George Washington University will make a series of improvements to undergraduate academic advising including doubling the number of advisers for its largest school, creating an Academic Advising Advisory Committee and accelerating the implementation of a degree auditing program. Improvements to the University’s advising system have been a priority for GW Student Association leaders and were announced by President Steven Knapp Feb. 19.
“I want to thank Student Association President and Vice President Julie Bindelglass and Jason Lifton for making advising such an important focus of our discussions,” says Dr. Knapp. “I am grateful also to Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Don Lehman for deciding that one of the first investments of our Innovation Task Force savings will be in the enhancement of student advising.”
Currently, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences uses a combination of professional and faculty advisers and peer advisers for its more than 5,000 undergraduate students. Among its nine professional advisers, two advisers focus on pre-law and pre-health professions. Other Columbian College professional advisers focus on sophomores and transfer students.
“The addition of nine advisers to our school and other improvements will enhance advising for Columbian College students and help them be successful during their time at GW,” says Peg Barratt, dean of Columbian College and professor of psychology. “Additionally, we will reach out to students more about our services through a variety of ways including electronic and printed materials and adding open office hours when I can meet with students.”
The additional advisers will be funded by about $500,000 identified by GW’s Innovation Task Force, says Dr. Lehman. The advisers are expected to be hired within the next 10 months, and the Columbian College advising office will now be able to offer evening hours to students.
“We have worked hard to bring academic advising to the forefront of university-wide discussions, and we’re thrilled to see that our suggestions are being implemented,” says Ms. Bindelglass. “Students will benefit from these new changes.”
In addition, a university-wide advising committee under the direction of Carol Sigelman, professor of psychology, will begin work this semester. The committee will meet on a monthly basis and will comprise one undergraduate student and one faculty member from Columbian College, Elliott School of International Affairs, School of Business, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and School of Public Health and Health Services. The committee will be charged with sharing best practices in advising across schools, identifying issues within the advising system and making key recommendations.
The university also will accelerate the completion of an electronic degree audit system that will allow students to monitor academic progress toward graduation at any time. The system will provide more time for advisers to meet individually with students.
Dr. Lehman said he expects the full system to be in place by the fall of 2011. The electronic degree audit system will allow for students to take more responsibility for ensuring they meet their specific graduation requirements.
“The enhancements to academic advising combined with students’ use of these new services will significantly change the advising environment at GW,” says Dr. Lehman.