The department's Undergraduate Advising Office plays an important role in advising both majors as well as pre-majors. We have a proactive, professional group of advisors who try to provide whatever assistance students might need. In order to evaluate how well it is performing, the office recently instituted an on-line survey.
Initial responses to the survey have been reasonable and some changes have already been made based on these responses. The most important of these is that the advisors now monitor more closely than before those students who might, because of poor grades, be facing the possibility of going on academic probation; when they spot such a student, the advisors initiate contact with the student and try to identify the reasons for the students lack of performance and recommend possible ways to address the problems. Another change in the Advising Office procedures -- this one based on discussions in the Undergraduate Studies Committee -- is that students are now sent regular reminders about the importance of consulting with their faculty advisors, especially when choosing the courses constituting their technical elective hours, and urging them to meet with their advisors at least once a year.
Another change in the Advising Office is worth mentioning. One of the two 50% GAA positions in the office was converted to a full-time staff advisor position and Dr. Nikki Strader was hired to fill this position. Because of this change as well as because of a moderation in the demand for the CSE major and the corresponding reduction in the number of majors and pre-majors in the program, the office has been able to provide a greater level of individualized and proactive advising to both majors and pre-majors.