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Editorial
Faculty not to
blame for poor
advising
It's that time of semester again.
More feared than any finals week or midterm, it's
time to advance register. That means meeting with
your advisor. And that probably means trouble.
Almost all of Behrend's academic advisors are
nothing but teachers who have been tasked this extra
job by the University. Many students complain that
their advisor doesn't know what's going on, or
exactly which classes students should be taking.
The students have a fair complaint. One semester
of taking the wrong classes can throw someone's
entire college career off. That could lead to
graduating a year or a semester later than anticipated.
In turn that may lead to financial trouble.
The students do have a fair complaint, but we
must keep in mind who we are blaming.
These teachers who are acting as advisors are
already concerned with the teaching and research
aspects of their job, and probably did not ask for the
extra work.
The University has given them this additional duty
to not only the teachers' dissatisfaction, but to the
students' as well.
Another problem with the advising system here is
the lack of course requirement sheets for majors at
University Park. If students can not find out what
courses they should be taking during their first two
years at Behrend, they may once again find
themselves behind schedule if they transfer to State
College.
Maybe the student body would be better served if
each of the colleges in had a full time advising staff
based on the system used by the Division of
Undergraduate Studies.
The Collegian
Published week
Editor
Todd J. Irwin
Business Manager
Christie Redmond
Tke Collegian's editorial
opinion is determined by the
editorial staff, with the editor
holding final responsibility.
Opinions expressed in Tlt e
Collegian are not necessarily those
of The Collegian or the
Pennsylvania State University.
Senior Editor
Mark Owens
Senior Editor
Robb Frederick
Associate Editor
Christi luden
Associate Editor
Greg Geibel
Layout Editor
Chris Kocott
Advertisement Layout
Kevin Polcovich
Photo Coordinator
Jim Pierdomenico
the students of Behrend CoIIe•e, Erie, PA
Office Manager
David Mahoney
Advisor
Dr. Mks Simmons
Letter Policy: The Collegian
encourages letters on news
coverage, editorial content and
university affairs. Letters should
be typewritten. double-spaced
and signed by no more than two
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longer than 400 words. Letters
should include the semester
standing and major of the writer.
All letters should provide the
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letter. The Collegian reserves the
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to reject letters if they are
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Postal Information: Th e
Collegian (814 898-6488) is
published weekly by the students
of the Behrend College; Reed
Union Building, Station Road,
Erie, Pa 16563.
The Collegian
Opinion Editorial
Interested in taking
over The Collegian?
Applications are now being
accepted for the position of
editor of The Collegian for the
1991-92 academic year.
If you
If you are interested in applying, you
must submit a written statement of your
journalistic qualifications, your editorial
philosophy, your assessment of the
current strengths and weaknesses of The
Collegian, and your plans for the
organization of the staff.
Your application must be turned in to
The Collegian office no later than
Monday, April 8. If you have
questions call The Collegian
office at 898-6488 and ask for
Todd J. Irwin, editor.
are a student in good standing
with the College, you
eligible to apply.
Thursday, March 28, 1991
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