The Milestone Academic Advising Program 

Components of Milestone Academic Advising 

• Receiving an advising syllabus prior to the first semester of enrollment, providing clear expectations, helpful resources, and a roadmap for success from day one.
• One-to-one appointment First Term - all new first-time** students admitted to Main Campus connect with an academic advisor/primary major during their first semester.
• Participating in at least one advising-focused group experience during the first semester—such as a Student Success course, registration lab, or UNIV 101 course—creating opportunities for connection, collaboration, and skill-building.
• Engaging in an individual advising appointment during the second year with an academic advisor in primary major to develop a comprehensive degree plan that thoughtfully integrates both curricular and co-curricular experiences, empowering students to align their academic goals with their broader aspirations.

**First-time students are students who are attending a higher education institution for the first time after leaving high school.  This term does not include transfer students. 

A Brief History of the Initiative

A dedicated group of academic advising leaders and campus partners were invited by Provost Prelock to join the U of A Milestone Academic Advising Task Force in October 2026.  After 3 months of exploration, recommendations were sent forward and accepted for future implementation. The Milestone Academic Advising Strategic Initiative will front load academic advising within the first two years of the undergraduate student experience. Students are expected to meet with an advisor during key points in the first two years of enrollment. By guaranteeing that all first-time students interact with an advisor and these interactions are guided by relevant academic advising learning outcomes, students will be empowered to navigate their Wildcat experience leading to a sense of belonging and timely goal attainment. 

The Milestone Task Force reconvened in Spring 2026 to work on details around the advising syllabus, learning outcomes, marketing & communications, assessment, and advisor training and development. First time, Main Campus students in the Fall 2026 cohort will be the first students to participate in this program. 

Resources

More information will be shared through the 2026 U of A Academic Advising Conference. Please contact Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski with specific questions or if you would like more information.