Last semester Office of Student Affairs and Center for Learning and Teaching has worked out together for the freshmen advising system. This semester they co-held a “Conference of Counseling Knowledge and Skills for Freshmen Advisors in the Fall Semester, 2008,” one week before the new semester began. Dr. Flora C.I. Chang, President of TKU, encouraged advisors to stimulate students’ learning motivation through their guiding and assisting.
In the Freshman Initiation this year, the panel for freshmen and their advisors were especially arranged. The school authority will also increase the fee for advising students, so that advisors can put more time and strength to map out students’ learning schedule in the coming four years. Dr. Keh Huan-chao, Dean of Office of Academic Affairs, indicated that precautionary system would be carried out continuously. Students who show tendency of failing in the middle of the semester will be informed immediately while the warning letter sent to their advisor, parents, and the department where they belong to. After the end of the semester, the students who are still on the edge of failure will be notified once again.
The most important function of the precautionary system is guiding and assisting. Student advisors can go to the on-line advisor reporting system to fill in the information, which will be gathered and categorized by Office of Student Affairs. Students who have special condition can be introduced to Counseling Section, Office of Student Affairs, or Student Learning Support Section, Center for Learning and Teaching.
The new edition of on-line advisor reporting system run by Office of Student Affairs is more stable and completed. All the student advisors have already received webcams, by which they can hold council with their students via the internet at any time. Extracurricular Activities Guidance Section (EAGS) also has budget for instructing students who show tendency of failing. The departments that need it can propose a project to EAGS. Counseling Section provides counseling service, general test for freshmen, and professional guiding and assisting measures. Students are also encouraged to participate in volunteer service training to cultivate their spirit of learning and serving.
“Advisor reporting system is very helpful to pass on information to students, parents, and teachers. However, as a student advisor, spending time on caring students is always the most important thing. There will be the best outcome if advisors can meet their students face to face,” said Chang Sheng-hsiung, Associate Professor in the Dept. of Transportation Management.
Shyur Huan-jyh, Chair of Dept. of Information Management, pointed out that freshmen who just enter into university usually have slacked attitude of learning and hence need to ready themselves again before the school begins. So this year, the freshmen of College of Management are required to read the assigned books during the summer vacation and turn in the report when the semester begins. ( ~Shu-chun Yen )
