Winter registration is around the corner and as the date to pick classes comes closer, DU students are meeting with their major advisors to see which classes they need to sign up for in order to fulfill their requirements. Usually the advising meeting time goes anywhere from anywhere 15-45 minutes if you’re lucky enough, but depending on the major chosen and the student, the advising session should last until at least an hour has passed. All students need the option to have longer meeting times to clarify any questions that they might have on their DU journey as well as have the option to discuss potential internships and career development tools regarding their major.
The department of the student’s chosen major randomly assigns you an advisor, which you can view on PioneerWeb, and usually the student will have to contact that advisor independently or sign up for a meeting time on their office door. The process is not always explained well for new students and they may miss out on a chance to meet with their major advisor for the winter quarter. Another problem is that students end up keeping their FSEM advisors for a long time and some may not even get to meet their department advisor until later in their college career. DU should have an FSEM advisor and a department advisor in place when freshmen begin college and they should be able to keep those advisors for their entire college career.
In a department advisor meeting, the student usually goes over the degree requirements and then chooses classes depending on what classes the student has taken the previous quarter. The process is simple enough, but the meetings should be in greater detail especially as a student goes into their junior and senior years of college, when career development is essential. The advisor can help clarify any questions about the major and planning out courses to take, as well as make sure that students are on track to graduate within four years. On the University of Colorado Denver campus, all freshmen are required to meet with their assigned four-year major advisor at least once every semester before registering for classes and they also provide advisors to students who haven’t chosen a major. As students we have the right to use all of the resources available to us just like CU Denver, and DU should be more flexible with advising times and content as the year goes on as well as define major advisors for all scholars.
The current advising situation at DU is satisfactory, but it can be improved on vastly. Professors that DU choose are qualified enough and have at least some experience in the major chosen to give great advice when it comes to a student’s future. With winter quarter just on the horizon, students need to be prepared for anything that heads their way. The DU advising sessions can help with their preparation, and guide us to become the best scholars we can be.
