A New College student's "sponsor" is the faculty member who serves as the student's academic advisor. A sponsor does much more than approve a list of courses. The sponsor participates with the student in creating an "academic contract" which outlines semester goals, activities, and evaluation criteria. Professor Glenn Cuomo, a professor of German Language and Literature, comments on sponsoring students at New College:

"A sponsor must have two kinds of knowledge. First, my 'official' knowledge can help students make their way through the college's bureaucracy. There are tasks here for faculty and students you don't have at other schools, such as designing an area of concentration and planning a senior thesis. Secondly, because I know the college's resources, I can identify faculty to consult about particular interests and needs. New College is small, but we have a lot of interests represented in our faculty, and we have an excellent counseling center to help students with personal issues. 

"A sponsor must be accessible; I give students my office hours and class schedule (you can always catch me when class lets out!), and occasionally students phone me at home, which is fine. Communication is paramount.

"Perhaps, I'm acutely aware of this because I teach language. To learn a language you need to maintain engagement. Daily work and feedback from the instructor are essential. You cannot learn a language by cramming and holding all-nighters.

"At semester's end, the student and I receive teacher evaluations of the activities in the contract. We look for patterns. If there are problems with class participation or getting work done on time, next semester's contract can address them. If talent for field research is evident, perhaps an internship or a proposal for a New College Foundation research grant are appropriate."