All enrolled graduate students at SSA are assigned an advisor with whom they are encouraged to discuss their academic program and career plans. First-year advisor assignments are generally made with the student’s Core faculty; post-Core assignments are made in association with the student’s chosen concentration. Throughout their attendance at SSA, students are encouraged to engage any faculty member for advice or information regarding their interests or concerns. The Dean of Students web page is also available and may be of particular assistance regarding financial concerns, special programs, or special needs.
SSA offers tutoring for students who wish to increase their skills in academic writing or in substantive content such as research methods. Several writing associates are available to meet with students to provide one-on-one assistance with academic and professional writing. Please contact the Dean of Students office (phone: 773.702.1135) if you would like to be connected to a writing tutor. The University also offers an Academic Skills Assessment Program for students who would like help in evaluating their academic needs and in finding solutions.
All incoming students attend a workshop during orientation on professional writing. The workshop includes a grammar refresher, an overview of rules for style and punctuation, a suggested organization for writing academic papers, and an overview of the rules of citation.
The University offers a full complement of ESL classes for students with limited knowledge of English. Both language and writing classes are offered each quarter.