Drake University’s Blended Advising Model: The Academic Care Team
At Drake University, student success is built on a foundation of connection and support. That’s why we created the Academic Care Team—a coordinated network of advisors, mentors, and coaches who guide students from their very first semester through graduation.
This team-based approach ensures that every student has multiple advocates who can help navigate degree planning, explore career paths, and develop the skills needed to thrive both during and after college.
Your Academic Care Team
Our Academic Care Team brings together three dedicated roles to each student:
- Advising Specialist: Your Advising Specialist provides guidance on curriculum planning, degree requirements, and connects you to campus resources.
- Faculty Mentor: Your Faculty Mentor offers major-specific insight, helps you refine your educational and career goals, and supports your intellectual growth.
- Career Coach: Your Career Coach focuses on career exploration, improving your employability skills, connects you with internships, and prepares you for life after Drake.
Current students can view and schedule appointments with their Academic Care Team members on Starfish.
Blended Advising Model
Our blended advising model emphasizes relationships, exploration, and flexibility. Every student is paired with a faculty advisor or mentor who is closely tied to their major and academic interests.
During the first two years, students are encouraged to meet often with their Academic Care Team as they explore options, refine goals, and consider changes in major or career direction. For our transfer and part-time students, advisors also play a crucial role in reviewing transferred credits and helping map out a path to program completion. Our team works with students to ensure that if they decide to change majors, they will still be able to graduate on time, though, depending on when a student changes their major, this is not always guaranteed.
Students may request an advisor change or a specific faculty mentor within their degree at any time.
Student Responsibilities
Advising at Drake is designed to be a partnership, and students play an active role in making it successful. Students are expected to meet with their Advising Specialist, Faculty Mentor, and Career Coach early and often, particularly at the beginning of each semester.
Students are responsible for tracking their academic progress, meeting deadlines, and coming prepared to conversations with their Academic Care Team with questions, ideas, or concerns.
Whether considering adding or changing majors, searching for an internship, or mapping out graduation plans, students are encouraged to use their Academic Care Team as a resource and sounding board.
When to Reach Out
There are many natural points in a student’s journey when connecting with the Academic Care Team is especially valuable. Meeting at the start of each semester provides an opportunity to set goals and check progress. Students should also reach out if they are thinking about changing majors, struggling with coursework, or simply seeking new strategies for success.
As students advance through their major, advisors and mentors become important partners in planning for internships, research experiences, graduate school applications, or employment after graduation. Transfer and part-time students benefit from early and consistent communication as they learn how their credits apply to chart the most efficient path to their degree.
Additional Resources
In addition to the Academic Care Team, students may also connect with the Dean’s Office in their college or school, particularly for matters related to transfer credits and advisor assignments. Juniors and seniors can take advantage of their faculty mentors as they move toward graduation and begin preparing for advanced study or entry into their career field.
No matter where a student is on their journey, Drake’s Academic Care Team is committed to providing guidance, encouragement, and expertise every step of the way.