduate experience. Students should feel free to contact their advisors for any curriculum or career-related issue. (For all other issues, students are encouraged to review the website for the pertinent university office contact information or contact the SIS office by phone to (313)-577-1825 or 1-877-263-2665 (toll-free) or email to asksis@wayne.edu.)

Upon admission, the School of Information Sciences assigns each student to a specific faculty advisor. A faculty advisor is assigned based on the faculty member's areas of expertise and knowledge and on the student's area of interest and job expectations. Faculty advisors and their advisees should meet regularly after admission to discuss School requirements, prerequisites, sequencing of courses, career plans and other matters that will help ensure success in the School.

During the academic year (Fall and Winter terms), it is advised that faculty advisors respond to their advisees' inquiries within 24 hours (M-F) of the initial message being sent. If a faculty advisor cannot send a detailed response within this 24-hour period, they should send a brief message back to their advisee and share an estimated day and time for when the faculty advisor can fully respond to their advisee’s message. 

It is the student's right to change their advisor should it be desired. The Change of Advisor Request form is to be used for this purpose. Students must ask permission from the faculty member to whom they wish to change. Faculty advisors must be regular, full-time members of the SIS faculty, not part-time faculty.

Advising Spring/Summer policy:

Due to the majority of faculty being off during the spring/summer semesters, faculty are asked to opt in, if they intend to respond to emails over this break.  If a faculty member is not teaching during that period and is not available, students should contact the following advisors based on their program:

• Amber Case: Archival students, Library and Information Science (Last name N-R)
• Mike Dutkewych: Information Management, Library and Information Science (Last name S-Z)
• Matthew Fredricks: Library and Information Science (Last name A-M)

If a student is unable to reach their faculty advisor or one of the above Academic Advisors, they should contact the Associate Dean before escalating their concerns to the Provost or President’s office.