Academic Advising: Information for Faculty

Thank you for advising students, writing recommendations and letters, and contributing to the success of their study abroad experience! If you have questions about study abroad or particular programs, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs.

We encourage Pitzer students to work with their faculty advisers early in their academic career to determine how a semester of study abroad will best fit into their overall educational plan. With early planning and advising, students in any major can have the opportunity to study abroad.

Advising and Application Process

For Pitzer students, the first steps in the study abroad process are attending an Information Session and meeting with a study abroad adviser, and discussing their study abroad plans with their academic adviser. Review Your Study Abroad Journey and Apply as a Pitzer Student for more information about the advising and application processes.

Deadlines

There are multiple deadlines for approved semester study abroad programs and exchanges. In order for a student’s application to be complete, an Adviser Approval Form must be submitted.

Adviser Approval Form

An Adviser Approval Form is part of the Pitzer College Study Abroad Application. Your advisees should research programs and available courses and have a conversation with you about how study abroad fits into their degree planning and progress. By providing your signature, you are signaling that you and your advisee have discussed their study abroad plans, that they are in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress towards completion of their degree, and that their study abroad plans make sense academically, considering their overall plan of study.

Beginning with the Summer 2025 term, Adviser Approval Forms will be completed via the Study Abroad Application Portal. You will receive an email with an Adviser Approval Form Request and your student’s name in the subject line. The email will include login instructions and the option of creating a user account.  We suggest creating a user account to view all such requests in one location. Hint: Faculty use the ‘General non-Pitzer login’ to access their account.

Adviser Endorsement for Non-Approved Programs

Students applying to a non-approved program may include an optional letter from their academic adviser explaining why they believe the non-approved program best meets an essential educational need for their advisee. These letters are generally requested by students as part of the appeal process if their petition is denied.

Letters of Recommendation

One or more recommendations may be required for Pitzer students applying to study abroad. The recommender does not need to be from Pitzer College.

Program Specific Recommendations and Letters of Reference
After Pitzer students submit their Pitzer College Study Abroad Applications and are accepted by the Office of Study Abroad and International Programs, some study abroad programs and exchanges require them to submit program-specific applications. Applications required by the host institutions may include requests for recommendations and/or letters of reference. Your student should provide the program specific links, forms, instructions and due dates. Host institutions may not be flexible with their due dates. Some students will need both an ISEP Academic Reference and a program specific recommendation or letter of reference.

ISEP Academic Reference
Students applying to an ISEP exchange program must include an ISEP Academic Reference. Your student will enter their confidentiality preference, your name and your email into the on-line ISEP application to send you a link to the ISEP reference for you to complete. ISEP requires the references be entered on-line.

Major Declaration

The Major Declaration Form must be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office by mid-term of the first semester of a student’s junior year. Students who will be juniors while studying abroad must declare their major before participation or they will not be allowed to register for the following semester’s courses from abroad. Students studying abroad on a fall or full year program are require to declare by March 1 of the prior semester. Students studying abroad in the spring are require to declare by October 1 of the prior semester.