There are a number of expectations and responsibilities for students when they get to college. It’s a time when students are supposed to learn and improve skills like independence and problem solving while becoming a “true adult.” But when students get to college, they often are unprepared for such a burden of responsibility.

While it’s inevitable that students will make mistakes, Syracuse University students should be able to look to their academic advisers for guidance. Students have multiple academic advisers: one for their college and one for their major. Those who have more than one major or a minor have additional advisers that they’re supposed to be able to lean on for guidance.

Currently, I’m a dual major studying broadcast and digital journalism and history. To help complicate the matter further, I transferred to SU in the middle of my sophomore year. Being a dual transfer is probably the most confusing academic situation I’ve had to navigate.

When I first arrived at SU, I depended a lot on the emails I would get back from the advising departments, the meetings I would have with them and the information that they provided me. However, advising at SU is very different from my previous institution — Nazareth College, a school of only about 2,000 students. At Nazareth College I met with my advisers almost once a month, sometimes more depending on what needed to be done or discussed.

A number of benefits could come out of a more supportive and communicative relationship between advisers and their students. I understand that SU is a large school with over 21,000 students, but each individual should feel supported; they shouldn’t feel like one name on a mass email chain.

It’s frustrating when I’m stressed about a class, graduation requirement or just a simple question and I don’t get a quick response. Each adviser has a number of students that they’re in charge of helping. I understand that they can’t respond or help immediately, but there should be an active line of communication between advisers and students.

It is important to point out that the different types of advisers have different responsibilities. I email my specific college advisers more often than I do my major advisers. Each one has a different responsibility regarding how they’re helping me get through my college career, but each one should be personally checking in on their students more than once per semester. They should also be responding to students in a timely manner.

Many students are often overwhelmed when they get to college because they have never experienced anything like it before. They aren’t aware of all of the important opportunities and information that these advisers are often aware of. While SU encourages students to reach out and be the ones to ask questions, they must also realize that sometimes students don’t even know where to start.

SU advisers should reach out to students to talk about more than just what classes they have to take next semester. It may just change their whole college experience.

Teagan Brown is a junior history and broadcast and digital journalism major. Her column appears biweekly. She can be reached at tbrown30@syr.edu and followed on twitter @teagannbrownn.

Published on February 8, 2022 at 11:31 pm