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Advising checklists and pure advising are two different things. Many colleagues over the years have told me that students should be able to read the catalog, use available resources, and choose their own courses each semester. While many students are quite capable, and aside from the potential for litigation when students who shun advising cry foul at misadvising or a lack of advising, students may miss out on brief exchanges with an adviser, exchanges that blossom into a minor, an internship or—and this is intangible until later—a nugget of insight stored away for another day or lifetime. Christopher Gregory, assistant dean of academic affairs, Framingham State College, July 2, 2009 Yes, all students need advisers. I think that the mechanisms that we have put in place to help students understand their degree program have allowed students to explore deeper issues and come to advising with more intelligent questions. The basics of “how do I register” and “what course should I take next” may have been taken care of, but now students may feel they have the freedom to explore other academic issues at a deeper level. Richard Brungard, advising program coordinator, Penn State World Campus, July 2, 2009 The question is interesting. Do all students need advisers? My initial reaction is, yes, of course they do! Part of that may be so that I have some hope for job security. But I have realized that there are some students who actually don't really need us. They have figured out their curriculum and major requirements and have kept up with their progress towards graduation. Perhaps they have sought out the advice of career counselors or faculty in their departments about internships, graduate schools, jobs. They may feel like they have everything under control. And I guess as I think about it, we need to have some students like this. With caseloads of more than 500 students per adviser, we simply do not have enough time in our year to see each student for a 30-minute appointment. But I feel like these students got to this autonomous place because we do our jobs well from the beginning of a student's career. We participate in summer orientation to help students figure out their curriculum requirements. We may require students to come in for an appointment during their first semester on campus to touch base, check on progress, and connect them with additional resources on campus. And I think, ultimately, doing our jobs well at the onset is our biggest priority; doing our jobs well from the beginning allows us to then give time to those students who do actually need our individual attention later on. So, do all students need advisers? Perhaps not at the end, but it is only because we were there at the beginning when they didn't realize they needed us. Sarah Howard, academic advisor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, July 7, 2009 Indeed all students need an adviser. At times it is the second pair of ears that are needed to clarify thoughts about simple program directions but more so difficulties negotiating personal life issues that impact career plans and vice versa. Cheryl Lewis, chair, Department of Behavioural Sciences, College of Science, Technology & Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago, Port of Spain, Trinidad, July 16, 2009 Some students can, and indeed do, get by for the most part of their university experience without needing consultation from an academic adviser. However, there are many students who do not care to familiarize themselves with all of the academic regulations, program policies, and important deadlines contained within our school calendar. For those students, having the option of speaking with an academic adviser can make the difference between having to spend an extra semester at school or graduating on time. Derek, registration advisor, Concordia University College of Alberta, July 17, 2009 Yes, regardless of the current technology now available, all students are in need of an adviser. Today, students are computer savvy but this has little to do with the ability to make a plan of action that will lead to a college degree. All students need the discourse an academic adviser can provide whether this is done online or meeting face to face. Linda Hardenbergh, academic advisor, College of Public and Community Service UMASS/Boston, July 24, 2009 Yes. I know of situations where students will take the advice of others as to their degree programs. Then as they close in on their graduation, they discover they are one or two credits short, or have completely missed a requirement due to poor planning. Students need an adviser to prevent these situations from occurring as well getting a complete picture of the student's ambitions after college. Adalsteinn (A. J.) Taylor, academic advisor, Northland Pioneer College at St. Johns, July 24 2009 I believe that all students do need an adviser. Although some students will do well without assistance, one of the most important activities an adviser helps with is the unforeseen problem. (That extra pair of eyes also reduces—but doesn't eliminate—the chances that this will occur for some academic reason!) Sometimes even the best student encounters a difficulty; it may even be the result of some “non-academic” event such as an illness or personal problem. Students need to understand that advisers can provide assistance—even if it's just directing them to an appropriate individual or office. Of course, this is related to last month's question. One of the most important things we need to convey to the student is that we are there as a resource for them, not just for class schedules but for anything that could affect their academics. Even if they don't need much academic advice, meeting with them each semester can help build the level of trust that might be needed—even if we hope it won't. Gary Giachino, professor of chemistry, Baker University, July 27, 2009 Yes all students need an adviser! The college I work at, all full-time students must meet with their adviser before registering for 12 hours or more. I think for some students this is a waste of time; but, for the majority it is a good thing. We are a community college and there are eight schools where students can transfer; each school has different requirements and requiring the student to see the adviser helps with transferring. For those students with terminal degrees this requirement is a must as not every class is offered each semester, there are sequences that students need to take in order to graduate, and it helps students to talk about the degree to make sure they are in the correct program. Furthermore, I feel that part-time students should be required to meet with their adviser after 30 hours and 45 hours to make sure they are on the right track. I have part-time students who have been taking one class per semester when they petition to graduate they find out there are missing classes. If they are in a transfer program meeting with an adviser helps to ensure they meet the requirements to transfer as a junior versus a sophomore since there are so many differing requirements. If the student is required to meet with the adviser at 30 and 45 hours then issues like this can be avoided. Steven Carlisle, academic advisor and adjunct faculty, Illinois Central College, July 31, 2009 Yes, all students need advisers until each college rids ourselves of vague references in our catalogs and elsewhere as to courses that do and do not count towards a degree. There will always be conditional courses offered where students need to obtain clarification and professional assistance, preferably from knowledgeable advisers. Now is not the time to allow advisory positions to be candidates for extinction. Sandra M. Bovain, senior counselor, Educational Opportunity Fund Program, Cumberland County College, Vineland, NJ, August 2, 2009 No, students do not need advisers. Is the option of having one available important and useful? Of course, but as a student I know what I want and what I need to do to get it. My past experience with advisErs has ranged from advising me to take classes in organic chemistry when I was a secondary education history major to simply not telling me anything I didn't already know. The University I attend places unnecessary stress on academic advising and forces students who can think for themselves to waste valuable time. I think forced advising should be re-considered. Make students, not products. Nika Maestrales, undergraduate student, Florida Atlantic University, November 13, 2009 The Mentor is published by Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies Available online at www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/ Privacy and Legal Statements | Copyright | © The Pennsylvania State University | All rights reserved | |
