InsideHigherEd.com Features Elgren and Paris Op-Ed on Advising

David Paris, the Leonard C. Ferguson Professor of Government, and Professor of Chemistry Tim Elgren discussed the Hamilton advising system in an opinion piece in InsideHigherEd.com. In "Advising: Less is More?," published on Sept. 29,  the writers emphasized that students want timely relevant information. "…what they wanted above all from advisors was for them to be available for assistance, to provide accurate information about course selection and college rules and to warn against obstacles that might impede their progress in the short term regarding registration and in the long term regarding plans for majors." They discovered these preferences via surveys conducted as part of the Mellon Foundation assessment project.

Tim Elgren

Elgren and Paris found that most students were not seeking closer relationships with their advisors although some who were surveyed occasionally expressed that desire. The writers questioned whether, by fulfilling students' practical needs, the door to a stronger advisor-student relationship may be opened. "When one pauses to think about it, the best teaching and mentoring often begins in the same way: understanding students' perspective on the situation, setting forth clear and consistent guidelines, being available as appropriate to help students. Indeed, it may be that meeting these basic standards is the key to getting to that deeper relationship, where it is possible."

In a subsequent opinion piece in InsideHigherEd.com, David Paris wrote about the Commission on Higher Education Report and compared some of its findings to an earlier national education report, "A Nation at Risk." He warned against putting too much emphasis on the economic context of higher education in "Higher Education At Risk?."  He also cautioned against applying quick top-down solutions to identified problems as "A Nation at Risk" had suggested.

Paris emphasized that "there are already exist many initiatives that are directly addressing some of the problems cited in the report" in academe. In a discussion of assessment, Paris also focused on the importance of the development skills offered via a liberal arts education, "… critical thinking, quantitative literacy, communication skills, ethical reasoning, and civic engagement." He concluded by recommending that the commission focus their energies on "disseminating information about what really works and emphasizing the broader purposes of education."