Departmental advising is an untapped resource of invaluable advising services. Students often plague College Office and faculty advisors with questions that could be more satisfactorily answered by departmental advisors. The English Department, for example, has a particularly effective advising system that should serve as a model to all departments. The strength of the program is derived from its continuity. The department chair and assistant chair advise all majors and potential majors on course and concentration selection.
Advisors offer more accurate advice if they are acquainted with a student's academic progression.
In addition, students who wish to pursue a specific interest in a thesis or research setting are referred to faculty members whose interests coincide with those of the student. Such student-faculty interaction is the ideal culmination of the mentoring process. Major forums would further assist students in defining their goals. During the spring semester, each department should hold a forum for potential majors. The opportunity to address questions to current majors and faculty members allows students to obtain the specific information they need to make an informed selection.