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Academic Advising

MIAD’s academic advising program integrates academic and career advising from the First-Year Experience (FYE) through the senior experiences with a primary focus on the relationship a student develops with their academic advisors, creating a partnership that assists the student in the self-directed planning of their creative future. MIAD’s academic advisors are faculty and staff who are informed and resourceful, and many of them are practicing artists, designers, writers, historians, scientists, and more. They will challenge and support students as they navigate through their time at MIAD. Individual and group advising sessions and workshops (along with integrated curricular and co-curricular activities focused on personal and professional growth and development) will be opportunities for students to take advantage of throughout their education. Our primary goal through MIAD academic advising is to guide students in their endeavors to become the creative professional they hope to be.

MIAD Philosophy and Mission of Advising

Academic advising at MIAD is a holistically focused, dynamic partnership between a student and an academic advisor. At the center is a shared responsibility for a coherent educational plan that partners students and academic advisors in the integration of personal, professional, and creative growth.

Vision

MIAD academic advising guides students toward self-directed planning of their creative futures.

Organization of Advising 

MIAD’s academic advisors are faculty and staff who are informed and resourceful, and many of them are practicing artists, designers, writers, historians, scientists, and more.

First-Year students meet with a dedicated faculty or staff advisor throughout their first year at MIAD before transitioning to their upper-level faculty advisor in their chosen major. Students can, and are encouraged to, maintain contact with their First-Year Experience (FYE) advisor as they move forward in their education. The transition to the upper-level faculty advisor is essential for mentorship purposes, sharing information about the major-specific Programs of Study, and offering career and professional practice guidance.

The advising partnership begins during New Student Orientation when each student meets with their FYE advisor. Academic advising meetings are held throughout the students’ first year and they can expect to receive regular and meaningful communication from their academic advisor during key points of the semester; which can be identified as New Student Orientation, the first couple of weeks into the semester, 4-week reports, midterm grades, course registration, and end of semester check-in.

First-Year Experience advisors are committed to working alongside students during their first year to bring about positive growth and development and aid in the transition to college. Students transition to their upper-level faculty advisor in their chosen major upon completion of the First-Year Experience. The final three years of a student’s tenure at MIAD allows for faculty to partner with and mentor the students in their majors, including providing information about the content of required and elective classes within their major-specific Program of Study.

Contact Us

Rebecca D’Amore 
Director of Academic Advising
rebeccadamore@miad.edu
414-847-3275
Office: room 255B (second floor)

Advising Learning Outcomes - First-Year

First-Year students begin their advising experience with being able to:

Information Acquisition and Skill Development

  • Identify their assigned academic advisor and know how to best contact them.
  • Know about the resources and assistance available through the Academic Success Center (ASC), Student Support Coordinators, the Student Accessibility Coordinator, the Associate Dean of Students, and the Equity and Inclusion Center.
  • Be informed regarding their financial aid, housing, meal plan, and student account information.
  • Learn to utilize their MIAD e-mail and the MIAD website.
  • Understand their FYE and Critical Studies course requirements.
  • Develop an effective time management/prioritization strategy and study skills.
  • Understand the course registration process, including reading a Program of Study (POS), course selection, how to build a schedule, and policies and procedures regarding registration.
  • Learn about the major and minor options offered through MIAD.
  • Understand what is required to be considered in good academic standing, as well as the policies and the process of academic probation and dismissal.
  • Become aware of Career Services and the options for gaining skills and experience outside of their studio education.
  • Identify, communicate, and set goals and create action plans in relation to their academic and personal goals, and professional and creative aspirations.

Cognitive Development

  • Understand the value of building healthy relationships with their peers, faculty, and First-Year Experience advisor.
  • Begin to develop professional and self-awareness.
  • Take responsibility for their learning experiences and their personal and academic success.
Advising Learning Outcomes - Upper Level

Upper-level students, through their advising experiences, will continue to:

Information Acquisition

  • Develop an awareness and understanding of their individual Program of Study (POS), degree and major requirements, and course offerings.
  • Actively utilize Career Services as a resource for opportunities such as internships and other professional experiences, alumni and employer connections, resume and interview skills, and job search strategies.

Skill Development

  • Work collaboratively with their academic advisor to develop a self-directed, comprehensive, and cohesive plan of coursework and learning experiences.
  • Develop a professional attitude and approach to their learning.

Cognitive Development

  • Identify and effectively communicate their creative professional goals.
  • Understand how their personal, academic, and creative choices will impact their creative professional goals.
  • Continually self-assess their goals and abilities.
  • Develop an appreciation for and understanding of the benefit of lifelong learning, growth, and development and how these impact their ability to adapt to new challenges and environments in their future creative professional life.
Advisee Responsibilities and Expectations

As an advisee and student, my responsibilities are to:

  • Schedule, be on time, and be prepared with necessary materials for all advising meetings.
  • Contact my academic advisor prior to a scheduled meeting when I may need to cancel or reschedule.
  • Check my MIAD e-mail account daily and respond in a timely and appropriate manner as necessary.
  • Keep records of my advising meetings and experiences.
  • Seek assistance, when necessary, with my study habits and academic progress.
  • Follow through on agreed upon action steps and tasks identified during advising meetings.
  • Utilize and understand my Program of Study.
  • Become knowledgeable and adhere to institutional policies, procedures, and requirements.
  • Request reassignment of a different academic advisor if necessary.
  • Clarify my personal interests, skills and abilities, values, and goals.
  • Explore majors and careers as they relate to my interests, skills and abilities, values and goals.
  • Accept final responsibility for my educational decisions.
Advisor Responsibilities and Expectations

As an advisor, my responsibilities are to:

  • Be approachable and available to advisees.
  • Be on time and prepared with necessary materials for all advising meetings.
  • Respond to e-mail and phone calls from advisees in a timely manner.
  • Maintain consistent and effective contact with each assigned advisee.
  • Maintain accurate and complete records, for each advisee.
  • Interpret and provide rationale for instructional policies, procedures, and requirements.
  • Request reassignment of advisee to a different academic advisor if necessary.
  • Inform students of resources and services available for academic assistance and other identified needs.
  • Offer advice and guidance regarding appropriate course selection, course load, and schedule development.
  • Identify needs and make necessary referrals to MIAD Student Services when appropriate.
  • Assist students in defining and developing realistic personal, social, academic, and creative life goals.

News

Independence First and MIAD students produce adaptive clothing

Students in a junior-level Fashion and Apparel Design class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) collaborated with Independence First to design adaptive clothing. Two Independence First employees worked closely with MIAD students on customized outfits specific to their needs and preferences.

‘GQ Rebranded’ series is a hit for MIAD alum’s new studio

When Justin Thomas Kay ’04 (Communication Design) opened his own studio, JTK Studio, Inc., in New York City early this year, he hoped that his work “would contribute positively to helping to make things look nicer and more enjoyable and speak honestly to people broadly.” The new GQ Sports series “GQ Rebranded” turned out to be a good fit to do just that.

MIAD student support system receives national SMILE Award

Choose Mental Health, the national voice for children’s mental health, named the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) the 2024 SMILE Award–Organization Winner for the college’s commitment to promoting mental health and well-being among its students.

Senior’s passion for Illustration and Natural Sciences thrives at MIAD

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) senior Lilly Zbiegien’s two passions – Illustration and Natural Sciences – flourished at an early age and have continued through college. Recently Zbiegien presented her Natural Science Independent Study research, “Junkyard Nests,” showing not only the impact of plastic pollution on birds, but also her skill in portraying the environment through Illustration.