STUDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT UAF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 1996

Fairbanks, Alaska - A student-initiated proposal has led to the elimination of the required adviser's signature for continuing graduate students for spring 1997 registration at UAF. The recommendation by students Rebecca Montgomery and Joe Walden should help streamline the registration process.

"This is just one of many initiatives we're looking at as a way to simplify registration at UAF," said Dana Thomas, a professor of statistics who is on special assignment as Chancellor Joan Wadlow's assistant for enrollment and assessment. "Enrollment and retention of students is a top priority at UAF," said Thomas. "We want to work with students to develop recommendations to improve the services we provide to them," he said.

"The decision to eliminate the requirement came after discussion with the UAF Faculty Senate administrative committee and Graduate Student Advisory Council, the Provost's Instructional Working Group, and numerous faculty members and students," said Thomas.

Although the decision affects only graduate students at this time, Thomas said discussion is underway which could lead to the policy being applied for undergraduates.

"We need to have some more discussion because of the broader implications of the change for undergraduates, " Thomas said.

For example, the catalog would have to be changed so undergraduate students would be fully informed of their responsibility in meeting graduation requirements. No longer would an adviser double check and approve class selections students make to ensure they are taking the courses needed to graduate in their selected program. Some have suggested that students should sign a statement saying they accept this responsibility.

Some faculty feel the elimination of the requirement is just a bad idea for undergraduates, while others argue that a mandatory or automatic graduation audit should be in place prior to any changes being made.

Why approve this change for graduate students but not for undergraduates? According to Thomas, graduate students traditionally have a close working relationship with their adviser, are required to file a graduate study plan, and must have an annual progress report signed by their advisory committee. Undergraduate students do not have such a system.

As part of the elimination of the adviser's signature for continuing graduate students, a new statement will be added to assistantship letters. For graduate students funded though internal or external support, this new statement will inform students that if they register for courses which are not approved by their advisory committee, the student may be responsible for paying for the course.

CONTACT: Dana Thomas, Chancellor's Assistant on Enrollment and Educational Assessment, (907) 474-6990 or Jillian Swope, University Relations, (907-474-7778.

DPD/JCS/11-6-96/97-026