University Catalogs

Undergraduate Academic Advising

Undergraduate Academic Advising partners with students throughout their undergraduate careers to help them define, plan for, and achieve their academic and personal goals, while supporting the University’s mission of providing a transformative educational experience.

Purpose and Goals

Undergraduate Academic Advising at Bentley is designed to:

  • Support student success and timely degree completion by helping students understand degree requirements, academic policies, and curriculum options.
  • Guide intentional academic planning, including both short-term (semester-by-semester scheduling) and long-term planning (graduation pathways, majors/minors, study abroad, experiential learning).
  • Help students clarify and refine academic, personal, and professional goals, and understand how their coursework connects to those goals.
  • Empower students to make informed, independent decisions about their academic paths through developmental advising.

Academic Advising Approach

Bentley’s advising model emphasizes student partnership and shared responsibility:

  • Advisors serve as educators, guides, and mentors to encourage reflection, decision-making skills, and self-advocacy.
  • Students are assigned to a professional academic advisor throughout their undergraduate experience.
  • Bentley uses an open advising model, meaning students are welcome to meet with any professional academic advisor, in addition to their assigned advisor.
  • Advising integrates academic planning with personal, social, and well-being support, including referrals to campus resources when needed.

Connecting with Academic Advising