Academic Advising

Advising Expectations and Responsibilities

Academic advising is a shared responsibility between the Student and Advisor. Each year, the student is encouraged to take on more responsibility. Read Roles and Responsibilities for more information.

Understanding FERPA

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly known as FERPA, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Students have specific, protected rights regarding the release of such records, and FERPA requires that institutions adhere strictly to these guidelines.

A parent's role is to guide the student through the process of becoming a part of the Menlo College community, to support the student as he or she navigates through college, and to help the student accept responsibility for his or her actions.

However, be aware that in nonemergency situations, Menlo College is generally prohibited from sharing student information with parents or others unless the student has given us explicit written permission to do so.

Additional FERPA information is available at the US Department of Education's website.

Important Dates

First and Second Year Academic Advising

First and second year students are advised by the Success Center Staff and selected faculty. Juniors and Seniors are advised by a full-time faculty member in their concentration.

Students can locate the name of their advisor on their MyMenlo account at the bottom of the class schedule. If you're having trouble finding the information, an Academic Success Center staff member can help you find the information.

Placement Testing (Accuplacer)

The ACCUPLACER computerized placement test is administered to students who have not already successfully completed college-level English and Math classes. Placement testing will help students to identify their academic strengths and needs in writing and mathematics. This is not a pass/fail test. It is used for course placement only. These tests are important, so students should take them seriously and do their best. After testing, the student will meet with an Academic Advisor and the results will be used to make decisions regarding the appropriate level of classes to be taken. Although the computerized portion of the test is not timed, for most students it usually takes about 2 - 2 1/2 hours to complete both tests. No computer experience is necessary and assistance is available if needed. For more detailed information, see Mandatory Math and English Placement Tests.

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