Center for Academic Advising and Support Services

By fostering collaborative, student-centered relationships, the staff in the Center for Academic Advising and Support Services guide students in their development and achievement of meaningful educational goals. Our work is guided by the following values:

  • Knowledge: of curriculum, resources, policies, and best advising practices
  • Respect: for students, for the College, and for all invested in a student’s success
  • Openness: to new ideas and viewpoints, to reflection, and to change
  • Equity: of access to appropriate resources for all students
  • Growth: as students transition from who they are to who they will become
  • Understanding: of self, of others, of our capabilities, and of our place within the larger community

Advising

While students will be assigned a specific department academic advisor after freshman year and once they have declared a major, all students are welcome to utilize the advising services that the Center has to offer throughout their time at St. John Fisher College. The Center’s advising services include:

  • Freshmen advising, seminar, and programming
  • New transfer student advising, seminar, and programming
  • Guidance and programming for students who are deciding on or changing majors/minors
  • Creating success plans to support students to overcome academic hurdles
  • Clarifying academic policies and procedures to help students navigate their academic programs

Peer Tutoring

Peer tutoring is a service that students who are excelling or struggling can utilize. The goal of tutoring is to help the students find ways to learn course material more successfully. A tutor can assist by discussing notes, clarifying textbook material and reviewing practice problems. Although tutors do not complete student work assignments, they provide additional support that should complement and reinforce classroom learning. Student effort is required for tutoring to be successful.

Peer tutoring is provided at no cost for a variety of introductory undergraduate courses (many 100-level and 200-level courses) during the fall and spring semesters.

Peer tutors are students who have completed the courses they tutor with a grade of B+ or higher and have received the recommendation of a faculty member or department chair.

Disability Services

St. John Fisher College is committed to creating equal access for all students with disabilities. The dedicated staff works with each student on an individual basis to determine reasonable accommodations based on appropriate documentation submitted by the student. The Office of Disability Services, in compliance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, as amended), ensures access to academic programs, services, and facilities.

If you are unsure if you are eligible for services or have concerns about obtaining the correct documentation, please do not delay meeting with our staff. We are happy to review policies and procedures with you in person and in some cases, may be able to provide provisional accommodations allowing you time to gather any needed documentation.

For additional information, contact Joy Breeden at (585) 385-5252, testcenter@sjfc.edu, or view our website at https://www.sjfc.edu/student-life/disability-services/.

International Student Advising

Upon admission to St. John Fisher College, the Center for Academic Advising and Support Services will work closely with international students as they navigate the processes required to begin their academic career. These processes include: completing a statement of financial support; gathering all materials needed to apply for and obtain their Form I-20 for nonimmigrant student status; and securing all other documents needed for entry into the United States, which may include an F-1 visa and an I-94 arrival form.

When students arrive, an international student advisor will provide guidance as students make the academic, social, and personal transitions into a new environment, and will create opportunities for international students to interact with the Fisher community as they become more familiar with the campus and the Rochester area. The international student advisor will also work alongside each student throughout their studies to provide important information regarding travel, employment, maintenance of status, and post-degree options. For more information, please contact Matt Lake in the Center for Academic Advising and Support Services at (585) 385-8034.