Abstract

Academic advisers play an important role in making general education relevant and meaningful to student learning by helping to facilitate the three I’s of general education: inter-disciplinarity, integration, and intentionality. This essay argues that the “advising as learning” model of academic advising embodies the kinds of advising practices that can contribute to the promotion of the three I’s. It specifically examines the integral role that quality academic advising plays in individualized major programs. In doing so, it explores how such advising assists students with embarking on an intentional path of study that draws meaningful connections across multiple disciplines in accordance with both their learning goals and those established via general education imperatives. Finally, the essay concludes with some suggestions as to how such advising practices can be extended into other academic programs.

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