Academic Support

Supporting the Learning Effort with "Dialogue-Oriented" Advice

At ICU, the faculty advisor system and Academic Planning Support serve to support students through dialogue as they take the initiative to think about and make decisions on designing their own educational experiences.

The Faculty Advisor System

Every student is assigned a full-time faculty member (an assistant professor or higher-ranking faculty member) who serves as the student's advisor. During a student's first, second, and third years at ICU, the advisor he or she was assigned upon enrollment gives advice on the student's course plan for each term. When the student begins graduation work in his or her fourth year, a thesis advisor takes over for the student's original advisor to provide more specialized, fine-tuned guidance and help ensure that the student successfully earns his or her degree.

In addition to the advisors and thesis advisors assigned to all students on an individual basis, there are also "major advisors" who assist students with any questions they might have about learning and studying their respective majors.

 

Academic Planning Support (Center for Teaching and Learning)

Academic advising focuses on helping students shape their own academic experiences--thinking about what kinds of courses to take, which majors to choose, and how to take a good academic approach as graduation approaches. To guide students along as they take advantage of the academic freedom that ICU offers, the Academic Planning Support not only advises students on selecting courses and majors but also provides support to help students become " intentional learners" who are personally invested in making the most of their learning opportunities.

ICU Brothers and Sisters

Students can discuss and receive advice on academic planning from the students' point of view from fellow current ICU students through ICU Brothers and Sisters (IBS), an official student organization of the university. Aiming to help students become "intentional learners," IBS assists students in taking ownership in thinking about their own studies at university from matriculation to graduation.
IBS members are second- to fourth-year undergraduates, consisting of students from various backgrounds in terms of time of matriculation, major, experience of studying abroad, dormitory life, and participation in extracurricular activities. IBS not only provides knowledge and information on academic programs offered by ICU, but also offers advice on student life of diverse ICU students in general, touching on the experiences of students belonging to IBS.