The Office of University Advising is committed to student success and is making a move to expand the team in the MSU Union. Beginning in October, additional advisers became available to students in the iconic building on campus.

Over the last decade, the advising community, colleges and various associated student success leadership groups have aimed at both elevating and situating advising as integral to achieving the university’s student success goals. 

While exploratory advisers were previously located in the engagement center within the MSU Union, an expansion to the ground floor of the building allows for an increased number of advisers in a central location, which creates a more streamlined access point, according to Dr. Ebony Green, assistant dean for University Advising. 

“University Advising is proud to exist in five campus locations: Brody, Hubbard, Holden, McDonel and the MSU Union. Having exploratory advisers in these communal spaces enhances our ability to help any student who either hasn’t declared a major or is in a major/college that no longer fits their goals,” says Green. “Our team is here to help students navigate broad university questions and connect them with the most appropriate college partner.”

Green also says that University Advising is still actively recruiting and hiring advisers to round out the team. They look forward to the multitude of new faces that will show up in the MSU Union over the next few months.

The University Advising Office will be available on the MSU Union’s ground level, Room 26, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning this spring. For now, they will operate on restricted hours for the remainder of the fall semester.

“We are most excited to see the return to a bustling meeting, study and relaxing space for students. The union is a student-centered space, and there’s no better space for a growing and gifted advising team to be located.”

Cathy Fitzpatrick, MSU Union director, agrees. “It is very beneficial for students to have a more centralized presence for advising here at the MSU Union. The building is intended to be a variety of resources, and so we want the union to be able to offer whatever the students need. Adding this more formative advising component just allows another touchpoint for students to enjoy and utilize our historic facility,” she says. 

University Advising points out that, in order to meet MSU’s 2030 goal of an 86% graduation rate with no opportunity gaps as articulated in the Strategic Plan, aspects of the undergraduate experience had to be reformed to increase retention. Advising’s influence on student success meant improving the university’s academic advising system to better support advisers and students.
Green wants students to know, “We are here to help you understand the variety of majors within our 14 different colleges. We can’t wait for you to come explore with us!”