Introduction:

Academic guidance (advising) is one of the most important orientation programs for students, and the Department of Computer Science intends to effectively activate and develop this guidance. The new mechanism is designed to save the students' time and effort in the registration process, and to introduce them to their specialization, study plans, and the requirements needed to obtain academic degrees. Moreover, academic guidance is aimed at at-risk students to discuss their academic problems and find suitable solutions for them.

Vision and Mission of Academic Guidance:

To improve the academic guidance program for students, make it reach the best university standards, work on providing all guidance services to the student, and overcome all difficulties that may lead to the failure of his academic course. This is in order to build a sound scientific and academic outcome in the period specified for graduation.

Goals of Academic Guidance:

Introduce new students to the nature of their new life at the university, guide students with regard to the academic systems to facilitate their understanding of the study plan of the department, and work on raising the academic capabilities of students for them to not approach the limits of becoming at-risk academically, achieving this through continuous follow-up and provision of the right advice. All this is in addition to maximizing the potential of the students who are academically outstanding and excellent by encouraging ongoing development of their talents, as well as paying attention to the advancement of at-risk students by understanding the causes of their failure, addressing these causes, and upgrading their academic attainment.

Duties of Academic Guidance in the Department:

Make a guide and an instructional leaflet pointing out the functions of the department, the academic advisors and the students, to complete the success of the guidance process in the best way. Hold student meetings to introduce students to the importance of the academic guidance program in their university life, and how to make the most use of it. Publish the guide brochures on the website of the department, and distribute students to the academic advisors, announcing this on the bulletin board and the website of the department. Take advantage of the opportunity for the academic advisors and students to discuss the academic obstacles, in order to find appropriate solutions for them. At the beginning of each semester, the head of the department is to discuss the reports submitted by the academic advisors on the academic level of the students (the successful and the at-risk students), for him to become familiar with it and follow up the ongoing course of the guidance process.

The Most Important Duties of the Academic Advisor:

The duty of the academic advisor is to take care of the students, from the time they join the department until they graduate, without failing any subject. This can be carried out by the following points:

• The Academic Advisor prepares a special file for each student he is responsible for in terms of academic guidance, including the student's data, the academic record, his schedule, and the copies of each registration procedure made for each semester.
• The Academic Advisor points out the importance of the role of the academic advisor to the student, and the necessity of following his instructions. He also communicates with the student continuously, for him to pass the academic period with the highest grades.
• The Academic Advisor clarifies to the student his role in the success of the guidance process, where the academic advisor is considered a means of guidance, but the student is the one who implements the advice to achieve the desired goal, i.e., to obtain the highest degree of excellence.
• The Academic Advisor introduces the student to the curriculum plan of the department, including the basic and elective courses and their requirements, and how to register for them and determine the academic load.
• The Academic Advisor emphasizes that the student has to adhere to the dates set out in the university academic calendar when conducting the various registration processes (add, delete, amend a department, withdrawal from a course, and others).
• The Academic Advisor fully supervises the student when the various registration forms are being filled in, and follows up the steps taken to complete them, while complying with the executive regulatory rules.
• The Academic Advisor holds a second meeting with the student after the mid-year exams, to discuss and overcome any obstacles that he encountered during his study.
• The Academic Advisor submits a report to the head of the department at the beginning of each semester showing the cases of at-risk students, if any, and finding solutions for their problems.

The Most Important Qualities of the Academic Advisor:

• The Academic Advisor is the most important academic staff as he is appointed by the head of the department to carry out the functions of academic guidance for a group of students.
• The Academic Advisor should have knowledge of the course system and mechanism of registration.
• The Academic Advisor must have the basic skills needed for academic guidance, including: the art of leadership, organized planning, good listening skills, as well as decision-making and problem solving skills.