The Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC) aims to support MIT students from matriculation through graduation by way of proactive, consistent, holistic advising. Advising within the academic departments is decentralized, and students report great variance in the student-advisor relationship. To ensure a consistent experience, regardless of major or advisor, all rising sophomore students will now be assigned an advisor within the UAC. The student’s UAC advisor proactively reaches out at pre-designated times of the year, offering individualized appointments that address academic and personal goals and concerns. The UAC exists to ensure that all upper-level students have an “anchor” office, mirroring the role Office of the First Year (OFY) played during their first year.

In addition to advising and programming, the UAC is home to our First Generation and/or Low Income (FLI) program, which offers robust programs and services for FLI-identifying students, who comprise nearly 30% of our undergraduate population. The UAC also serves MIT’s transfer student community, providing tailored orientation programs and ongoing support services that bridge the gap between previous educational experiences and the requirements of their new academic environment.

The UAC is fully aligned with the Chancellor’s “Whole Student” initiative, providing student support that addresses academic, personal, and professional growth. Established to enhance the student experience, the UAC team recognizes that students are multifaceted, and UAC advisors are well-equipped to support them throughout their MIT journey.

A Symbiotic Advising Model

The UAC will not alter the role of faculty/departmental advisors. The faculty advisor role remains unchanged; they will continue to be students’ primary advisors responsible for registration approvals, course-specific requirements, and academic recommendations, while UAC advisors will supplement in a holistic capacity. The UAC advisor reinforces and complements these efforts, fostering a seamless advising experience without infringing upon department-specific expertise. This symbiotic, student success-focused advising approach is intended to ensure that students receive comprehensive support from both departmental advisors and the UAC from matriculation through graduation.

The UAC’s holistic advising model includes tailored support that extends beyond academics. UAC advisors work with students to develop personally and build resilience. They also help students uncover the hidden curriculum of MIT. Many undergraduates arrive to campus with established communities – athletes may have teammates and coaches, teammate friendships develop from summer camps, and some may have existing connections with upper-level students. Recognizing that each student’s experience is unique, we aim to create a safe and inclusive environment where all students can openly express concerns, ask questions, or explore opportunities, regardless of their social or community networks. 

Following a consistent advising curriculum, UAC advisors proactively connect with students as a constant touchpoint for the duration of their time at MIT. Check-in meetings are scheduled outside of the brief registration window at specific points of the year. During these meetings, UAC advisors focus on helping students develop academic and personal goals, review Institute policies and deadlines, navigate campus resources, and provide tips on building authentic relationships with faculty (a popular, student-requested topic).

In late April, first-year students are invited to our annual “Connect with Your UAC Advisor” event. At this event, students are introduced to their UAC advisor and the UAC as a resource. This event creates clarity in delineating between the departmental and UAC advisor roles, reinforcing expectations and well-defined advising functions before the students formally connect with their academic departments. Over 300 students in the Class of 2028 attended the event this year!

Supporting Faculty While Enhancing Advising

The UAC helps maintain consistency in advising across departments by creating a uniform advising experience, ultimately benefiting students and departmental advisors alike. Faculty advisors can depend on the UAC as an additional advising resource for themselves and their students. This UAC-maintained Departmental Advisor Resource Guide is an accessible reference for general advising information on degree requirements, GIRs, HASS requirements, or transfer credits. With information on campus resources, supporting first-year or upper-level students, and general advising best practices, this guide is a helpful resource for new and experienced faculty advisors.

The UAC actively seeks and values collaboration with academic departments to develop advising resources and best practices for departmental advisors and staff. For instance, if a faculty advisor is unavailable to meet with their advisee (at a conference, on sabbatical, etc.), UAC advisors can assist, ensuring students continue to receive timely guidance. Faculty advisors can confidently send students to the UAC to navigate campus resources, GIR clarification, or personal skill development. Additionally, faculty are encouraged to collaborate with the UAC when encountering advising challenges or wish to propose advising improvements within the Institute.

The UAC team also understands that each department has different needs regarding advising. Building a collaborative partnership with departments is a high priority for the UAC, and the team believes working with faculty to understand departmental needs and how faculty advisors can be supported is critical to success. For the 2025-26 academic year, we are piloting a “departmental liaison” program. Each department has a point-person (or small group of staff members for the larger departments) in the UAC. Additional information about this program will be shared with each department’s Undergraduate Officer in early June.

Strengthening Advising Through Collaboration

The UAC is a campus resource designed to strengthen and support the advising experience. UAC student resources, like our robust drop-in programming, Student Success Toolkit, workshop series, and drop-in advising hours are some of the many ways in which UAC advisors use to engage with students. Through collaboration, faculty advisors and the UAC can work together to ensure that students receive a consistent and quality advising experience that aligns with institutional goals.

The UAC team is motivated and enthusiastic to offer new, innovative programs and services for undergraduate students at MIT. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment where all students, regardless of background, have the support and resources they need to excel academically and achieve their full potential.

For more information or to discuss collaboration opportunities, faculty members are encouraged to connect with us via advising@mit.edu.

OFY (housed within the UAC) and the UAC office will be occupying 11-101 in the Infinite Corridor, which is currently under construction. Slated to open fall 2025, the UAC team is excited to welcome students to a modern, bright new space.

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