UW-Whitewater's Advising & Exploration Center puts freshmen on solid ground
Released: October 17, 2003
Editor's Note: This story appeared in the Oct. 7 issue of "Next Step," a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel publication on college choices. The issue is mailed to more than 40,000 high school juniors and seniors in Wisconsin.
Sophomore Mike Harris of New Berlin - like about one in five of his classmates - had not decided on a major when he entered the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater last fall.
Harris had too many questions to explore: What should my major be? What are my career options? Am I taking the right courses? Can I graduate in four years? And finally, where do I find the answers?
At college campuses across the country, the number one complaint made by freshmen students is the same - a lack of adequate advising. Older students often lament they didn't get the advice they needed, resulting in unnecessary courses taken or requirements missed.
At UW-Whitewater, students decided in 2002 they were willing to pay more tuition in order to support a new Academic Advising and Exploration Center. A year later, with the support of Chancellor Jack Miller, it's a success story in the making.
Six professional advisors were hired to staff the center, which initially focuses on freshmen and those with undecided majors. Director Bruce Bukowski, who has advised students himself for 17 years, describes the staff as "friendly, organized and informed. These experts genuinely care about students and develop a good rapport with them."
So far the response has been strong, with about 3,300 advising appointments made and another 500 walk-ins.
A student perspective
At the beginning of the school year, Harris met with his advisor, Matt Jurvelin, whom he described as "a cool guy" who is very helpful.
"I have a lot of interests so it has been hard to decide on a major. Matt gave me some ideas and threw out various possibilities, even though I am the only one who can make the decision. He advised me on the prerequisite classes I'd need and suggested people I could talk to," Harris said. "Matt makes time to be available for me; I look forward to sharing with him what path I finally decide on."
After their first year, students who declare a major are directed to faculty advisors within their chosen degree program who can connect them with career experiences, including independent study, internships and undergraduate research.
Two additional programs, Peer Mentors and the Early Warning System, are making the advising process at UW-Whitewater a seamless operation.
Peer Mentor Program
The advising process actually starts during the summer orientation program. Freshmen are assigned an advisor and they also meet their Peer Mentor, one of 100 juniors or seniors who maintain contact with them throughout the summer and fall via email, phone calls and postcards. The idea behind the new Peer Mentor Program is to help freshmen connect with the university so that they can thrive and grow.
Dana Strohm, a junior majoring in elementary education, enlisted as a peer mentor and has already planned several activities for his group of 14 new students, including a cookout and bowling.
"I love my role as peer mentor," Strohm said. "I had to find my way around campus as a freshman and I'm glad to have the chance to help new students find success at UW-Whitewater."
Coordinator Jennifer Bower said that most students have been excited about having a mentor, "as have the parents. Many have said how impressed they've been with the mentors and the program."
Early Warning System
In the fall of 2002, an Early Warning System was put in place that identifies at-risk students - those who receive a letter grade of "D" or "F" in one or more classes - early in the academic term. They are contacted by the Academic Advising Center in an effort to help them improve their performance and keep them in school. Students are asked to give reasons for their grade difficulties and based on their responses, advisors offer recommendations for improvement.
"The Early Warning System gives students a wake-up call that they are no longer in high school," said Bukowski. "Many have unrealistic expectations of how they are doing academically."
One student commented, "An early warning made me take school seriously. I'm thankful I was given a warning and not taken out of school."
Jane Provorse,provorsj@uww.edu
