The University’s graduation rate is staggering, and not in a good way. The Beacon reported on Oct. 17 that at 43 percent, the University ranks nine points lower than the national average. Based on these statistics, The Beacon commends the University for finally addressing the abysmal graduation rate.
Projected to officially launch in Fall 2012, MyMajor is a program which matches students’ goals and interests with potential majors. Furthermore, MyMajor offers students academic advising and planning. Students also gain acceptance into the school of their interest, complete with a plan the day they enter the University.
In addition, the new program will have advisers send messages to students who have declared majors, but appear to be getting sidetracked by taking courses incompatible with their program. This is a great system for students overwhelmed by or confused with course selection.
The Beacon thinks the new MyMajor system provides students with an unprecedented capability to not only be guided by advisers, but to have an academic plan from the get-go.
This is beneficial for several reasons. First and foremost, it allows students to have an agenda that not only matches their strengths and personalities with a specific program, but it engages them to the process of academic planning, which is an aspect of student life that is largely controlled by a limited number of advisers, already overloaded with too many students.
Secondly, in addition to this revision, the University aspires to hire 40 more advisers, a good move considering the ratio currently is 557 students for each adviser.
Most importantly, the new MyMajor program allows students to cultivate an academic path and identity before their second or third year. The old system of not being able to choose a major until your sophomore year often results in a potential waste of time for the student. Additionally, it results in a potential waste of valuable funds, which are diminishing because of federal budget cuts and rising tuition costs.
While The Beacon recognizes college should be a time of exploration not just quickly deciding on a major and graduating, The Beacon also thinks that exploration is not incompatible with the MyMajor program.
The system does not pigeonhole students into a potential major, but instead offers students a clearer idea of required courses. There is still room for other classes that students may simply be interested in taking – but may not count towards their major.
The Beacon rejects the idea that the MyMajor program is a solution for the shortage of advisers, but clearly supports this method and an increase of campus advisers. This system not only makes University students more likely to graduate, but less likely to have headaches.
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