Academic advisers do much more than help students create their schedules.

“As a graduate student and teaching assistant, guidance in academics and teaching is a basic necessity,” said Dana Oar, a first-year graduate student from Buffalo, N.Y., majoring in health promotion and behavior.

Oar has received advice from her adviser on issues inside the classroom, resources on campus and information pertinent to her field of study.

Advisers are networked to all of the major offices within the University, including Career Services, the Counseling Center and Financial Aid, said Leigh Holland, senior academic and lead pre-journalism adviser for Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Holland said advisers can answer most questions students have, and if they can’t answer them, they’ll know who to refer students to.

In addition to University resources, advisers often refer students to available community resources in order to obtain the maximum amount of information on careers, opportunities and fields of study.

“There are many paths a student can take in order to get their desired end result,” Holland said.

When it comes to academic questions, “academic advisers should be the first person students turn to,” said Stephanie Schlitz, coordinator of academic advising for the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Advisers can answer questions pertaining to specific majors, core requirements and any other academic questions students may have, she said.

They help develop an academic plan for students, whether the student is interested in a dual degree, a double major, a minor or if they need advice on declaring a major.

Many freshmen come to college undecided and advisors help them plan an educational program based on their interests, strengths, abilities, talents and future career plans, Schlitz said.

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has a number of specialized academic advisers for students receiving a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, pre-business, pre-journalism, pre-law, pre-pharmacy, art and freshman music.

Holland said it’s easy for students to get their questions answered through a new program.

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has an e-mail address service called “Ask Advice,” where students e-mail questions and receive an answer by the appropriate adviser, usually within one business day.

Students can contact the “Ask Advice” service by e-mailing their questions and concerns to askadvice@franklin.uga.edu or by selecting the link under advising, from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences homepage (http://ben.franklin.uga.edu).