DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Brian Smith, an academic advisor for the College of Sciences, helps a student over the phone yesterday in the new College of Sciences advising office in the Gould Simpson building.

After more than a year and a half of listening to the concerns, requests and suggestions of students and faculty, the UA Academic Advising Task Force is changing the advising process for some colleges across campus.

"Advising needed to be centralized, there were too many places to go," Ann Parker said, coordinator of undergraduate academic advising and director of the advising resource center.

The Office of Academic Services, formally in the Modern Language Building, once provided general education advising to undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Humanities, College of Science, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and University School.

This setup meant that any advisor could help them. However students were often dealing with an advisor who did not specialize in their particular college requirements, said Julie Newman, academic advising coordinator for the College of Science.

The Office of Academic Services has since been broken up to provide general education advising to students within their own colleges.

"This split allows advisors the chance to work better with specific majors, and allows advisors the chance to learn more about our students," Newman said. "Physically students are closer to their dean and their major advisors."

The changes are being implemented in different ways in the respective colleges.

Most majors in the College of Science will receive general education advising from designated gen-ed advisors. However majors in the fields of molecular and cellular biology, general biology, ecology and evolutionary biology will receive general education advising through their major advisors.

Many students believe the changes have made it easier for them to get their advising done.

"I have never really used the general education advisors, but I like the idea that when I need to they are closer to my college," said Sarah Wolf, a chemistry sophomore.

New advising locations are provided for students when they access student link, on the UA homepage.

Also a new Web site, advising.arizona.edu, provides students with access to advisor contact information, an academic calendar, and answers to specific advising questions.

A special secured division of the Web site will give advisors the ability to review new and old academic policies, procedures and general education requirements.

Advisors will take part in workshops throughout the semester, conducted by Parker, where they will receive training on general education procedures and requirements. Parker also plans to send out regular newsletter detailing any advancements or changes regarding advising.

"I am trying to work with advisors regularly," Parker said. "All training and workshops will be conducted because we want to advance their professional development."

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, which includes majors such as journalism, history, and Judaic Studies, will provide students with only one advisor, for both major and general education advising.

"Basically we are giving each student in this college one professional advisor," said R. Scott Johnson, academic advising coordinator.

The Social and Behavioral Sciences main office, in the Douglas Building, formerly used for advising, will only be available as a referral and resource center, Johnson said. Staff will be there to address special needs of students, such as a dean's signature.

"I like the idea that the dean is closer," said Sara Rosenbaum, a communications senior. "I am sure that the change will create a lot of confusion until they work the kinks out."

For more information check out: http://advising.arizona.edu