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UGA students say advising process inefficient (w/PDF of student comments)

Abstract:
Student comments on a recent national survey point to a central theme - the University's advising process needs help.

The National Survey on Student Engagement asked nearly 1,000

freshmen and 1,000 seniors about different aspects of the University. Of the 280 write-in student comments, 30 responded negatively about advising....

  • Displaying 1 - 20 of 20

Alumna 06

posted 12/03/08 @ 8:27 AM EST

I was an engineering major, and I had an awesome advisor. He was very accessible and cared about me as a student. One could actually talk with any engineering professor about career issues, recommended classes, grad school, etc. Of course, an appointment was preferred, but many times I just knocked on the door and was welcomed in. I was never given the impression that I was "bothering" the professor. Since engineering is a smaller department, I think that this plays a major factor in the quality of advising sessions.
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ugaprof

posted 12/03/08 @ 12:17 PM EST

Originally posted by

Alumna 06

 I was an engineering major, and I had an awesome advisor.


Engineering is one of UGA's hidden treasures.
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Jay

posted 12/03/08 @ 9:57 AM EST

Some ignorant frosh wrote: "First-Year teachers don't teach for students to learn, they teach so that it is easiest for themselves. with some teachers, it's impossible to learn because they test on material that they don't explain and think is common knowledge"

Huh? Is English a second (or perhaps fourth) language for you? I realize that you're not text messaged every time something important happens in the world, but get this straight, sweetheart: college is about becoming intelligent. If your professor says something in class that you don't understand because they didn't "explain" it well enough, why not--gasp--ask a GODDAMNED question? Or, why not go to the library--it's the big building with books--and LOOK IT UP?

Grow up.
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Brent

posted 12/03/08 @ 10:56 AM EST

Wow. Less than a third of a percent of the respondents commented negatively on advising, clearly meriting the headline "UGA students say advising process inefficient."
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Mansfield

posted 12/03/08 @ 12:24 PM EST

Originally posted by

Brent

 Wow. Less than a third of a percent of the respondents commented negatively on advising, clearly meriting the headline "UGA students say advising process inefficient."


Bingo.
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Evan

posted 12/03/08 @ 11:46 AM EST

I love this one from a senior:

ban fraternities and sororities. close bars in town. make learning a foreign language mandatory or study abroad compulsive. close minded, irresponsible and contemptous student body. litte to offer academically and culturally. something must be done for the university's sake.

Sounds like they want the school to turn into a factory. I have no problem with stressing international experience, but geez, sounds like someone didn't have much of a social life here.
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Heide

posted 12/03/08 @ 2:48 PM EST

Originally posted by

Evan

 I love this one from a senior:

ban fraternities and sororities. close bars in town. make learning a foreign language mandatory or study abroad compulsive. close minded, irresponsible and contemptous student body. litte to offer academically and culturally. something must be done for the university's sake.

Sounds like they want the school to turn into a factory. I have no problem with stressing international experience, but geez, sounds like someone didn't have much of a social life here.


No, It sounds like someone is trying to make this into a university instead of a "social club".
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Jack

posted 12/03/08 @ 12:15 PM EST

"including improving student understanding of what academic advising is and is not"
Wow, so the first suggestion for improving advising is to lower students expectations of what advising is.

Personally, my issue with the advising here is this: Honors students more or less get full on mentors (the school touts this service, see the uga.edu homepage). And non-honors students get a full time guidance counselor who oversees hundreds of students and can't even remember their names.
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Advisor

posted 12/11/08 @ 4:23 PM EST

Originally posted by

Jack

 "including improving student understanding of what academic advising is and is not"
Wow, so the first suggestion for improving advising is to lower students expectations of what advising is.


Yes, exactly. Many students have ridiculous expectations of what their academic advisor should be doing, and you know what? We aren't going to meet them. Ever. Based on the complaints, I assume you all want someone with a degree and experience in the field they're advising; who is available 24/7; remembers hundreds of students' names; never makes a mistake; knows everything there is to know about every class, major, and career; makes decisions for you (so you never actually have to practice critical thinking and problem solving); reads your mind and meets all of your unspoken needs; and does it all with a big fucking smile on his or her face. Good luck with that. Oh, and did I mention this person is expected to do all of this while earning an embarrassing $26K salary?

...By the way, reading crap like this really makes me want to work harder to please all of you ungrateful, spoiled rotten, mama's boys and girls, I assure you.
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Mary

posted 12/03/08 @ 12:25 PM EST

30 students complain about advising on a survey of a few thousand? That's nothing. I'm willing to bet that the problem was with the 30 students, not with their advisors. How about a more accurate headline, R&B?
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Nina

posted 12/03/08 @ 6:08 PM EST

Originally posted by

Mary

 30 students complain about advising on a survey of a few thousand? That's nothing. I'm willing to bet that the problem was with the 30 students, not with their advisors. How about a more accurate headline, R&B?


