UC engineering advising moves to a centralized system

The University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) recently transitioned to a centralized advising structure. This new approach is beneficial for students in several ways, explains Gretchen Hart, director of advising for CEAS.

Hart leads a team of 14 CEAS advisors, including seven new advisors. More advisors means more individual attention to each student, says Hart, and, since these advisors are all cross-trained between majors, it also means more flexibility.

“I think the role of advisor across campus is to be the student advocate, first and foremost,” Hart says. The centralized advising system will empower and support advisors to fulfil that role.

In the new system, instead of working alone with their advisees, CEAS advisors act within teams of two to three. Each advisor in these teams is responsible for students from multiple engineering disciplines. If an advisor is out unexpectedly or moves on to another position, students are not in limbo. Instead, other advisors can easily step in and assist.

The team system allows advisors to play on each other’s strengths to provide the best support and approaches for CEAS students. It also allows for more structured advising philosophies to be shared between advisors.

One of these philosophies is a holistic approach to advising, or advising students from high school all the way through graduation. That also means advising beyond academics, ensuring that the student’s physical and mental wellbeing aren’t neglected.

“Advising is not just all academics all the time,” says Katelynn Barnett, who advises students in the biomedical, chemical and environmental engineering programs. “This is a safe space. We’re not here to judge you or make your life hard. We’re here to work out these things together.”

Hart also advocates proactive advising, or getting ahead of students’ problems. First-year engineering students will now have mandatory advising sessions, with check points along the way, to ensure everything at UC is running smoothly.

Hart and the team are committed to continuous improvement. In the coming months, she will conduct focus groups, send satisfaction surveys and assess the value of the new system. She encourages students and faculty to share any feedback with her at gretchen.hart@uc.edu. 

Featured image at top: UC advisor Katelynn Barnett meets with a student. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing