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“Although the student is responsible for their course work, if the adviser made the mistake, I feel that the course should be waived and the student should be able to graduate. I have witnessed this more times than I would like to and the student is devastated over something like this. As educators, we need to put our money where our mouths are. We made the mistake. Own it and go on.” – Deatrea Rose, Labette Community College, Aug 13 “Our Associate Dean always makes sure that students know if they make a mistake without adviser information it is their problem. However, he also makes sure that they know if an adviser has lead them to make an error he will make sure that the error is corrected in favor of the student.” – Vida Wilhelm, Texas A&M University, Aug 13 “There are many questions that need to be asked. For example, does the catalog or handbook contain any information regarding 'student responsibility?' In other words, did the adviser work under a context of absolute authority or shared responsibility? If it was a shared responsibility, than I would not expect the institution to, for example, pick up the cost of tuition for the semester (i.e. if the student ignored degree audits that were offered every semester). In either case, I believe the adviser should be a helpful advocate for the student. They can do some leg-work to determine if there are waivers and/or substitutions that can be made – without compromising the program of study – to help the student get out on time ... can the major or minor or program be adjusted to accommodate? What more minor rules (i.e. residency requirement) can be bent to assist the student ... perhaps transferring credit from a less expensive school? I believe advisers need to work as advocates regardless of who is at fault. I might also consult with legal counsel at the college ... if the adviser was truly at fault, and the information was negligently delivered (i.e. I left the form signed and at my secretary's desk), there may be some important liability issues to consider.” – Robin Torres, Marist College, Aug 13 “Perhaps the best answer to this month's question is to ask more questions. What was the 'error' – specifically required course, incorrect elective, difficulty level? What information was made available – catalog statement re: student responsibility, printed curriculum guide, automated degree audit? What have been the patterns of previous behavior (both student and adviser) – laissez faire, conscientious, persistent, advising done 'on the fly,' accurate record keeping? Clearly there are multiple legal, ethical, historical, administrative parameters and considerations that would formulate the answer to the question. Some obvious options, however, are to do nothing, simply to support a student request for an exception, to advocate assertively for such an exception, to determine alternatives to the requirement and facilitate the enacting of an appropriate one, and of course to offer to pay the tuition, fees, books, housing or commuting costs, and loss of anticipated income for the student. Next question ... ” – Tom Grites, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Aug 13 “If the adviser is properly trained and in a role to assume responsibility for advising this student, and if this improper recommendation was written down as a plan, then the adviser should work with the dean or administration to make an exception, substitution or some other accommodation for the student.” – John Wick, Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College, Aug 13 “This is a twofold issue. First – the student should understand that it is the student's responsibility to know the degree requirements and to ensure that these requirements are met. An adviser is there to review and make suggestions, not to assume the student's responsibility. Second – If the additional course is in the major, every effort should be made to determine if the completed course could be substituted for the missing class or if an independent study could be added to the current course load to meet the content requirement.” – Eugene A. Owens, East Carolina University, Aug 13 “If the adviser and the student made an error, it would be appropriate for the adviser to apologize, accept some blame and try to help the student find a reasonable solution or alternatives if any exist (sometimes they do not). The adviser is also responsible for understanding the mistake that was made, and making sure it isn't made another time. At our institution, and in my opinion, the student is ultimately responsible for meeting degree requirements. The adviser is to assist the student in understanding the curriculum requirements ... among other things.” – A. Dittman, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Aug 13 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 | |
