First Year Advising from the Dean's Office

Each first year student is assigned an advisor within the Dean's Office. While students are encouraged to get to know all members of the Dean's Staff, having an assigned advisor allows students and deans to get to know one another and establish a lasting relationship. First year deans advise students on all academic matters, including the assignment of AP or other transfer credits, course selection and registration, and planning for the second year. First year deans are prepared to assist students with the sometimes-challenging transition to university life and can refer students to a variety of on-campus support resources, ranging from academic tutoring to health care provision. Deans have office hours daily throughout the year and students are encouraged to contact someone anytime they require assistance or have questions about life at Georgetown.

First year (Class of 2011) students should see the following deans:

• Last names A-E: Dean Mini Murphy
• Last names F-K: Dean Mitch Kaneda
• Last names L-N: Dean Maura Gregory
• Last names O-R: Dean Elizabeth Andretta
• Last names S-Z: Dean Bryan Kasper

  In addition to one on one advising appointments, deans conduct academic sessions designed specifically for first year students. The first is the first-year class meeting, held early in the fall semester. This meeting prepares students for spring pre-registration, discusses the final exams period, introduces university resources of interest, and offers students the opportunity to take the Map of the Modern World exemption exam. Throughout the fall and spring semesters, first year deans hold additional meetings and workshops for their student advisees covering themes of interest to first year students.

  Every October, first year students and their parents are invited to participate in Parents' Weekend, featuring workshops on the first year college experience and introducing students and parents to the School of Foreign Service and to offices such as International Programs and the Career Center.

  In October and March, first year deans contact students who receive advisory grades in any of their courses. Advisory grades indicate that a student's performance is unsatisfactory, but do not mean that a student is going to fail a course. Deans can offer advice and refer struggling students to academic support resources that can help students get back on track in plenty of time to pass courses with strong marks.

  Throughout the first year, students are encouraged to meet their deans to discuss their experiences at Georgetown and help them prepare for their second year in SFS. It is ideal for every student to have met his or her dean at least once (and more!) to make informed decisions about course selection, summer school, preparation for overseas study, and selection of major and certificate programs. We do not believe in one-size-fits-all advising, and therefore, we would like to talk to you personally.