Better Advising Is Aim Of New FDO Initiative

Harvard students have long complained about the College's poor advisory system, but an initiative by the Freshman Dean's Office (FDO) and departmental head tutors may help combat this sentiment.

Beginning soon, first-years will be able to attend special office hours held by departments, and they can already visit new World Wide Web sites with more extensive information than was available in the past.

In addition, departments will soon begin tabling in Annenberg Hall in order to bring advice directly to the students.

According to Dean of Freshmen Elizabeth Studley Nathans, the FDO, head tutors and departmental undergraduate coordinators are trying to aid first-years who feel uncomfortable choosing concentrations and courses.

"We wanted a greater role for departments," Nathans said. "We wanted to help students explore the full range of their academic options."

For some first-years, the changes will be a welcome enhancement.

Allen S. Ho '00 said he could probably use the extra advice. "Right now I'm lost. I don't know where to go to," he said.

Other first-years appeared equally pleased with the added information.

"More accessible information is always good, and many students use their computers so web pages would definitely be good," McComma Grayson III '00 said.

Although the advising upgrades will not directly affect upperclass students, many voiced support for the idea.

"I never really spoke to my adviser about my course of study. I never realized that that's what he was there for," said Adams House resident Megan J. Dubose '97.

The more extensive advising is part of a larger effort by academic departments and the FDO to provide options to first-years earlier.

According to Nathans, the departments, FDO and undergraduate advisers wanted to provide more information to first-years before they signed up for classes.

Plans are in the works for the Class of 2001 to have an even greater amount of information and advice available.

One possibility is the inclusion of departmental course suggestions on first-year placement sheets.

But some first-years expressed concern that this method may be interpreted too literally by new students.

"People will take the suggestions more seriously than they're supposed to," said Peter J. Marturano '00

Although the advising upgrades will not directly affect upperclass students, many voiced support for the idea.

"I never really spoke to my adviser about my course of study. I never realized that that's what he was there for," said Adams House resident Megan J. Dubose '97.

The more extensive advising is part of a larger effort by academic departments and the FDO to provide options to first-years earlier.

According to Nathans, the departments, FDO and undergraduate advisers wanted to provide more information to first-years before they signed up for classes.

Plans are in the works for the Class of 2001 to have an even greater amount of information and advice available.

One possibility is the inclusion of departmental course suggestions on first-year placement sheets.

But some first-years expressed concern that this method may be interpreted too literally by new students.

"People will take the suggestions more seriously than they're supposed to," said Peter J. Marturano '00