Academic advising provides students with an understanding of their rights and responsibilities for completion of their degree, program and/or career preparation.

Academic advising guidelines were jointly developed by student government and the academic Deans and Assistant & Associate Deans Councils in AY 1994-1995. These guidelines can be found at Academic Advising at USC for Undergraduates (PDF).

At the University of South Carolina Columbia, undergraduate advising is the responsibility of the Colleges offering undergraduate degrees. The individual College may choose a system of centralized advising, decentralized advising by departmental advisors or some combination of centralized and decentralized advising. Colleges may choose whether undergraduate advising is performed by faculty, professional advisors, or some combination of faculty and professional staff advisors. A few of the excellent examples of college and departmental advising are College of Science and Math (PDF), Geography, and Criminal Justice.

GOALS

1. Students will be satisfied with academic advising at USC Columbia.
2. Students will be satisfied with the availability of their academic advisor.

OBJECTIVES

1. At least 75% of students responding to the Junior/Senior Survey will indicate that they are satisfied with academic advising at USC Columbia.
2. At least 90% of the students responding to the Survey to Determine Satisfaction with Availability of Advisor will be satisfied with the availability of their academic advisor.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. The Junior/Senior Survey

   Since 1994, the Division of Student and Alumni Services has administered a survey to senior students during the spring semester prior to their graduation. In 2000, the survey was expanded to include juniors. The purpose of the survey is to gather information from upper-level students concerning their experiences at the University of South Carolina. Students were asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with specific campus services and programs - one question dealt with academic advising. Response options were "very satisfied," "satisfied," and "not satisfied."
   
   Because of the broadening of the targeted student population (juniors and seniors instead of only seniors), comparisons to past years are not included in this report. Comparisons for future years will be possible.

2. Survey to Determine Satisfaction with Availability of Advisor

   A random sample of students, stratified by class level, was selected from the population of all undergraduate students enrolled at USC Columbia during the spring of 2000. The sample size of 370 was selected such that the sample proportion was within ± .05 of the population proportion with a 95% level of confidence. The following table displays the frequency and proportion of students in each level.

   Quota Sampling Table

   Level	Frequency	Percent
   Freshmen
   Population Sample	3023 88	23.7% 23.7%
   Sophomores
   Population Sample	2665 77	20.9% 20.9%
   Juniors
   Population Sample	2830 82	22.2% 22.2%
   Seniors
   Population Sample	4254 123	33.3% 33.3%
   Total
   Population Sample	12772 370

   A quota sampling method was employed in the following manner:

   • A computer file was created that contained one record for each undergraduate student enrolled in the spring of 2000. Name, class level, and local phone number were included in the file.
   • A random number was assigned to each record in the file.
   • The file was sorted by the random number, within class level.
   • The file was printed.
   • Three members of the Institutional Planning and Analysis staff called the students, starting at the top of the list for each class. If a student was not available, the next student on the list was selected. Once a student was contacted, the question at the following link was read (Survey Question), and the student's response was recorded. If the student responded with a rating of 1 to 2, the student was asked if he or she wished to comment on the problem. This procedure continued until the designated number of students in each class was reached.

ASSESSMENT RESULTS

1. The Junior/Senior Survey

   When asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with academic advising, 79% of those juniors and seniors surveyed responded satisfied or very satisfied.

2. Survey to Determine Satisfaction with Availability of Academic Advisor

   When asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with the availability of their academic advisor, 95% of those surveyed responded satisfied or very satisfied.

USE OF ASSESSMENT RESULTS

1. The Junior/Senior Survey

   Although only slightly higher than the required 75%, the results of this survey question exceed the required threshold. The University's goal is for almost every student to be pleased with the assigned advisor - so a higher percentage of satisfaction is desired. Each year the threshold will be increased - next year the proposed benchmark is 80% of juniors and seniors surveyed will be satisfied. The Director of Research, Grants, and Planning in the Division of Student Affairs and the Student Affairs Assessment Committee are brainstorming for possible ways to ensure higher student satisfaction with advising. The results of the survey have started discussions that will lead to some change - what that change will be is not known at this time.

2. Survey to Determine Satisfaction with Availability of Academic Advisor

   The results of this survey exceed the required threshold. Students that responded to the survey seem to be satisfied with the availability of their academic advisor. If the percentage of students satisfied drops closer to 90% in future administrations of the survey changes will need to be considered to bring the percentage higher. At this time no changes will be made.