Academic advising is critical to student success at University of Montana (UM). All undergraduate students are required to meet with their advisor at least once each semester to review educational progress, discuss future plans, and secure schedule approval prior to registration. Additional meetings are recommended for information and guidance on dropping and/or adding courses, changing/declaring majors, exploring available resources, and ensuring that graduation requirements are met. Please use the UM Advising Directory to find advisors across campus. 

Additional information on advising at UM is available in the UM Catalog.

UM uses a hybrid advising model that includes centralized and decentralized advising. Professional advisors are assigned to students based on students' declared majors. Advisors' offices are situated within the colleges they serve, and their work is coordinated by UM's Office for Student Success (OSS). OSS also manages advising technology tools, conducts assessment of University advising services, and provides various resources designed to benefit advisors in their daily interactions with students. Advising for students who have not yet declared a major takes place in the Undergraduate Advising Center within OSS. Secondary advisors are assigned based on additional majors, minors, certificates, or other programs and campus services a student participates in, such as Athletic Academic Services, Davidson Honors College, Franke Global Leadership Initiative, and TRIO Student Support Services. Students should meet with their primary and secondary advisors as well as faculty mentors regularly.

The UM advising community is a dynamic and engaged set of professionals committed to continuous improvement for the benefit of all UM students. Advisors can participate in several initiatives designed to improve the quality of advising and to create a community of practice among advisors across campus:

• The UM Academic Advising Certificate Program constitutes professional development for staff and faculty in advising roles, and other UM employees interested in learning about advising. One of the program's goals is to ensure consistency and high quality of academic advising at UM.
• The UM Academic Advising Council coordinates undergraduate advising services and makes data-informed recommendations for improving academic advising at UM.
• Advising Conversations and the Advising Listserv ensure regular information sharing and community building around best practices in advising across campus.
• OSS coordinates campus-wide student retention campaigns each semester, enlisting the help of advisors, faculty, department chairs, associate deans, and deans in their efforts to encourage students to enroll in future semester classes.
• OSS administers advising surveys to students to gather feedback on their advising experiences and to gauge achievement of relevant learning outcomes. Data collected informs efforts to continuously improve advising services across campus.