Advisers doing ‘OK’, students say
Recently, 80 students participated in a survey regarding Utah State University’s advising programs.
Of the 80 students who participated in the survey, 75 said they were aware of USU’s university and department advisers.
According to the results, 59 students said they had met with an adviser while 21 had not.
Marty Langworthy, a freshman studying elementary education, said he knows about the advisers, but has never been to one and never really plans to go to one.
More than half of the students who took the survey said they met with their adviser and walked away with a positive experience. Nine students said they left the meeting with a mediocre or OK feeling, while four said they had a negative experience. There were also two surveys where students said it depended on which adviser they had been speaking with.
The students were also asked if they would take advantage or utilize advisers if they knew more about them.
Responses from 47 students said they would while eight students said they would not.
Students were given the opportunity in the survey to complain about things they thought could be improved upon in advising. Many students requested the hiring of more advisers or finding a way to make it easier for students to get
appointments.
Students said they would like advisers to be more accessible.
Students also made it known that they appreciate having advisers with experience and expertise in their area of advising.
Students said if there was communication among advisers there would be one clear message rather than many imprecise messages regarding graduation requirements and other student concerns.
Parclha Saradhi Manyala, a graduate students studying electrical engineering, said he has been to his adviser and there worked on projects.
Manyala said it was very helpful and a good experience. Advisers take time for students even if they’re busy Manyala said.
Having advisers with enough understanding of courses to help students graduate in the expected four years, rather than five or more, is something else that was shown as a need in the survey.
Students said they want the counselors to know what and when the classes they need to take are offered so they can graduate within four years. Students expressed the desire to have advisers that are more personal and having them associate on a more personal level.
“My adviser had office hours, one hour a day, three days a week and it was when I had class and I just couldn’t get into her at all,” said McKenzie Randall, a freshman studying broadcast journalism.
Randall said she felt that if advisers had better office hours or more advisers were hired, it would be a lot easier for students to use the opportunity.
Kanthi Kishore Darba, a graduate student studying electrical engineering, said he felt advisers are ready to help at any point and time.
Having options is something students said would be more useful in an adviser visit, because students don’t always know what questions are helpful to ask. Long-term planning with 100 percent correct advice is something students want, so it isn’t wasted.
Advisers knowledge in how USU’s programs rank is something requested in the survey as well as a printout of possible class recommendations.
“I went to figure out when I could graduate, [and] set up my college plan. They couldn’t really help me,” said Steven Stradley, a junior studying art.
Stradley said they told him what classes to take, but not when to take them. It depends on which department your major is in, Stradley said.
It would be nice if they knew more about other departments, he said.
Students said students themselves should prepare questions before going to an appointment with their adviser.
Results also indicated students would like having more time at sessions for the student, and the ability to discuss future employment opportunities, not specifically just the degree.
Discussing an overview of goals and also available student options, grants and scholarships to students of a certain major was something that students said they wanted.
Students also said that sometimes some stress management can help.
Last month, two USU advisers were awarded by the National Academic Advising Association for their work with USU students. Despite other national awards over the years, students still say they desire more in USU advising.
Overall, students seemed to want an improvement in the advising here at USU though there seemed to be quite a few good things happening as well.
-amysueh@cc.usu.edu