Take advantage of academic advisement
By Editorial
On April 7, 2012
Bleary-eyed students peer at glowing schedules on their computer screens, clicking nervously
with equal parts desperation and anticipation. The confusion, last-minute decisions and constant
complaining can only mean one thing: It's registration time again.
As usual there's a new change in the system meant to ease the process, but succeeding only
in confusing veteran students. This year searching for classes has changed. Classes are now
organized by subject; for more specific criteria students have to use the new advanced search
options.
The usual mix of tools is still in full force, some intuitive, others less so.
Advisors seem even more confused by technology like Degree Navigator than students. Several
members of our staff have received incorrect advice from professors who weren't reading
degree navigator.
Students need to make sure to check and double-check their schedules. A simple slip-up can
severely damage your chances of graduating on time if it goes unnoticed until the beginning of
the fall semester.
And remember, even if your advisor seems a bit baffled at the very least, they know what you
need to graduate. Many advisors are very good, and genuinely care whether their students
succeed. Even an advisor that may not understand the ins and outs of the system is almost
always better than no advisor at all.
For the future we hope the college will take steps to streamline the registration process. The
current system is functional (most of the time) but can easily confuse students and faculty alike.
Sometimes a computer error will gum up the works, blocking access to classes that should be
open or opening classes that should be restricted and allowing schedule discrepancies. We
would love to think that a more user-friendly system is on the horizon.
At the very least make sure our advisors are up to speed on the requirements and systems
used.
There will always be students who wait until the last possible minute to attempt to register, no
matter how much prior warning is given. But is there any way the college can make things just a
little easier for the rest of us?
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