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College of
A&S offers new academic advising office for undeclared majors
By Shelly Lutton '05
Last August, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
opened a new academic advising office for freshmen and sophomores who have
not yet declared a major. The office, officially known as the Academic
Advising Office (AAO), has been nicknamed place for advising Liberal Arts &
Sciences (PALAS) and offers an array of services to students, including
assistance with registration, peer mentoring and advice on numerous
college-related topics. Dr. Nancy Kelley, director of the AAO, explained
that the aim of the program is to assist incoming students with the
transition from high school to college and provide them with a richer and
more thoughtful understanding of the many possibilities that Villanova
offers- not just on an academic level, but on a personal one as well. “The
office tries to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for students,
so they are not afraid to seek help,” said Kelley.
So where can students go for help? To begin with,
the PALAS web site offers a vast amount of information and advice, such as
where to study on campus, how to take advantage of the University’s many
academic resources and important dates such as the last day of drop/add.
While almost every college-related topic is addressed on the web site,
sometimes students may want a more individualized response. In those
instances, students have a few options from which to choose. For specific
questions, they can either contact the office through AOL Instant Messenger
under the screen name vuadvising, or utilize the web site’s “emergency
button,” which will provide an answer to any question within 24 hours.
Students can also use the web site to schedule appointments with Kelley or
assistant director Karima Bouchenafa, or they can contact Joan Prendergast,
administrative assistant, to arrange an appointment.
Villanova faculty members are an integral part of
this program. Kelley maintains, “The keystone of the program is the
commitment of the faculty mentors who advise the undeclared students.” There
are currently 39 self-selected mentors in this year’s program, and it is
through their goodwill and cooperation that the students receive the advice
and counseling that is necessary for a successful academic career. These
faculty mentors undergo extensive training to better assist them in advising
students in choosing appropriate courses and fulfilling core requirements.
Students are required to meet with their mentor four times per year, which
ensures that at least two meetings are non-registration oriented. While
registration and academics are certainly an important issue, these extra
meetings provide the students and mentors with the opportunity to discuss
other essential issues. Mentors are encouraged to place an emphasis on
planning for the future, including opportunities such as studying abroad and
summer internships, and encourage students to participate in extra
curricular activities.
In addition, the PALAS offers students access to
peer mentors. The peer mentoring program offers new students access to
upperclassmen that have recent experience with the same issues they are
currently facing, such as homesickness and procrastination. Peer mentors go
through a highly selective process and have proven worthwhile and useful
resources for many students. Students can either email mentors or schedule
appointments to meet with them in the office. Responses to frequently asked
questions and a list of contacts for specific areas is provided on the
website, and additional information can be obtained through the office.
The office also holds weekly workshops which are
skill-based and focus on academic success. The workshops have been nicknamed
“Thirsty for Academic Success Thursdays” and concentrate on topics such as
time management, how to read a dense text, and how to take notes from a
lecture. These workshops do not require an appointment and are held in the
office every Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The turnout for these workshops
has been satisfactory and the feedback has all been positive, but the
program’s success thus far was best illustrated during the spring
registration period. Kelley said that more than 170 students came into the
office to register for classes, while another 80 students called in with
questions and concerns. PALAS staff expects that the program will continue
to grow in the coming years.
The PALAS is located in the St. Augustine Center,
Room 451, and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with special evening
hours during registration. For more information, please visit the office web
site at www.artsci.villanova.edu/advising. |
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