Students might soon be able to view notes from their academic adviser appointments through Student Link, in an attempt by ASUA to limit miscommunication and confusion between students and advisers.

The Center for Computing and Information Technology is working with the Associated Students of the University of Arizona and a team of advisers to create a system that documents adviser/student interactions such as appointments, e-mails and phone calls.

The system could be implemented as early as next semester, said Allen Biehl, who is designing the adviser online note system.

Currently, advisers are suppose to record what was said and done in all student interactions by taking notes on carbon paper, said Emily Upstill, a public administration sophomore and ASUA cabinet member.

Students have the right to request those notes at any time, Upstill said.

But Upstill said many students aren't aware that notes are being taken and don't know they can ask to see them.

"If students don't know they have to right to see the notes, then they cannot exercise that right," she said.

Upstill also said carbon copy notes can easily be lost or an adviser can forget to record what was said.

If the notes were posted on Student Link, a student could easily log on and review everything that was discussed in an encounter with their adviser, Upstill said.

"This would be extra beneficial for students because they could visually see what happened in a meeting," Upstill said.

The notes would be accessible by looking up the day the interaction took place or by doing a keyword search of the topics discussed. If an adviser makes an error in the notes, students will be able to see that.

"This would give greater adviser accountability that ASUA has been striving for," said Alistair Chapman, ASUA president. "It's an innovative and effective approach to the problem."

Upstill has been working with the team of advisers and gives her input on the most efficient way for students to use the system.

"ASUA has been pushing for adviser notes to be online for years," Upstill said. "We are taking positive steps to make it happen."

To access the notes, students would have to enter their student identification number and personal identification number to ensure privacy.

Although this system is still in the prototype stages, it has a good chance of being implemented in the next two semesters, said Biehl, an application system analyst who works at CCIT.

Biehl said the team of advisers report back to him with suggestions to make the system as accessible as possible for both students and advisers.

"Concerns for the new system go back to be reviewed by all advisers in the colleges," he said.

Biehl said a lot of advisers are reluctant to use computers and e-mail, so he is designing the system with that in mind.

"The system will be made as simple as possible for advisers and students who are computer novices," Biehl said.

Biehl said this is a good opportunity to create a uniform system that all colleges can use via Student Link.

"Certain colleges at the university don't have the funds for a system like this," he said. "It's a good mesh between the two."

If the system is implemented, only notes about academic- or UA-related issues will be available for students to see online.

An adviser can take additional private notes during a meeting that contain personal information about a student. Private notes would not be available to be viewed on Student Link.