Academic Advisor

Definition and Responsibilities

According to Article 35 (Law 4009_2011, Government Gazette A 195), it is established that:
"The Academic Advisor guides and supports students in their study programs. The Internal Regulation of each institution specifies the rotational assignment of academic advising duties to professors and regulates specific related matters."
This role is mandatory.

In the Postgraduate Programs of the Department of Medicine, academic advisors are members of the Teaching and Research Staff (Faculty) of the same or another institution unless the structure, the specific character of the program, or the number of postgraduate students allows this role to be assigned to other teaching staff. In such cases, the relevant authority is the Coordinating Committee of the Postgraduate Program, which submits a justified request to the Department Assembly.

The rationale behind this is purely practical, as faculty members are "closer" to the "academic environment" and can effectively guide their assigned postgraduate students on academic matters.

To ensure the uninterrupted support of postgraduate students regarding their studies and overall student life, Academic Advisors collaborate, where necessary, with:
a) The Student Support Structure for Students with Disabilities and/or Special Educational Needs – "ACCESS",
b) The Student Counseling Service of the Psychology and Education Applications Laboratory, and
c) The Support Service for cases of Harassment and Bullying.

The teaching staff, administrative staff, Laboratory and Clinic Directors, and Department Heads, along with the relevant university services, cooperate with and support Academic Advisors in their work. They also take into account information, observations, recommendations, and requests from advisors regarding any deficiencies or dysfunctions that create problems for postgraduate students and potential proposals for immediate resolution.

Postgraduate students, particularly first-year students, are encouraged to have frequent meetings with their Academic Advisors to better organize their study programs and resolve related issues. However, the final responsibility for academic choices remains with the students themselves.

If an academic advisor repeatedly fails to fulfill their duties, the student may request their replacement by submitting a justified application to the Program Director and the Coordinating Committee. Conversely, if the Academic Advisor determines that a student is not following their guidance, they may request from the Program Director a documented reassignment of the student to a different Academic Advisor.

Assignment Procedure

Regarding the Postgraduate Programs in the Department of Medicine, the assignment of an Academic Advisor occurs upon a postgraduate student's enrollment as follows:
Upon registration, each student receives an email from the Secretariat, which is also sent to the assigned academic advisor. This email informs the student about their assigned advisor’s name, role, and contact details.

During the course of the student’s studies, the academic advisor may also serve as their thesis supervisor. However, the reverse is not necessarily true, meaning that a thesis supervisor may not always be the assigned Academic Advisor.

Frequency of Communication

It is recommended that postgraduate students communicate with their Academic Advisor at least twice during their studies.

Obligations of the Academic Advisor

To explore and enhance the students' academic interests and skills through appropriate guidance.
To facilitate the student's adaptation to the academic environment in case of any difficulties.
To maintain communication with their students at least twice during the duration of their studies.
To provide academic guidance to students for making informed decisions regarding their studies and potential career pathways.
To request updates from the Secretariat regarding any learning difficulties or special needs the student may have.
To keep a personal record with student details, meetings, and academic matters discussed.
To collect and analyze student feedback to improve the quality of the educational experience within the postgraduate program (continuous improvement and feedback mechanism).