friday, november 20, 1987 Advising:
cabrini college, radnor, pa. 19087
Two weeks ago, Loquiturquestioned the advising process at Cabrini including the qualifications of advisors, how advisors are chosen and the responsibility of advisees in the success or failure of the advising process. Because the questions were more extensive than we first thought, Loquiturhas included several stories in this issue that try and answer these and other questions concerning Cabrini's advising process.
vol. xxxiv, no. 9
'Charlotte'sWeb' opens Jill Lehman, junior, played Charlotte the spider and Rosanne Rosse/lo, junior, played Wilbur the pig last weekend when the Little Theater opened its annual fall production. The show will run for two more weekends-Nov. 21 and 22, and Dec. 5 and 6, at 1 and 3:00 p.m. For more information call Jeanne Fisher at 971-8510. (photo by Debbie Ferrar)
Advising·study by Dr. Daley underway by Anne Fahy
"Students want to be asked 'How's your life going?'," Student: "Where is my advisor! Daley said. "The advisor's names I only make a five minute who have come most often as appointment once or twice a 'favorite' do this." semester, and even that seems Some of the advisors impossible. I wish my advisor named as 'favorites' in informal would make an effort to see me." interviewing were Dr. Arthur .Advisor: '~How do I get students Young, Dr. Carter Craigie and to come and see me more often?" Dr. Jolyon Girard. "Sex roles may be playThis paradox between ing a part" in advising, Daley said .. student and faculty replies is the "I don't know what this means, most unexpected finding sociol- and I am hesitant to interpret it, ogy professor Dr. Kathleen Daley but male names keep coming up as has discovered thus far in her good advisors." semester-long research project on Students also want to be the advising system at Cabrini. able to choose their advisor, or Students want more have a couple of advisors. The mandatory meetings with their problem in practicing this, Daley advisors and they want them more said, is that "some advisors would frequently, Daley has found have 100 students and some through both formal and informal zero." The role of an advisor inquiries. Daley, who scoured cannot be too narrowly defined. It current works on advising by is important for the advisor and by John Dunleavy expert psychologists and sociolo- advisee "to fit together;' Daley gists before beginning her study, said. Students often feel this does The Cabrini faculty mansaid, "I'm still surprised at this." not happen when they are 'as- ual lists the basic requirements Daley has · been on signed' to someone. that facility advisors are responcourse-release this semester so Daley said the faculty has sible for. Namely, they are to that she can pursue an overview been very receptive to her study. meet with freshmen and new stuof the strengths and weaknesses ''We have been struggling for a dents in initial orientation· sesof the system, "and make recom- few yt;ars to see where we are with sions, discuss and approve acamendations based on research," advising." demic advising schedules, consult which will include input from "I was really happy to with students concerning · midfaculty, students and administra- see a great deal of concern for semester warnings, supply advice tors. improving advising from faculty." for changes in advising of rosters "I want to first get a Sometimes an attitude purveys and impart important academic consensus on the issues, then that "things are okay the way they policies to students, such as add/ work toward the answers," she are," Daley said. drop and pass/fail. · said. Daley mailed surveys to In addition, advisors are One stumbling block the entire faculty asking about required to aid students in that has been hollowed out so far problems in advising, suggestions tracking their completion of 130 is a conflict between faculty for improvement and what train- credits, fulfilling both their GER availability and student availabil- ing in advising members would and major course requirements, ity, Daley said. like to see. and monitoring a minimum grade "Both want to get toShe has received 15 re- point of 2.0, all of which are regether, but it's not happening plies. "Everyone had an improve- quired to earn a degree. somehow. The faculty wants to ment to suggest," but, she said, According to ·or. Mary work out ways to be more avail- "Good research involves not let- Ann Biller, academic dean, the able." ting the ones who didn't answer forementioned are the absolute Incompatible availabil- the first time get away." And so, necessities for advising. Howity was listed unanimously as Daley will conduct a second mail- ever,shesaidthatadvisorsarealso number one on the lists of ideas ing. supposed to have office hours from four groups of students, The question was posted each semester with a miniJ?aley_used in brainstorming ses- brought up by the faculty: Sh~uld mum of fo_urhour_spe~ week. . s1ons m ~,er classes; . every faculty member adV1Se? . . ~iller said, Academic One of the things I The literature Daley has read has advismg is to be shared by fullfoun~ in all_four groups was also brought up this question, but ·time ~acuity. is_an important consistency 10 what they wanted, · there is a practical matter teaching function 10 a different Daley said. involved. "How many people can mode." The students Daley has Furthermore, Biller said spokentowanttheiradvisorto get more ADVISINGon 4 that the faculty is made up of to know them. different personalities and skills
Advi~ingis a job in itself
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inside perspectives 2-3 news ............ 4-6 features ....... 7-9 sports ...... 10-12
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Person of the week: Michele Dahl (page 8)
and that students and advisors
personal problems, Biller said refer their advisees to the CARe center. Asked if she felt the advising system could be improved, Biller said that everything can be improved. In fact, she said, "Cabrini has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Foundation for providing an educational test questionnaire which will help to determine where Cabrini's advising system is doing well and where they can improve."
whodon'talwaysmatchcanswitch that they should advisors by simply filling out a form in the office of academic affairs. Asked whether or not some students are victims of inadequate- advising, Dr. Joseph Romano, vice-president of academic affairs, said, "If that's the case, no one has come to me and complained. If students are uninformed, they should come let me know about it." Biller said that students who have problems which can't be solved by advisors, should be referred by them to the academic dean's office. But to what extent should advisors handle different kinds of student problems? "Advisors should handle academic concerns, not personal ones, because they aren't psychologists. They should be
In addition, Cabrini has polled student withdrawals to see ~ th~y felt their advising was dissatisfactory, neutral, or satisfactory. According to Biller 84% were satisfied, but evaluations are still being done to see if that percentage can be made even better. She said, "84 percent is pretty good, but 100 percent is ideal."
approachable and serve as an Romano said that both available resource where stuhe and Biller do a lot of advising, dents can go," Romano said. Biller said, "The best but are constantly asking themadvisors show feeling and are selves how they can help the interested in their student's well students do better. At the same being. On a personal basis, some time, he would hope to se~ some advisors are better than others, effort on the part of the students. but that isn't their main job. Their "We would like to see as qualifications don't involve the much initiative on the part of necessity of dealing with personal students with making appointproblems." ments well in advance of registraIn cases where advisors tion and also learning how to prearen't ~quipped to deal with dict their GP A," Romano said. ·
Mike Dolan to compete in nationals (page 12)