Over the next four years, UNG will hire approximately 29 additional professional advisors who will be centralized in Academic Advising Centers on the various campuses. The advisors will be specially trained in specific academic programs of study. Students will be mandated to see a professional advisor through their first 40 credit hours, during which time they will develop educational plans and receive advisement on a wide range of academic concerns such as core curriculum requirements, choosing a proper major, the effects of changing majors, and how to become more independent in tracking degree progression.
After 40 earned hours, faculty will serve as each student’s primary advisor, with mandatory checkpoint advising at 60 and 90 hours. Faculty will move students toward learning experiences that support the major, such as research and internships, as well as discuss career opportunities and/or graduate school.
To strengthen faculty advising, a Master Faculty Advisor Program (MFA) will be created. MFA’s will take the lead in individual departments to improve advising at those levels, predicated on the needs of a given major. MFA’s will also collaborate closely with professional advisors centralized in campus Academic Advising Centers.