What's New in Academic Advising
Academic advising has long been a thorn in the side of students. However, in recent years the university has been working diligently to implement a number of changes in order to improve this vital service.
One of these changes is the implementation of software known as DegreeWorks, a digital degree-auditing program. The program will be accessible through a tab in students’ PAWS accounts will show which degree requirements have been met and which need to be filled. Hopes are that this information will empower students when they speak with academic advisors. If students know what they need then they can speak with someone on what the best way to fill that need for them is thereby freeing an academic advisor from the task of looking up degree requirements.
For students who are frustrated with the means by which academic advising occurs on campus already should welcome such a program with open arms. Not only is it informative and convenient to have such information readily accessible when doing things such as selecting courses for the upcoming year, but students should also take advantage of how such a program will affect the experience of seeing an academic advisor in person. There is a misconception out there that an academic advisor is a walking, talking course calendar that will simply tell you what classes you should take to finish your degree. This is not the case. Besides being walking, talking calendars, academic advisors are there to discuss potential career paths and what kinds of classes and support there are to fulfill those goals. It is a much more inclusive activity than most students (and some advisors for that matter) give it credit for.
Fancy computer tricks aren’t the only things up the sleeve of the university when it comes to improving the advising experience. Depending on your college improvements range from hiring more advisors (including peer-advisors in some cases), to providing more resources for professional development.
DegreeWorks was rolled out to the College of Agriculture and Bioresources this past summer with students gaining access to it in September. On November 24 the College of Arts and Science will have access to the program, followed by the College of Graduate Studies and Research in February.
Kelsey
