Vision, Mission, Goals, Guiding Principles for LSA Student Academic Affairs

As a community of higher education professionals, and in collaboration with key partners across the college and beyond, LSA Student Academic Affairs aspires to be a valued resource and leader in support of the academic and personal experience of undergraduate students at the University of Michigan. 

LSA Student Academic Affairs engages students, fosters their success, and upholds academic standards in support of the liberal arts and the University of Michigan community.

LSA Student Academic Affairs and the Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center will:

• Help students to reflect upon, determine, and pursue their interests and abilities while simultaneously encouraging ethical conduct, personal responsibility, and a love of learning.

• Promote the ideals of a liberal arts education and advocate for a transformative undergraduate experience that encourages students to make meaningful connections among their academic courses and co-curricular activities.

• Provide accurate, timely, and accessible information through personalized communications that both enable students to make informed academic decisions and connect students to relevant and rewarding opportunities.

• Articulate and uphold College and University policies in order to maintain the integrity of the LSA degree and to ensure consistent and equitable treatment for all students.

• Provide leadership in addressing advising and student academic issues, promote inclusive practices, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on undergraduate education.

As colleagues we will:

• Exemplify and foster a positive, affirming, and safe environment by striving for transparent communication, providing timely and fair feedback, and maintaining an open-door policy among colleagues.

• Commit ourselves to the practice of self-appraisal and cultivation of excellence.

• Cultivate collaboration and innovation by respecting and valuing each other’s contributions, empowering individual decision-making, affirming good work and promoting a sense of equality among all colleagues.

• Maintain a congenial, respectful and supportive environment in our daily work by embodying the spirit of volunteerism, responding to requests in a timely manner, embracing differences, and showing a genuine interest in each other.

• Promote the wellness of staff members by creating opportunities for lifelong learning and professional development, encouraging appropriate work/life balance, and creating a sense of community through annual social events.

For students we will:

• Provide clear and accurate information in our appointments, websites, publications, and communications.

• Value and engage each student as an individual, respecting their unique talents, challenges, and perspectives.

• Empower individual decision-making by fostering student engagement, helping students explore their strengths and weaknesses, and encouraging the development of self-assessment skills.

• Inspire, challenge, and motivate students to take advantage of opportunities.

• Inspire students to appreciate, engage, and learn from the diversity of their colleagues.

• Model professional and ethical behavior through all our interactions.

• Inform and explain University policy, maintain the integrity of college standards, and encourage students to take responsibility for their choices and education.

• Show compassion and encourage students to use appropriate support systems.

For the College and University we will:

• Engage other units and departments in a collaborative, supportive, and collegial manner.

• Initiate and facilitate the exchange of information across the College and University by cultivating liaison relationships, providing training and participating in collaborative programming.

• Be good stewards of financial, environmental and human resources, and confidential student information.

• Represent the College and University professionally to prospective students, parents, alumni, the larger academic community, and the general public.

As an organization we will:

• Set the standard for the best practices in all aspects of student academic affairs in accordance with the highest ethical principles.

• Model appropriate recognition and appreciation of social identities in our interactions with students and colleagues.

• Involve a diverse group of students in the office’s decision-making processes and mentor students academically, ethically, and professionally.

• Assess practices and analyze data to improve efficiency and efficacy.

• Foster an atmosphere that values the diversity of the student, staff and faculty experiences and backgrounds.