|
Moving
Toward Funding an Advising Center Using Student Advising Fees
William Fleming
Sam
Houston State University
The
Need
Something
had to be done about the advising practices at Sam Houston State
University. In the years before research and scholarship became
focal faculty achievements, students were assigned to faculty advisors
across campus. But the days when faculty could devote the time
necessary to adequately advise students were soon over. As the
emphasis on research increased, faculty service areas became back
burner items. This shift occurred even as it became increasingly
apparent that we must provide closer and more intrusive advising
for students struggling in their college courses.
Encouragement
from the Administration
Talk of the need for an advising center circulated among faculty,
but no changes occurred. Then a new Vice President for Academic
Affairs came to Sam Houston bringing with him the knowledge and
desire for an advising center. Even so, financing was unavailable
until the new Sam Houston president placed funding forefront in
talks with Faculty Senate. Spurred by these talks, a committee
was appointed to research Sam Houston student fees as compared to
fees charged at other Texas universities. This group discovered
that Sam Houston had some of the lowest overall fees in the state.
To
provide students with quality advising services, we needed to find
funds beyond those appropriated by the state. In our comparisons
with other universities-even those of a similar size student-body
within our system-we found that many increased fees, charged additional
course fees, or charged advising fees.
The
Proposal for an Advising Fee
In
February 2002, a recommendation was submitted to the president advocating
various additional fees including a designated Advising Center Fee.
Rationale for this fee included the complexity of academic programs
and the regulations associated with certain degree requirements.
The advising fee would defray the costs of advising with income
used to pay the wages of the staff associated with the University
Advising Center and the costs of center operation.
The
committee cited fees at comparable institutions including the University
of Texas where various amounts are charged for advising--from $50
to $135 per semester or $36 to $101 per summer session--depending
on the student's major, classification, and college affiliation.
We proposed a $50 per semester/$25 per summer session advising fee
per student.
Convincing
the Students of the Need
Now
came the challenge. Strategy talks began when the president stated
that he would formally propose increased fees to the Board of Regents
only if fees garnered student approval. We knew: (1) many students,
perhaps even a majority, had experienced poor advising; (2) advising
was mandatory for at least 1/3 of students (below 2.5 GPA, no SHSU
GPA, TASP restrictions); (3) students, no matter how familiar they
were with the catalog, did not know the intricacies of curricula;
(4) many students did not know how to interpret degree plans; and
(5) students doing poor academic work needed special advising. With
these thoughts in mind, we approached the Student Government Association
with the largest fee increase ever proposed.
Fee
proposals were presented at four Student Government assemblies by
the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for
Student Affairs, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and
the Chair of the Faculty Senate.
At
each meeting, the floor was open for questions. Some students
suggested that they should be able to self-advise using the catalogue.
Others countered that self-advising would be impossible for transfer
students designing a degree plan with course substitutions. Many
could take courses they didn't need. Other students noted that they
were frustrated when their advisors were unavailable and had nowhere
to turn; this was particularly true for students affected by mandatory
advisement. Some questioned an advising fee for graduate students,
since they are advised in their individual colleges, and suggested
that graduate student advising fees be used to promote various graduate
programs.
Approval
of the Fee
The
Student Government approved the fees. Although the vote was not
unanimous, students recognized the need and accepted the proposed
solution. Board of Regents approval took place in May 2002, and
the Advising Center became a reality. Completely financed by the
Advising Center fee, the Student Advising and Mentoring Center (SAM)
now serves Sam Houston undergraduates.
Find
information regarding other institutions with an advising fee in
the Clearinghouse at http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/clearinghouse/Links/Advising-Fees.htm
Bill
Fleming
Executive Director
Student Advising and Mentoring Center
Sam Houston State University
|
