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All music majors will be assigned a faculty music advisor. Professor Joshua Stephen Smith advises students emphasizing in vocal and instrumental music education, as well as piano performance. Professor Brianne Kollmorgen advises students emphasizing in vocal performance. Advisor TBD for students emphasizing in instrumental performance (brass, percussion, or woodwind specializations) and composition.

Students must plan to meet with their adviser 1-2 times per semester. Students are expected to complete preliminary planning before an advising session and are encouraged to keep a record of their degree progress on their own degree checksheet.

Additionally, students must familiarize themselves with the role of academic advisors as stated in the catalog; mainly:

“Academic advisors, department chairs, and academic staff members are available to aid students in understanding the requirements and regulations. Students, however, are responsible for reading and understanding academic policies and procedures as well as academic course requirements. It is also the student’s ultimate responsibility to meet them. The responsibility for meeting all graduation requirements rests with the student.” (university catalog p. 18)

Faculty Availability

All full-time music faculty members host eight office hours each week. Consult schedules posted on faculty office doors or listed in course syllabi to determine when they are available to meet with you. Though a walk-in meeting with a music faculty member may be an option, it is more polite to schedule an appointment.

Student File

Three sets of files are established and maintained by students, advisers, and the coordinator. Each is detailed below.

Advising File

Student advisee files are maintained by faculty advisors. These files include a current degree checksheet, copies of enrollment forms, add/drop slips, records of grades distributed by the registrar’s office, and any other paperwork pertaining to advising.

Confidential Files

Student confidential files are maintained by the coordinator. These files contain student information sheets, fall jury sheets, spring progress and skills exam sheets, self assessment essays, and music program surveys.

Comprehensive Portfolio

Students are expected to compile a portfolio each semester. Each student receives a file folder in their student mailbox in Davis Hall 247. Students should use this folder to collect items acquired for the portfolio during the trimester. The portfolio is brought to the fall jury and the spring progress and skills exam. Items from each semester are then placed in each student’s comprehensive portfolio in the music office.