2008 Woodie Awards
Advisment helps students plan classes, careers
Amanda Woods
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
As the semester comes to a close, students begin to schedule classes, and advisors are in high demand.
In order to schedule classes, students meet with advisors to not only receive advisement codes, but also helpful advice about which classes to take, recommendations and possible job offers.
Most professors said they take the duty of advisor seriously and prepare before each meeting with a student. The preparation includes a reviewing old tests and students' RAP sheets.
Due to privacy laws, however, professors have limited information and rely heavily on information brought in by students.
Teachers are not privileged to grades from other classes, so to fully assess each student's circumstance, the student must bring in the adequate information, said professor Craig Barrow.
Advisors suggest sticking with the same advisor for more than one year. The student becomes less mysterious and it is easier for the advisor to write a recommendation for a job or professional school in later years, according to numerous teachers.
In the English department, advisors act as a mentor to the student by giving their time and effort to help and better the student's educational path.
Some students admit to shying away from certain classes, such as math and languages. Franklin, Tenn., freshman Eleanor Comer said her advisor has to push her to take the classes she sometimes does not want to take. Comer, an education major, also said her advisor stresses the importance of fulfilling the requirements for general education and for her major.
Professors help to form students' future plans. Not only do they advise which classes to take, but also try to match a student with a compatible teacher. The average time of an advisement meeting ranges from 10 minutes to an hour.
Barrow said this is because, "Surprisingly enough, we care about [students]."
Some advisors are also interested in future job prospects for their students.
Barrow admitted to telling a student to change his major because it wouldn't prove beneficial in the long run.
"You have to pay attention to the job market," he said.
Barrow even has gone as far to advise a student to attend a different university if UTC does not offer the necessary facilities for success.
Students have mixed feelings about advisors.
Memphis freshman Emily Duggan said: "I personally think that the idea of having an advisor is a great one. It is hard because sometimes your advisor is too busy to meet with you, and getting a meeting can be a hassle."
Even though advisors feel they are helping the student body through this confusing time of picking classes, some students do not feel the same.
"While I value the institution of official advisement, it hasn't helped me yet - I've used it once," said Franklin, Tenn., sophomore Jonathan Mansfield.
In order to schedule classes, students meet with advisors to not only receive advisement codes, but also helpful advice about which classes to take, recommendations and possible job offers.
Most professors said they take the duty of advisor seriously and prepare before each meeting with a student. The preparation includes a reviewing old tests and students' RAP sheets.
Due to privacy laws, however, professors have limited information and rely heavily on information brought in by students.
Teachers are not privileged to grades from other classes, so to fully assess each student's circumstance, the student must bring in the adequate information, said professor Craig Barrow.
Advisors suggest sticking with the same advisor for more than one year. The student becomes less mysterious and it is easier for the advisor to write a recommendation for a job or professional school in later years, according to numerous teachers.
In the English department, advisors act as a mentor to the student by giving their time and effort to help and better the student's educational path.
Some students admit to shying away from certain classes, such as math and languages. Franklin, Tenn., freshman Eleanor Comer said her advisor has to push her to take the classes she sometimes does not want to take. Comer, an education major, also said her advisor stresses the importance of fulfilling the requirements for general education and for her major.
Professors help to form students' future plans. Not only do they advise which classes to take, but also try to match a student with a compatible teacher. The average time of an advisement meeting ranges from 10 minutes to an hour.
Barrow said this is because, "Surprisingly enough, we care about [students]."
Some advisors are also interested in future job prospects for their students.
Barrow admitted to telling a student to change his major because it wouldn't prove beneficial in the long run.
"You have to pay attention to the job market," he said.
Barrow even has gone as far to advise a student to attend a different university if UTC does not offer the necessary facilities for success.
Students have mixed feelings about advisors.
Memphis freshman Emily Duggan said: "I personally think that the idea of having an advisor is a great one. It is hard because sometimes your advisor is too busy to meet with you, and getting a meeting can be a hassle."
Even though advisors feel they are helping the student body through this confusing time of picking classes, some students do not feel the same.
"While I value the institution of official advisement, it hasn't helped me yet - I've used it once," said Franklin, Tenn., sophomore Jonathan Mansfield.
