Committee gets an earful from students

If University students had any advice for the Visiting Committee on Undergraduate Education, it was on the very subject of advice. Nearly all of the students involved in yesterday's meeting voiced discontent with the University's advising system – particularly in the College. "A lot of my classmates have a very hard time getting in touch with an adviser," said one College sophomore whose name was withheld at the request of meeting facilitator, Princeton Professor Aaron Lemonick. "When I wanted to go see an adviser, they told me things I already knew." The group of nine students met with officials from Princeton, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Virginia. They focused much of their first hour of discussion on the University's divergent peer, faculty and school advising systems. Students said there is a large gap for College sophomores who are under neither the auspices of freshman faculty advising nor counseling from major advisors. MIT Professor Jeff Meldman tried to focus the group's responses toward solutions to the problems. Members suggested extending faculty advising to cover all four years of a student's term. One student suggested that such a program might create roles of "educational philosophy planner" which do not currently develop. "Ideally, faculty would help us in life planning, not just picking classes," said one College junior. Some students, however, described situations in which faculty were less than accommodating. "Faculty members feel that undergraduate advising is not in their job description," a College senior said. "It's not malicious; it's just the way it is." Others suggested students should have more general contact with faculty. One participant voiced support for lounges in which both parties could meet on an informal level. "Although the faculty is very addressable," said one student, "the relationship isn't pushed enough." Still, panel members said the University has sufficient advising resources. It just doesn't use them well. "As long as you ask the right questions, you can get help," said one student. Though the Visiting Committee's main purpose was to find gaps in the University, organizers were intent on impressing the visitors. Members and students were treated to a semi-catered lunch with an attendant clad in a bow-tie. They were served on china. A big white-frosted cake waited for dessert as participants talked for about two hours.

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