Academic advisory services for arts, science students realigned

Beginning this spring, students can look forward to significant changes to advising services at the University of Calgary. The changes, which should simplify access and enhance service, will take effect on April 28, 2014.

A review of undergraduate academic advising at the university was undertaken from January to March of 2013. Based on feedback from students, staff, and faculty, the review identified several priority recommendations that have been approved by the provost.

Moving Arts and Science program advising to the faculties from the Student Success Centre (SSC) was one recommendation. As a result, on April 28, 2014, Faculty of Arts program advisors will move to the Faculty of Arts Program Information Centre and Faculty of Science program advisors will move to the new Undergraduate Science Centre. This change aligns program advising within Arts and Science as in other faculties.

The university also approved four new program advising positions based on a recommendation to increase advising resources. Supported by the provost, and representing a significant reinvestment into Arts and Science program advising, these new advisors will substantially reduce student-to-advisor ratios and improve student access to academic advising.

While Arts and Science advising will move away from the SSC, the organization will continue to play a significant role in the advising of students. In particular, it will become a centralized advising location for several student populations, including those who are undecided about their programs, open studies students wishing to pursue a degree, visiting international students, and those students who are academically at-risk. It will also become the institutional co-ordinator of retention programs such as the Academic Turnaround Program.

Along with these advising services to students, the SSC will provide centralized training to all advisors on campus, administer an advisors' intranet to enhance communication between advisors, and formalize the University of Calgary Advisors Network to promote professional development across campus.

Academic support programs such as writing support, study skills development, academic improvement planning, and programming for high-achieving students will remain the expertise of the SSC. Students seeking this type of academic support should continue to visit the SSC.

Specialized advising services will continue to be accessible in other auxiliary units in the areas of career, international, aboriginal, study abroad, health, enrolment, leadership and access advising.

Arts and Science Program Advising contact information (effective April 28, 2014):

Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Arts Program Information Centre
SS 102
403.220.3580
Program Advising: artsads@ucalgary.ca
General Info: picarts@ucalgary.ca

Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science Undergraduate Science Centre
EEEL 445
403.220.8600
Program Advising: usc@ucalgary.ca