UNM
improves BUS program advisement at main, branch campuses
By Laurie
Mellas-Ramirez
Faculty
is the proverbial cog in the wheel for traditional colleges
at UNM. But for the Bachelor of University Studies (BUS) Degree
Program, advisors gear up to maintain momentum.
BUS advisement
is new and improved with tools added such as a Website, video,
seminars, CD-ROM, written guide and handouts to provide consistent
information to current and prospective students.
A third
advisor has been added to the growing main campus program
currently 1,500 strong and another two hired at branches
to serve students in Taos, Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Gallup.
In
the last year weve had tremendous innovation and change
in both the scope and practice of advisement for our program,
said BUS Advisement Supervisor Tracy Skipp.
The BUS
degree is among the most popular at UNM because it allows students
to create a personalized program of study, says University College
Dean Peter White.
The majority
of students focus on several disciplines within the College
of Arts and Sciences while others include courses from two or
more traditional colleges. For example, if a student chooses
to concentrate in cultural studies, he or she may focus on elements
that define culture such as education, law, religion, language,
geography, the arts and sciences.
If
youre a go-getter, self-starter and not afraid of organizing
your own life, its a good degree for you, said University
College Associate Dean Mark Ondrias.
Although
the BUS is a main campus degree offering, the Extended University
continues to add courses at branches and other locations that
apply. Handouts have been created to address specific needs
for students at each branch campus.
There
shouldnt be a reason anymore that anyone who lives in
New Mexico cant get a relevant education from UNM,
Skipp said.
Prior to
the improvements, students could wait several months for an
initial appointment with Skipp. Now, along with the additional
advisors, a new video is available for students simply pondering
the question Is the BUS right for me? And a new
seminar takes advisement out of my office and into their
classrooms, Skipp said, noting that the ability to speak
to 50 or more students at a pop frees up time to reach more
students.
Also,
if someone is too shy to ask a question from an advisor
and someone else in the group poses it everyone benefits
from the answer, Skipp said. Sharing ideas is the
creative heart of the program.
The BUS
Website will be upgraded to provide interactive advisement and
in-depth information on admission, graduation requirements,
career plans and more.
The new
advisement guide several years in the making is
structured in a workbook style to encourage participation in
exercises such as designing a degree plan.
Each advisor,
especially those at the branch campuses, will receive an updated
CD-ROM each year so information dispersed to students remains
consistent and fresh.
Ondrias,
also a chemistry professor, has a longstanding interest in the
design of new teaching methods and career and academic counseling
for students.
Were
hoping that with these changes we can help students package
an academic career that helps them be a lot more employable
and specifically trained, Ondrias said.
The
BUS is the degree of the future. Its an individualized
degree that provides the education a student needs to succeed
professionally, Skipp said. Students are more likely
to see the interdisciplinary connections between their courses,
UNMs many academic departments and their own career plans.
The program has so much potential. I cant wait for it
to really take off.
For information,
call 277-2631 or visit www.unm.edu/busdegree.