By Montreal Spencer/south news editor
Instead of waiting for students to come to the counseling center for October’s early advisement month, South Campus counselors decided to go to the classrooms.
They’ve tried it in past semesters as a trial run and decided it would work, so they’re doing it again.
Typically, after an unsuccessful first semester, a student may not choose to return to college. To combat this trend, counselors are having students build a list of preferred classes now instead of waiting until January.
That way, students can pick the classes and teachers they want early and not be stuck with the leftovers.
The counselors will visit 90 sections, which have about 2,000 students. They are visiting classes that first-semester students usually take and also some classes in technical departments.
Counselors have gone to English and reading classes and currently are going to speech classes. They will go to P.E. classes at the end of the month.
South counselor Steve Rakoff believes early advisement posters are too passive, and going out to the classes is more active.
“We are going out to classrooms because we care about students being successful,” he said. “We’re giving them an opportunity to develop habits that will lead to their success in college.”
Rakoff wants students to be registered before Thanksgiving.
“We’re encouraging students to be proactive in making their academic decisions. Students who register early are able to get the best times and best teachers,” he said.
South counselor Sandra Johnson said it’s not always the students’ fault they cannot come to the counseling center in a timely manner for advisement.
“It’s very refreshing and exhilarating to come to the students rather than waiting for the students to come to us,” she said.
“It sends a message to the students that we care they are advised and advised properly.”
South assistant professor of speech Roger Bednar is one of the teachers who had the early advisement done in his classroom.
“It is a little bit of trouble in that you lose a class day, but I think the benefits outweigh the time spent,” he said. “Working with students like this eliminates a lot of problems and makes it much easier for them in the next semester.”
South student Delia Carranza said she thought the counselors coming to do early advisement was useful.
“He gave me other classes I could choose from,” she said.
“I didn’t know all the classes I could choose from for my major, so it helped me a lot.”
South student Kayla Mims said she learned from the counselors coming to her class.
“I didn’t know about the programs and different student organizations we had,” she said.
“I didn’t know you could be tested for career exploration and decision making.”
Students whose classes have not been visited can go to the counseling center in SACT 1412A for help with their spring schedules.
