Advising crtiicized by students

By: Samie Hartley

Posted: 5/8/07

What started out as a class project has turned into a "revolution" for nine students in Wenshu Lee's Media Response and Criticism communications studies class.

Sean Horan, a junior majoring in communications studies, said he and his fellow classmates had to pick a topic that is not covered by the media and bring it to people's attention. After they realized they all had bad experiences with academic advising, the group decided to research what they said is the lack of efficient general education advising at San Jose State University, and the group Students For Better G.E. Advising was born.

"When we first started this project, we were just frustrated," Horan said, "but when we got more information, we became scared."

Benjamin Kowal, a junior majoring in communication studies, said as the group conducted research, the project grew beyond a general assignment, and the students decided to do something about what they called inadequate G.E. advising.

Students For Better G.E. Advising believe that there is a "failure" of academic advising because G.E. advisers receive no formal training, which leads to inconsistent advising.

Cindy Kato, director of advising, said contrary to what the student group says, SJSU advisers do receive training.

She said that while there is no "systematic" training for advisers, all of the advisers on staff receive basic training and continue to receive ongoing training to learn about requirement changes.

Students for Better G.E. Advising suggest online solution

Horan said advising has also failed the students by not offering alternative academic guidance.

"Their system is the only system that they have available - the only one they produce or promote," Horan said. "They have a monopoly - a dictatorship - on advising… ."

Students For Better G.E. Advising said it has come up with a solution for its grievances. The group suggests that an "online comprehensive self-advising system" should be implemented.

Horan said this system would do everything that the advising department does but without human contact.

The group has met with Kato, but Horan said the meeting was not productive. He said Kato showed no interest in communicating with students or setting up an alternative advising system.

Kato said she agreed to meet with the students' professor and two student representatives, but five students showed up with their professor for the April 23 appointment. She said some of the students politely asked questions while others came off as "confrontational."

She said students have the right to voice their opinions, but she thought their approach was more like "bullying."

She said she agreed to the meeting because she wants to know what students think of the system so that changes can be made to better serve the students.

Kato said she knows there is a problem with academic advising.

"The problem isn't being ignored," Kato said. "Is advising as good as it could be? No - we know that."

Kato said she is aware that there is a need for more advisers, and a budget has been approved so that she can hire two more advisers this summer.

Students For Better G.E. Advising said additional advisers will not solve the problems. The group insist an online system is the most effective way for students to advise themselves.

Kato said there is a plan in the works to launch an "electronic hub" online by the fall. The hub, a database that will feature all of the essential information regarding advising, will be available to students and advisers so that everyone has one point of reference.

Kato said the hub will have information about advising, but it will not replace advisors. The hub is a resource that will be continually updated.

With the hub, Kato said "conscientious students" could advise themselves, but she still recommends that students meet with an adviser to make sure everything is on track.

The Students For Better G.E. Advising said advising has no plans to implement changes fast enough, so the group's next course of action is to speak with SJSU President Don Kassing, who it is scheduled to meet with today.

"We remain optimistic," Horan said. "We just want to have a discussion and seek support, and he is taking the time to lend an ear."

Group seeks student testimonials and participation

To create awareness among students, the group has relied on word of mouth and 8,000 small fliers featuring the group's ape mascot.

Kowal said the ape holding the sign that says "adviser" is symbolic because it shows how advisers are "monkeying around with our money," and it suggests that "advisers know as much about advising as a monkey does."

Kowal said the image has upset the advisers but it isn't meant to offend. It's supposed to be a joke.

"This is not a slander campaign against advising," Kowal said. "We just want what we're paying for."

Kato, who has been director of advising since June 2006, said the group's mascot is "out of line" and "offensive."

Wayne Sims, an academic adviser, said he agrees the mascot is inappropriate.

"The idea of a giant ape representing this unit seems to imply that we are not there to help … ," Sims said in an e-mail interview. "… I do not consider myself an obstacle to students' progress, but rather as an assistant to them."

The group's mascot made an appearance at the Students For Better G.E. Advising rally held on April 26.

During the rally, students filled out surveys that will help the group collect data to take to meetings like the one with President Kassing.

Kato said she likes the idea of conducting student surveys, but she has to receive approval before she can conduct a formal survey. Until a survey is approved, she encourages students to e-mail her directly with their specific complaints.

The student group doesn't need approval to conduct student surveys, so it is working to collect as many written testimonials as possible before the semester ends.

Of the testimonials, Horan said the group has received mixed opinions from the student body.

Masahito Notoya, a senior majoring in hospitality, said he's never been to advising. He said he doesn't need academic advising, and if he did, he would rather talk with students to get information than meet with an adviser.

Luis Guerrero, a junior majoring in forensic science, said he's had good experiences with advising in the past. He said advisers have been able to answer his questions, but his one complaint is that the waiting line is too long.

Horan said students see the problem with advising, and they like the proposed solutions, but they don't seem to have faith that the solution can become a reality.

Regardless of the outcome, Horan said being a founding member of the group has been a good educational experience.

"The fact that we've taken it so far out of the realm of being a class project is kind of fun for us just to be a group of students who came together for a common good," he said.

INFO BOX
Upset with advising?
Take the survey at www.myspace.com/betteradvising
Join the e-mail group at betteradvising@yahoo.com
Contact Director of Advising Cindy Kato at cindy.kato@sjsu.edu