This year there have been changes in advising at the University of Idaho including a renewed online survey for students to complete.
Jesse Hart | Argonaut
University of Idaho professor Sue Hinz advises Tracey Spencer, UI junior study- ing public relations.
“Advising has been a major student issue for years. Many ASUI candidates have run on a platform of improving advising,” said Andrew Brewick, director of academic advising. “Many students comment on quality of advising — both positive and negative when they graduate — but we have never been able to get a solid empirical base to evaluate advising practices on our campus.”
In the fall of 2010, a survey on academic advising was created for the student body in order to describe their academic experiences. Brewick said only 12 percent provided feedback, which was insufficient for the university to draw conclusions for the student population.
“Now, we did make some significant changes in advising based on student feedback — we created a comprehensive advising website www.uidaho.edu/academicadvising for advisers and students to use,” Brewick said.
Brewick said they have offered extensive training sessions on the degree audit software. He said they had increased attention on career advising across campus and created online tools that help students identify advising contacts when they enter the university or change majors.He said they need all students to complete the survey.
He said aside from the survey, the most significant changes in regulations are the drop period for classes that was shortened to the first two weeks of the semester.
“The entire campus community did a thorough job publicizing this change, and few complaints were reported,” Brewick said. “Students adapted easily and completed their adds and drops within the new timeframe. The smooth transition was facilitated by the larger campus community, but it is really a testament to our students.”
There will also be changes for first-year students in regards to general education requirements.
Freshmen are currently required to take ISEM 101, which will now have a follow-up course. This course will be ISEM 301, “Great Issues Seminar,” taken during their junior year.
“These courses will be designed around great issues in our society and many will incorporate a university signature event,” Brewick said.
The Women’s Leadership Conference, which featured Gloria Steinem’s lecture, is a key component of the ISEM 301 course this year, Brewick said.
Other ISEM courses that have been added to general education curriculum include a course in American diversity and a senior experience course.
Brewick said there is a lot of collaboration between advising in general studies and other departments.
Brewick said many students change majors and obtain a different adviser in a different program.
He said general studies advisers approach advising with a broader perspective and must communicate with other colleges and majors, but this is not just limited to them.
“All of our advisers have worked with students who are transitioning to another major or department,” Brewick said. “We have all helped students find their way to a department, often in a different college that better fits their interests and career desires.”
He said advising is a shared responsibility between students and advisers.
“The adviser’s role is to help ensure the student understands university requirements and regulations, knows how to access appropriate resources and is able to track their own progress toward a degree,” Brewick said.
Brewick discourages students from leaving schedules for the last minute.
He said it causes anxiety in the advising session, inconveniences both the student and adviser and increases the likelihood of mistakes.
“More importantly, it often cancels any opportunity for the student and adviser to discuss important non-curricular matters like career aspirations, midterm grades and course balance,” Brewick said.
Aaron Wolfe can be reached at [email protected]