How Academic Advisors are Assigned

Every student at Bridgewater College is assigned an academic advisor. Once a student declares a major (through the registrar’s office), the academic department designated assigns that student an academic advisor. The process works differently in different departments—in some majors, students can expect to retain the same advisor for their entire career at Bridgewater; in others, students will be assigned a different advisor each year, depending on their classification (freshman, sophomore, etc.).  Whatever the system in a particular academic department, students can rest assured that the person they are assigned is the one most knowledgeable about the policies and requirements for that major at that stage in the student’s academic journey.

Students who have not yet declared a major are assigned their incoming PDP 150 or PDP 350 instructor as an academic advisor until they do declare a major, even if that declaration doesn’t happen until their sophomore year.  PDP 150 or PDP 350 instructors are adept, as are all academic advisors, at helping students navigate the general education program and connecting students with appropriate services when needed.  In addition, PDP 150 and PDP 350 instructors can help students think about and make decisions regarding their academic choices, helping them decide on an academic major that fits their intellectual interest and aptitude, as well as their potential vocational pathways.

To declare an academic major, students should simply go to the registrar’s web page (or the registrar’s office) then fill out and submit the “Changing Major” form as indicated. Once processed, the registrar will assign the student an appropriate academic advisor.