Story co-written with Saydie Bean
The answer depends on who you ask. For advisors, it can be a positive experience that allows them to reconnect with students. For students, the answer often varies. Many students are frustrated with the process of advising, while others use the day to catch up on homework.
At WCU, Advising Day is held once every semester on a Tuesday. No classes are held on this day to allow students to meet with their advisors to determine their class schedule for the next semester and receive their ALT PIN for registration. This semester’s Advising Day was on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
WCU has several different types of advisors: professional, faculty, primary and Honors College advisors. The different types of advisors may seem confusing, however, they each have different roles.
Professional advisors work in the Advising Center, and they often advise students within multiple departments. Professional advisors also work closely with incoming, returning, transfer, and pre-professional students.
Faculty advisors are often the same as primary advisors. Once students declare a major within a specific department, they are assigned a faculty advisor. This faculty advisor becomes the student’s primary advisor and meets with on Advising Day.
Lastly, Honors College advisors only advise Brinson Honors College students. These advisors typically advise undeclared students as Honors students will see their faculty advisor once they declare a major. However, students may still meet with their Honors College advisors to discuss matters such as Honors Contracts and their standing within the Honors College.
Along with advisor meetings, many departments host social gatherings on Advising Day to create a sense of community within a department. The Communications department welcomed students with a breakfast social, leading to a series of meetings to help advise students throughout the day. This included information about internships, general advising, and walk-in advising for students.
The English department hosted a hot chocolate bar for English students from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of Coulter. The department also sold warm fuzzies for $1 to support Sylva Pride.
Philosophy and Religion students enjoyed chili and cornbread at the softball picnic field from 4 to 5 p.m. on Advising Day.
According to professors and advisors in the English department, Dr. Annette Debo and Dr. Drew Virtue, advising day is often a positive experience for both students and advisors.
“Advising Day provides an opportunity to meet new students in our major and to reconnect with students I haven’t seen in a while,” Debo said. “I appreciate discovering the different paths our students are taking, their plans for life after graduation, and the many activities they’re participating in outside of classes.”
“I appreciate the change in dynamic from teaching classes to having the opportunity to work with students one-on-one,” said Virtue. He also expressed how busy Advising Day is, but enjoys the events that are held by the English department.
Advisor and Associate Dean of the Brinson Honors College, Dr. April Tallant, said that students are responsible for their advising experience.
“Students get out of Advising Day what they put into it.” Advising Day also provides students the opportunity to build relationships with their faculty and professional advisors, said Tallant.
For Kirsten McCarthy, an English major, it is a good day to catch up on homework and more.
“Advising Day helps me find opportunities that I never knew existed,” McCarthy said.
Some students do not find Advising Day to be a positive experience. Jose Arellano, a psychology student, and Madelyn Lee, a sports management student, do not find the day to be very useful.
“It was pointless,” said Lee. “I’ve had a different advisor every semester.”
“Faculty advisors do not seem prepared to advise students considering that they are often full-time professors rather than professional advisors,” said Arellano. “In my personal experience, whenever I ask my advisor questions, I do not get straightforward answers.”
Some students said advisors gave them incorrect information causing them to change or postpone graduation plans.
Caylin Perdue is one of those students. She was an Interior Design major. Her advisor made an error in her scheduling which set her graduating a year late. Perdue had to switch to a different major to graduate on time.
Students can prepare for advising meetings by running their Degree Audit on MyWCU. Students can also view the 8-semester plan for their major to help them plan their schedules for upcoming semesters.
