Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
Advisors for undeclared students foster academic and personal achievement by connecting students to the wide range of opportunities available at the University and by providing personal guidance to the students as they explore their options. The undeclared advisors are experienced and highly knowledgeable about all of the academic programs, as well as about co-op, internships, research, and study abroad and are experts in helping students figure out how to use these opportunities to explore the path that is right for them. We encourage students to see their advisors so they can provide the personal guidance that will help students make the most out of their year in the Program for Undeclared Students and beyond.
In addition, we know first-hand that students also learn best when connecting with their peers, so we have built a strong and many-tiered peer support system for undeclared students. Our Peer Programs consist of Teaching Assistants, Peer Mentors, Coordinators and Tutors. These committed undergraduates are available to provide one-on-one tips and connections, as well as to share their own perspectives.
Finally, undeclared students are encouraged to access faculty in the programs in which they are interested. The faculty advisors are the experts in their fields of study and are the best people for the undeclared students to speak with about such things as:
- topics of interest within a discipline
- research areas in the specific disciplines
- how majors relate to graduate school or career goals
Academic Advising
Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
Advising for undeclared students occurs in the Center for Student Academic Services, located in One Meserve Hall.
The program advisors for undeclared students are:
Jan Swindlehurst (j.swindlehurst@neu.edu,
Kim Irmiter (k.irmiter@neu.edu) and
Stacey Bryant Bishop (s.bryantbishop@neu.edu).
These advisors are available to discuss the wide range of stimulating academic programs offered at the University, entrance requirements for the majors, course choices, career goals, and other academic issues. Jan, Kim and Stacey also have easy access to faculty advisors in the majors and, as undeclared students express interest in exploring specific programs, refer students to the appropriate faculty for further information.
To schedule an appointment with Jan, Kim or Stacey please call 617-373-2306 or stop by 1 Meserve.
Co-op Advising
Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
Undeclared students can contact Craig Bettinson, Director of Cooperative Education, for the College of Arts, Media and Design, at 617-272-4261 or email him at cr.bettinson@neu.edu. He will introduce students to the co-op process and prepare them for their first co-op experience. Students can take a one-credit co-op prep class in the fall of their sophomore year in anticipation of going out on co-op in the spring of their sophomore year. It is not necessary to declare a major prior to going on a first co-op. Indeed, we believe that the opportunity to experience a particular field through work experience is extremely valuable to undeclared students as they go through the process of exploring areas of study and majors.
Peer Programs
Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
Interested in becoming a part of our Peer Programs?
The Program for Undeclared Students offers a strong network of peer support with the help of many enthusiastic and successful student leaders. These positions include:
- Peer Mentors
- Teaching Assistants
- Student Ambassadors
- Coordinators
We strongly encourage our undeclared students to take advantage of the peer support services to learn from those who have had first-hand experience. Many of the students in our peer programs are former undeclared students who have gone through the exploration process that our new undeclared students are just beginning. We have found that students learning from students is a powerful enhancement to the Program for Undeclared Students, both for the new undeclared freshmen as well as for the peer leaders themselves.
We also ask that freshmen consider giving back as they move into their sophomore year by becoming a participant in one of the peer programs. If you are interested in applying for one of the above positions, please email Kim Irmiter at k.irmiter@neu.edu for more information.
Peer Mentors
Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
Peer Mentors are undergraduate students who assist new undeclared students by sharing their own knowledge and experiences at the University. They are enthusiastic about the opportunities for personal growth and achievement that they have discovered at Northeastern and are eager to share it with students about to embark on their own process of discovery. We are happy to offer two different roles for our student leaders:
Teaching Assistants: co-teach FSEM1000, Connections and Decisions, our 1 credit freshman seminar. Teaching Assistants work closely with undeclared students, sharing information and their own experiences. They also work with the FSEM1000 instructor, planning curriculum and facilitating class discussion.
Peer Mentors: are each assigned to a section of FSEM1000 and work with students to develop a major exploration plan, sharing their own experiences and offering helpful suggestions to students on an individual basis.
We encourage students to get to know their Peer Mentors as they are seasoned student leaders with a great deal of campus knowledge and a strong understanding of their own majors. We know students enjoy learning from other students and trust this will be a great way to begin the NU journey.
Teaching Assistants
Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
Teaching Assistants are an important part of the Program for Undeclared Students. They are upperclass students who are paired with the instructors of Connections and Decisions, the freshman seminar for Undeclared students, to assist in the teaching of the course. In collaboration with the instructors who teach the course, the Teaching Assistants lead activities designed to encourage reflection and widen the students’ knowledge base.
Teaching Assistants also offer guidance and support as new freshmen learn about the many opportunities available for them at Northeastern and beyond. Our Teaching Assistants are a wonderful resource for students and are available to answer questions and provide guidance from a perspective that is different from that of the instructor of the course.
Coordinators
Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
Coordinators perform administrative functions to help with the management of the Program for Undeclared Students. They assist with various programs including: events planning; public relations; assessment and evaluation; and social media networking. They also serve as supervisors to the Peer Mentors and the Teaching Assistants. This is a paid position for third, fourth and fifth-year students with strong organizational and leadership skills. This is also the next step up the ladder for Peer Mentors and Teaching Assistants who have shown initiative and active engagement in the Peer Mentor Program as well as in the Program for Undeclared Students.
Career Services
Advising Support - Academic Advising - Co-op Advising - Peer Programs -
Peer Mentors - Teaching Assistants - Coordinators - Career Services
The Program for Undeclared Students partners with the Office of Career Services to ensure that programs and workshops are available for undeclared students. They also work with students individually in one-on-one sessions to help students gain the self-knowledge and awareness necessary to further their progress on the path to explore majors and ultimately make the decision that is right for them.
Career Services counselors are located in 101 Stearns Hall. The Career Services website offers resources and links to key sites that will help students research majors, in addition to finding internships, careers and co-op opportunities.
Students can make appointments with Career Services counselors by going through MyNEU or by calling 617-373-2430.
