About Academic Advising Directors
Every undergraduate student at Stanford has an Academic Advising Director (AAD). Your Academic Advising Director is a Ph.D.-level UAR advisor with an office in your residential complex. Your Academic Advising Director brings with him or her at least a decade of experience in higher education as well as expertise in a field of academic study (our AADs have degrees in such fields as Anthropology, Biology, Business, English, and History).
As a full-time professional advisor here at Stanford, your AAD focuses on the students in his or her residence, and can assist with both routine and complex matters pertaining to academic requirements and policies, course selection and sequencing, investigating majors, research, fellowships, and post-graduate study.
Meeting your AAD
AADs are available for appointments and drop ins.
Some of the many reasons you might want to make an appointment with your AAD include:
- Discussing course choices (in your first quarter or any quarter)
- Exploring possible majors and fields of study that speak to your skills and interests
- Identifying the prerequisites for majors that appeal to you
- Checking degree progress and requirement fulfillment status
- Learning about available academic skills support (tutoring, academic coaching, etc.)
- Discovering research options and opportunities (including funding for original research)
- Finding fellowship and funding prospects (including guidance for grant writing)
- Gaining a fuller understanding of Stanford policy and procedure
- Requesting an exception to university policy (e.g. taking more than 20 units in a quarter)
- Considering leaves of absence for personal, professional, or academic reasons
- Uncovering the secrets of networking with faculty at Stanford
- Going over your BOSP or IntroSem applications
- Getting support and information if placed on Academic Probation
- Seeking academic support or guidance in times of crisis
- Uncovering tips and tricks for making the most of your connection with your PMA
