List of Recommendations

Recommendations for the IUPUI Advising Process

After some research and local studies of IUPUI undergraduate students and advisors, we have come up with 4 recommendations that we believe will aid in the advising process here at IUPUI and improve the experience for both students and advisors.

Recommendation #1: Advocating the Importance of a Four-Year Plan

Have advisors meet up with students and explain what a Four-Year Plan looks like.
Have the advisors and the students create the plan together so the student can ask any questions.
The advisors will explain how to use iGPS to look over what classes are required for a student’s college career.
Having students do this at the beginning will help free up a lot of time during the school year. Figuring out what classes to take up a lot of advisor and student time.

Recommendation #2: Improving the Relationships Between Students and Their Advisors

Make sure the advisors are well educated with their assigned student’s major so they can answer any questions. Students will be more trusting then.
Have advisors reach out once a month just to check in with the students to see where they are at, academically and mentally.
Make sure to express to students that advisors are there for them and what they can help them with upfront.

Recommendation #3: Increaesing the Availability of Walk-in Advising Meetings

Hire more advisors that are more general than super specific; these same advisors can help with eAdvising as well.
Dedicate a certain place for students to feel welcomed as they have important, last-minute questions.
Do not require, or even give an option, for the creation of an appointment.
Develop an efficient system to reduce the amount of time each student is there, in hopes to get more students in and out.

Recommendation #4: requiring Advisors to Participate in Annual Training Courses

Have advisors participate in being re-educated about their scope of advising (STEM, business, etc.).
Have workshops to help teach them how to talk to students during meetings to make the most of their time.
Have the school ask advisors their concerns so they can address them as a group.
Train them so they can easily explain the key websites on One.iu that students can use.

Recommendation #5: Using of eAdvising Tools

Have a website that students can go to so they can ask simple questions instead of having to schedule a meeting with their advisor.
Have a section for students to update how they are feeling about their academics so advisors can see how they are feeling.
Have it organized so students can see what their advisor's availability is on the home screen.

List of recomenations