Facelift for SEAS advising program

Making the transition from high school to college is always a confusing time for students, but the Engineering School is trying to ease the process with new additions to the school's advising system.

In an attempt to become more responsive to the needs of incoming freshmen, SEAS is instituting new programs that serve to inform students of the options that are available to all engineers.

"We are trying to figure out what works and what doesn't and fix the things that need fixing," Advising Director John Keenan said. "It's a continual process of improvement."

The Engineering School began its efforts even before the new students came to campus by allowing them to post questions on the school's online Blackboard throughout the summer. During New Student Orientation week, the school ran programs that helped to bring students up to speed on issues regarding courses, requirements and majors.

One program entitled "Who Wants to be an Engineer?" included presentations from each of the school's departments which served to introduce students to the different fields in engineering and help them select a major.

The school is currently exploring another way of assisting students who are unsure of what area of engineering to pursue. This semester, the school is offering a pilot course called Engineering and Applied Science 101, in which 30 freshmen are currently enrolled. The course is led by David Pope, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and serves as an introduction to the various disciplines of engineering.

The course includes laboratory experiences in many areas of engineering and also stresses technical writing, expository speaking and engineering ethics.

Engineering Dean Eduardo Glandt said he hopes to eventually expand this program to include the school's entire freshman class, although this could take several years.

Glandt described this new course as "emphasizing a hands-on education. Students gain experience across all areas of engineering."

Pope feels that the class is going well so far and he is encouraged by a 100 percent attendance rate for his 9 a.m. course. He feels that the class could strengthen the school's advising system.

"The advising system is in principle good, but for freshmen and curriculum deferred [undecided majors] it's sub-wonderful," Pope said. "Because the system is so departmentally based, for those who have not chosen a major, there is an opportunity to fall through the cracks."

Until they declare a major, incoming freshmen are randomly assigned to a temporary faculty adviser who may not be able to help them with questions concerning other departments. Students are given a permanent adviser once they have declared a major, but until then, they may be working with a faculty member who knows very little about that student's primary area of interest.

Some students have found fault with the Engineering School's current advising system.

"I didn't like it that I didn't get an adviser until I got here," Engineering freshman Jennifer Rubenstein said. "I had to register for classes on my own and I had questions that were not answered."

Rubenstein is enrolled in Pope's EAS 101 and said that it has not helped her to decide on a major. The course "is helpful if you're really unsure of what you want to do, but if you're leaning towards something, you should take the intro course to that subject."

Engineering sophomore Nicole Hadi suggested some changes for the school's advising system.

"I think the faculty needs to take more of an initiative. When you're a freshman, you're a little intimidated, and that's why many people don't meet with their adviser," she said.

However, according to Engineering junior Ramez Haddadin, "If you make an active effort to seek out advice, there's more than enough of a knowledge base out there."

Glandt said that the Engineering School is in the process of "re-engineering the freshman experience." Although he is very proud of the school's current advising system, he admitted, "We are not sleeping on our laurels. We are improving all the time."

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