Mentoring & Academic Support

Individualized Support

Foundation Year

From day one, students are assigned a First Year Mentor, their instructor for First Year Seminar. This mentor works with them throughout freshman year as the student adjusts to college life.

When students declare their major, usually during the second semester of the Foundation Year, they are introduced to their Program Advisor, typically the Program Director of their major or another full-time faculty from that major.

Sophomore through Senior Year

Students meet regularly with their Program Advisor. Program Advisors check in a couple of times per semester to help advise a student on their graduation plans. Program Advisors also help students who need assistance with registering for classes.

Senior Year

In Senior Year, in addition to a Program Advisor, students are assigned a Thesis Mentor. A Thesis Mentor’s assistance is focused on supporting the development and production of the thesis project and the student continues to meet with their Program Advisor until graduation.

Transfer Students

New students who are not Foundation Year students, will be connected to their Program Advisor via an email welcoming them to PNCA. New transfer students will meet their Program Advisor for the first time in person, during New Student Orientation.

Academic Support

Administrative staff, academic coaches, and writing specialists are available to encourage the learning process and nurture the development of new academic strategies through:

• Drop-in writing support
• 1:1 and small-group academic coaching, and
• Workshops to build skills and confidence in writing, reading comprehension, time management skills, and more!

For questions regarding 1:1 or group academic coaching, please contact Noni Villalobos at nvillalobos@willamette.edu

The Academic Support Center (ASC) located in room 208 serves as a hub for PNCA's academic support services. Click the Academic Support page for more information about Open Studio, Writing Studio, and workshops!