Academic advisors assist students and faculty

By Shamia Kali Holloway

Undergraduate students in the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences can breathe a little easier this year, thanks to improvements in the College’s advisement system. The College enhanced its departmental academic advising in the spring of 2001 by hiring full-time academic advisors, which puts additional staff at the disposal of students.

The full-time advisors work directly with students who have declared majors to ensure satisfaction of general and major requirements. The enhancements so far have been limited to Taper Hall, which serves students in humanities and American studies, but will eventually be expanded to other departments in the College.

The primary goal of the improvements is to help students graduate in a timely fashion, according to Jane Cody, associate dean of curriculum and instruction in the College. “We’ve put in place a number of advisors who handle graduation requirements for College majors across groups of related departments,” she says.

The advisors, Cody explains, also work in close coordination with departmental staff to enhance the registration process, which previously had been handled by faculty, staff or both. In the past, each department in the College advised students, placing the responsibility on department faculty or staff. The faculty and staff were only available to advise students for a few hours each week, which made it difficult for students seeking counsel, particularly during registration.

The particulars of course requirements, referrals, class clearance and other specific academic advising, says Cody, are issues most effectively handled by trained academic advisors.

Relieved of the responsibility, faculty can now concentrate on teaching and working directly with students on purely academic matters. “We are hoping faculty will play an active role in mentoring students,” says Cody. “Only faculty can give students a full perspective on a particular field. We want to capitalize on faculty knowledge.”