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Recieved Feb. 4 in response to Romy Misra's Jan. 23 column about academic advisors
By: Jessica Newcomb
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Opinion
From Jessica Newcomb,Academic Advisor II General Academic Programs
I would like to establish common ground by saying that I agree with several points in Ms. Misra's article: (1) There is a general misconception that advisors are there to help students take the easiest possible way, and (2) Students should be responsible for all of the duties they think advisors are supposed to handle. Misconceptions regarding academic advising exist when a student does not acknowledge the expectations that exist in the collegiate environment. Adult college students are capable of taking responsibility for their learning and monitoring their own academic progress. Students who are in an upper level degree plan can access a degree audit at http://myrecord.tamu.edu. If a student desperately wants to graduate, who else but the student should be responsible for making sure it happens? Advisors are many things, including coaches, guides, liaisons, mentors, teachers and advocates; nevertheless, we are not here to make decisions for the students we advise.
I have seen the advising system at A&M from many angles as an Aggie undergraduate student, graduate student, lecturer and academic advisor. In my personal and professional experience, I have met countless Aggies who have had close relationships with faculty and staff advisors and who understand what it takes to reach graduation. My question is that if thousands of Aggies show that they have successfully navigated through Texas A&M's institutional and departmental policies by graduating each semester, what excuse do the few students who experience difficulty have? The feeling I perceive from this article is one of entitlement when attending Texas A&M is really a privilege that should be honored by students' commitment.
I am writing this response in support of students as well as advisors who do, in fact, share common goals. I am also writing this reply as a call to action to a very capable population of Aggie students to take ownership of important decisions. Be a generation that makes a difference, gets involved and takes advantage of special opportunities instead of a generation that blames others for mistakes and complains rather than takes action. I urge you to use campus resources, including academic advising offices, faculty advisors, the Student Counseling Center, Writing Center, ATMentors and the many other quality groups that seek to help students to succeed in not only college but also future endeavors. If you have heard about a negative advising experience, please visit your departmental advisor to make a personal connection for yourself. Advisors welcome students to take notes during advising meetings and want students to come in early and often. Please remember, we advise; students decide.
I would like to establish common ground by saying that I agree with several points in Ms. Misra's article: (1) There is a general misconception that advisors are there to help students take the easiest possible way, and (2) Students should be responsible for all of the duties they think advisors are supposed to handle. Misconceptions regarding academic advising exist when a student does not acknowledge the expectations that exist in the collegiate environment. Adult college students are capable of taking responsibility for their learning and monitoring their own academic progress. Students who are in an upper level degree plan can access a degree audit at http://myrecord.tamu.edu. If a student desperately wants to graduate, who else but the student should be responsible for making sure it happens? Advisors are many things, including coaches, guides, liaisons, mentors, teachers and advocates; nevertheless, we are not here to make decisions for the students we advise.
I have seen the advising system at A&M from many angles as an Aggie undergraduate student, graduate student, lecturer and academic advisor. In my personal and professional experience, I have met countless Aggies who have had close relationships with faculty and staff advisors and who understand what it takes to reach graduation. My question is that if thousands of Aggies show that they have successfully navigated through Texas A&M's institutional and departmental policies by graduating each semester, what excuse do the few students who experience difficulty have? The feeling I perceive from this article is one of entitlement when attending Texas A&M is really a privilege that should be honored by students' commitment.
I am writing this response in support of students as well as advisors who do, in fact, share common goals. I am also writing this reply as a call to action to a very capable population of Aggie students to take ownership of important decisions. Be a generation that makes a difference, gets involved and takes advantage of special opportunities instead of a generation that blames others for mistakes and complains rather than takes action. I urge you to use campus resources, including academic advising offices, faculty advisors, the Student Counseling Center, Writing Center, ATMentors and the many other quality groups that seek to help students to succeed in not only college but also future endeavors. If you have heard about a negative advising experience, please visit your departmental advisor to make a personal connection for yourself. Advisors welcome students to take notes during advising meetings and want students to come in early and often. Please remember, we advise; students decide.
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