This inconsistency can be partially explained by the fact that many students may not have had instruction in these sub field areas due to individual course selections. In 1997 and 1998 we offered little instruction in these areas which accounts for the overall low performance scores. We believe that our recent departmental hire in this sub field should increase student proficiency in this area in the future. To assess advising, students responded to a short questionnaire about their experience with their academic advisor. Eighty-one of approximately 308 majors completed the questionnaire at the end of their Winter 1998 advising meeting.
Mean scores indicate that students view their advising experience very positively.
There are differences between the questionnaire data and information collected in exit letters. A substantial number of students who completed the exit letter have had an unpleasant experience with an advisor. We think the difference is explainable in part by the fact that many who have such experiences change advisors and are then very satisfied with their experience. Student assessments of faculty advising in the exit interview reflected an unevenness of experience. About half wrote that the quality of advising was excellent while others reported that their advisor was unhelpful, dismissive, and rushed them out the door.