The university considers academic advising an integral part of the teaching/learning process. With full support from top university administrators, department chairs consider good advising in the evaluation of their faculty. Every student at Old Dominion University is assigned an academic advisor. Entering freshmen and campus transfer students who are undecided on a major are assigned an advisor in Center for Major Exploration (CME) (1500 Webb Center). All freshmen and campus transfer students who are decided on a major are assigned to an academic advisor in their college or department of interest at the beginning of their initial term of enrollment. Campus students who become undecided after initial assignment to an academic advisor should be referred to the Center for Major Exploration for advising and major/career counseling assistance. Distant students should consult with a site director or the distance learning representative.

           Acceptance of a student for advising purposes does not guarantee acceptance into the department as a major. When eligible, students must officially declare the major and be accepted by the department as a major. Degree requirements, admissions policies, university support services and other information of concern to advisors may be found in the Old Dominion Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs and the Academic Advising Resources website.The assistant dean for advising coordinates the campus advising system through the college advising coordinators, associate deans, the chief departmental advisors (CDAs), faculty advisors, the Center for Major Exploration, the Career Management Center, and the director of TELETECHNET advising.

           Faculty advisors assist students in planning academic programs by discussing course requirements and career opportunities and providing referrals to help students resolve problems beyond the faculty member's area of expertise. Most departments also have a regularly designated CDA (chief departmental adviser) who is qualified to assist students in the absence of their regularly assigned advisor. The assistant/associate dean or college advisor in each college serves as coordinator of advising and is also prepared to assist students in the absence of the aforementioned faculty members. Advisors will make every effort to give effective guidance to students in academic matters and to refer students to those qualified to help them in other matters, but the final responsibility for meeting all academic requirements for a selected program rests with the student.

           Degree-seeking graduate students are advised by the graduate program director in their area or by a graduate faculty member designated by the graduate program director. Non-degree graduate students should seek advice from the department/school offering the course, or, if registering for engineering or business courses, permission of the department/school. Students may register for no more than 12 hours of graduate credit while in a non-degree status.