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Fr. Dennis E. Tamburello, O.F.M.
Returning and Major Advisees

Returning and Major Advisees

ACADEMIC ADVISING INFORMATION FOR RETURNING STUDENTS AND MAJORS

Welcome back to Siena College! I am happy to be serving as your advisor this year. This page contains some general information that will help us to make the most of our advising relationship.

Some links that may be helpful, especially if you have not declared a major:

1. Contacting each other:

My office is in Clare Center, Room 205 (second floor, right turn at the top of the stairs). My office hours for the current semester are posted on my home page.

Office Phone: 518-783-2924

E-mail address: tamburello@siena.edu

I will use e-mail as the standard means of keeping in touch with you. Please read your e-mail regularly, as I will often be sending announcements and reminders related to advising. If you will be using an e-mail account that is different than the one you have at Siena, please give me the address.

2. When to see me:

During both the fall and spring semesters, I ask that you see me during the first month of school to discuss your progress over the previous semester, and, if you are still undeclared, to get an update on your thoughts about a major. You will also need to see me around mid-semester, before registration, to discuss your CAPP report (which you can now print out for yourself on Web for Students) and to receive the PIN that you will need to register on the web. At this time, we can also discuss any concerns you have about your progress at the midterm.

In addition to these formal meetings, I encourage you to stop by or to contact me any time you have academic questions or problems. See #4, "What I expect of you."

3. How I see my role as your advisor:

If you are a returning student (second or third year) who has not yet decided on a major, this is the year that you have to make some firm decisions about your course of study. I am here to help you in this discernment process. It is not my desire to steer you in a particular direction, but to help YOU to come to a decision as to what program or programs are best for you.

I am also here to answer questions you may have about the curriculum or the College in general, to give you support and encouragement in your studies, and to be a helper and ally if you are having trouble academically.

Finally, I need to see you before you register for classes for the upcoming semester. I will review your course selections with you to be sure that college and departmental requirements are being met (e.g., prerequisites, core courses) and that you select courses that best fulfill your needs. If you are a Religious Studies major, you will need to take at least one class in each of the areas of History, Scripture, Religious Thought, Ethics, and World Religions, as well as a seminar.

4. What I expect of you:

As noted above, I expect you to meet with me at least twice each semester, once for conversation about your academic progress, and once to prepare for registration. Important: when you come in at the midterm, remember to bring your CAPP report. It will be up to you to use this report to plan appropriate courses for the coming semester, but I will review it with you to be sure that you understand the college's requirements. You will register yourself on the web at the designated time for your class.

If at any time you are having academic difficulties or need to ask a question, by all means come right in or get in touch with me by phone or e-mail. Don't wait until a problem reaches crisis proportions before you contact me.

If you are having trouble with a particular course, please see your professor as soon as possible and discuss your difficulties with him or her. All full-time teachers are available to meet with students at least five hours a week. I think you will find your professors here to be generous with their time and genuinely concerned about your needs. If you have any fears about talking with your professor, see me first.