Opinion

Advice for UW’s advising

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Related stories:

• Importance of good advising cannot be underestimated (November 19, 2003)
• A bit of advice (November 16, 2004)
• Peer advising provides valuable campus service (September 18, 2003)
• Chancellor should invest in student advising (October 31, 2001)
• Raise your Student Voice! (January 17, 2003)

Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:

• The Invisible Man Award: Wyndham Manning (May 7, 2009)
• The People's Choice Award: Jacqueline Hitchon et. al (May 7, 2009)
• The Lifetime Achievement Award: ASM (May 7, 2009)
• Honest representation (May 5, 2009)
• Junger for ASM Chair (May 5, 2009)

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Before every student government meeting, we share our two cents. When the administration speaks, we reply. And when the city cracks down on drinking, we object. All in all, we like to think that we’re full of good advice.

Unfortunately, the administration is not.

As every Letters and Science undergrad knows all to well, L&S academic advising is a joke. Intra-departmental advisors are horribly overworked, while inter-departmental advisors are generally unhelpful or uninformed. Too many seniors come back for a fifth year to fill long-forgotten requirements, while too many freshmen enroll in classes they don’t need.

This afternoon, the Associated Students of Madison will launch a campaign to urge Chancellor Wiley to invest in Cross College Advising and Letters and Science Advising. Specifically, ASM wants the chancellor to use undesignated funds to hire more student peer advisors. The additional peer advisors could immediately start steering freshmen and sophomores towards their breadth requirements, while warning incoming freshmen of the evils of class before 11:00 a.m.

This is not the first time ASM has taken the lead on UW advising. Last semester, ASM successfully lobbied the registrar’s office to allow undeclared students to request major-specific DARS reports. With our support, their campaign was a success: The much-needed service will be available before Thanksgiving.

We also hope the shortage of professional advisors will be better addressed in the next budgetary cycle. While peer advisors will benefit undecided underclassmen, declared undergrads in most L&S departments require professional advice from overworked departmental advisors. But for now, especially in light of this year’s record freshman class, Chancellor Wiley should invest every spare nickel in L&S advising.