On September 8, 2017 CoSM staff advisors moved from their department offices to the Student Services office in 106 Oelman Hall to form our college-centralized advising team. The re-structure is based on an advising model that promises to maximize professional efficiency in communication, coordination, and cross-unit collaboration among advisors. Ultimately these efficiencies will increase student success, retention, and support a successful path to graduation. The new college model is in alliance with student success services and organizational structures being implemented across the university.
The college aims to provide a consistent, integrated, and holistic advising experience for all students. Presently the model will apply to our undergraduate students. Yet students who already have an established relationship with a faculty advisor can continue to work with that person. Eventually the college will align advising with meta-majors, and clusters as an on-going effort to improve service delivery to our students. Our staff advisors will work closely with faculty advisors and program directors to ensure a seamless transition for our undergraduates. Graduate students will continue to be advised by their faculty advisors.
Student success leadership in CoSM continues to be in good hands with the appointment of Courtney Smith as the Interim Assistant Director of Advising. Smith has been at the university for 17 years and earned both her BS in Biological Sciences and MA in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Wright State. She comes to the college office from the Department of Biological Sciences where she served as academic advisor. She previously worked in research for the Department of Neuroscience Cell Biology and Physiology. Smith's duties will be 50% advising and 50% administration; responsible for the coordination of academic advisor assignments, orientation programing and advising campaigns, along with college participation with campus recruitment events such as Raider Open House.
Joining Smith in 106 Oelman is Sarah Cicora, from the Department of Psychology, Matt Skira, from the Department of Biological Sciences, and Laura Bearhs from University College. They bring a rich blend of professional experience and institutional knowledge to our student services team. Graduate assistant, Diana Gonzalez will continue her work with student services, and will greatly contribute to the success of this transition. The team will work with Amanda Spencer, Director of University Academic Advising, and Jacqueline Neal, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs for CoSM. The Pre-Health and Post-Bac programs will continue to be located in 106 Oelman and coordinated by Harolynn Williams.
Advising services goes beyond developing a class schedule. It is an important structured activity in which all students have access to individual interactions with professional advisors to learn about educational resources available to them. Advisors often help students to define their goals and how to apply decision-making strategies towards the attainment of those goals.