I agree that part of the responsibility is on the student, but I was given an advisor who has a). never worked in/with the major she is advising and b). told me I was actually graduating early...I had to correct her and point out that it wasn't possible with the number of hours I had. I think I (and all the other people in my major) have every right to complain.
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Michael

posted 12/03/08 @ 12:40 PM EST

Advisers are in it to do they're job for their pay check and nothing more. Now I am not saying that advisers are horrible people; just that the majority need to have their priorities rechecked and straightened. However, it is conceited to think that an adviser is there for the students because they CARE for a students' well-being. It is blatantly obvious that they treat students with higher GPAs differently to those that possess lower GPAs. Although I have no problem with that, this creates unfair advantages and makes an adviser's job...shall we say, less difficult. After all, why would they care to apply effort to students who show less potential (lower GPAs)? I personally think that advisers are there to make sure you sign up for classes at UGA, so that you can pay UGA tuition, so that UGA can keep charging its students bull-crap fees. After all, the University of Georgia is a Business. What brings in more money: A plethora of Football tickets and fans, or the bright student that has unlocked potential? I'd put my money on the Football. But after losing to Tech, I don't see what UGA has to offer apart from a liver of steel.
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Blair

posted 12/03/08 @ 2:54 PM EST

If advisors were in it for the paycheck, they'd be working elsewhere. Advisors are UGA are statistically paid less than advisors at peer universities.
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Michael

posted 12/03/08 @ 6:50 PM EST

Originally posted by

Michael

 Advisers are in it to do they're job for their pay check and nothing more. Now I am not saying that advisers are horrible people; just that the majority need to have their priorities rechecked and straightened. However, it is conceited to think that an adviser is there for the students because they CARE for a students' well-being. It is blatantly obvious that they treat students with higher GPAs differently to those that possess lower GPAs. Although I have no problem with that, this creates unfair advantages and makes an adviser's job...shall we say, less difficult. After all, why would they care to apply effort to students who show less potential (lower GPAs)? I personally think that advisers are there to make sure you sign up for classes at UGA, so that you can pay UGA tuition, so that UGA can keep charging its students bull-crap fees. After all, the University of Georgia is a Business. What brings in more money: A plethora of Football tickets and fans, or the bright student that has unlocked potential? I'd put my money on the Football. But after losing to Tech, I don't see what UGA has to offer apart from a liver of steel.


Either UGA advisers get better benefits or they're not very bright. School spirit isn't an argument.
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Meli

posted 12/03/08 @ 1:25 PM EST

So, what is it with the Red and Black and advising? Thirty out of 280 respondents commented negatively about advising...how exactly does that constitute all "advising being broken" or "inefficient"? I had great advising throughout my time at UGA and wouldn't have made it through without my Advisors' assistance. I spent time in two different schools and my Advisor was very helpful in both places. Of course, I did make an effort to follow through on the advice that I was given and didn't expect my Advisor to know all the details about everything. I found that, if they didn't know the answers, at least they knew where to send me for help. Some students just don't want to do anything for themselves except whine. Welcome to life in the real world!
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Blair

posted 12/03/08 @ 2:48 PM EST

If advisors were in it for the paycheck they'd be working somewhere else. Advisors at UGA are statistically paid less than advisors at peer universities. Look it up.
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Nikita

posted 12/03/08 @ 2:00 PM EST

I actually think advising needs to be scaled down. I am now a grad student, married to an undergrad who transferred in with an undegraduate degree and a tech degree -- between us, we've been at UGA for about 12 years. In all that time, and in those two situations, advising has remained largely the same, and a waste of time. Nearly every time I pull up OASIS and my degree requirement sheet, decide what I want to do, and have my advisor sign off on it with no significant input into the selection process.

There are times when you need an advisor. When you're new to your major, new to the university, trying to work out credit transfers, or close to graduation, you may need help. But most of the time you don't, and that visit to your advisor is just a hurdle to actually getting registered.
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Laura

posted 12/03/08 @ 6:42 PM EST

Originally posted by

Nikita

 I actually think advising needs to be scaled down. I am now a grad student, married to an undergrad who transferred in with an undegraduate degree and a tech degree -- between us, we've been at UGA for about 12 years. In all that time, and in those two situations, advising has remained largely the same, and a waste of time. Nearly every time I pull up OASIS and my degree requirement sheet, decide what I want to do, and have my advisor sign off on it with no significant input into the selection process.

There are times when you need an advisor. When you're new to your major, new to the university, trying to work out credit transfers, or close to graduation, you may need help. But most of the time you don't, and that visit to your advisor is just a hurdle to actually getting registered.



I can prettymuch agree on when an advisor is actually needed. I've gotten through 6 semesters of undergrad, and my first degree without any help from an advisor, except to make sure that I had completed all my requirements for graduation. I am actually kind of angry that I have to FLY down to GA midweek just to be 'advised' and have the ability to register for my chosen classes unlocked.

I am planning defensively, because in my experience, most schools have shitty advising (not always the advisors fault personally). I am making absolutely sure I have grade projections from my current professors, and mapping out what classes cross for a possible double major and pre-pharmacy requirements just so I can be sure I will get everything met.
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Heide

posted 12/03/08 @ 2:18 PM EST

I am a grad student and had only good advisors. They have been very helpful and always had time for questions. I wouldn't be surprised if those complaining are the same ones who miss their mommy cleaning up their messes after them (like my roommate).
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Heather

posted 12/03/08 @ 3:13 PM EST

"It is my humble opinion that I am required to learn much unnecessary subjects in all areas of the curriculum. I feel that I should be learning more real world and even major/job related things. It would save us all a lot of time and money by teaching me the necessary skills to become an effective citizen and worker."

WTH? What does this person think a university is?? You need to go to a technical college, man!
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