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Officials considering changes in advising system

By Ryan Gabrielson
Arizona Daily Wildcat,
July 26, 2000
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Arizona Summer Wildcat

ASUA coordinating with other universities to improve

One of the more recurrent complaints that come from students at the UA is the confusion that can come from attempting to receive advising.

In some cases, students get sent from one advisor to another without receiving the information they require. Some students are cost whole semesters due to poor advising.

"The university as a whole is very aware of this as a critical topic," said Uwe Hilgert, veterinary science and microbiology program coordinator.

Each college and department has individual advising, but for the most part, that type of advising is able to provide information only about their department. Some say that may leave non-freshman without help concerning what general education courses to take.

"You need to have one advisor who can help you with anything," said Associated Students President Ben Graff.

While a task force to focus on how to improve the advising situation at the UA is being considered, Hilgert said, ASUA plans to organize a state-wide campaign to bring changes swiftly.

"(Improved student advising is) a battle that has been fought at each campus," Graff said.

Students at Arizona State University in Tempe and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, as well as at the University of Arizona, have organized to make changes at their respective institutions, Graff said, but have had little success.

By targeting a lack of funding as one of the major deficiencies in the state's advising programs, Graff said that as one unit - through the lobbying capacities of the Arizona Students Association - they might be able to increase funding.

ASA representative Kelly Dalton and Graff are meeting with the three state university presidents as well as members of the Arizona Board of Regents.

"That's just the awareness stage," he said. "I've been nothing but encouraged (by their responses)."

Though working in a budget that already can't supply enough funds to keep the faculty that the UA now has, improving funding for advising may turn out to be a daunting task.

"(If improvement is made) that would make me feel like ASUA has accomplished something," Graff said.

The additional funding would go to further train the universities' current advisors to make them professional advisors, enabling them to advise a student on all requirements pertaining to graduation rather than just major and minor requirements, Graff said.

"I have no interest in getting rid of current advisors," he added. "We need more professional advisors."

Though advising for upperclassmen is strained, Sylvia Mioduski, director of the University Learning Center and the Freshman Year Center, said the Freshman Year Center, located in Bear Down Gymnasium, will be prepared for the large number of freshman.

"Hours will be extended in the freshman year center the first weekend," Mioduski said. "We're not anticipating overcrowding."


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