Dear Undergraduates,
On behalf of Russell Labs Student Services – Happy Monday! I write with another installment of the Regular Resource Reminder blog. This time, we’re emphasizing a valuable human resource – faculty advisors!
Faculty Advisor FAQ
Who are faculty advisors?
A faculty advisor is a professor who provides mentorship in a variety of ways. Some programs (like Entomology) assign one faculty advisor automatically for all students. Others assign faculty advisors on an ad hoc basis. Some faculty advisors lead research labs, and others specialize in teaching. Students may have a faculty advisor from their home department or an affiliated department.
What does a faculty advisor do?
Duties can overlap with professional staff advisors. Most faculty will be knowledgeable on careers, professional development, internships, lab work, and research opportunities. Faculty advisors are instrumental in providing supervision for lab work and capstone projects. Faculty advisors can also write letters of recommendation for jobs and graduate school applications.
When should I reach out to a faculty advisor?
Early and often! See this Tip Sheet for details on how to do this.
I don’t see a faculty advisor assigned to me – what should I do?
Talk to your assigned professional staff advisor (Allee Hochmuth) via email or appointment. If you do not have a preferred faculty advisor, one will be assigned to you based on availability and research interests.
Both professional staff and faculty advisors are here to support you on your educational journey. Do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns!
Warm wishes,
Russell Labs Student Services
Allee Hochmuth – Undergraduate & Curricular Services
Emily Laabs – Graduate Programs
Russell Labs Administrative Service Center
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Madison