Staff Writer- August von Seth
On Wednesday, Nov. 12th, classes held between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. will be cancelled to make room for Advising Day, a series of events primarily organized to aid students in their academic and professional development. Most departments at Gustavus will participate in one form or another, hosting a variety of attractions, including workshops, talks, and games—all unique to each department.
“The Chapel is open for students to reset and recharge, with a few special events scheduled there as well. All classes are canceled from 8:00 a.m. through the afternoon, and we hope students take advantage of the opportunities available,” Kendall Center for Engaged Learning Faculty Associate of Teaching and Learning Dr. Valerie Walker said.
It is Dr. Walker’s first year coordinating Advising Day, which has been taking place every semester for the past two years. She calls it “unique” to Gustavus and explains that planned activities have been shaped by feedback from both students and faculty.
“The Fall focuses more on career development and semester planning, while the Spring emphasizes majors and minors. That structure is based on student feedback. Faculty have emphasized that Advising Day should include time and space to meet with advisees. We try to balance scheduling events with giving faculty time for one-on-one advising,” Dr. Walker said.
Aside from short consultations with their academic advisors, students are welcome to join the over 30 individual events hosted by departments such as Chemistry, Communication Studies, English, and Health and Exercise Science.
A central resource intended to guide those interested is the Advising Day Hub located in the Three Crowns/Heritage room in the Jackson Campus Center. There, students can inquire about academic planning, registration, and financial aid, among other issues.
“I encourage students, whether first-years or seniors, to explore these events. You might discover a new passion or hear a great speaker, even if you’re not choosing a major at this point,” Dr. Walker said.
One such event that Dr. Walker singles out is the Center for Career Development’s tabling fair, which is planned to feature 20 employers offering internships and job opportunities and 10 graduate schools presenting their programs. Insurance, media, manufacturing, government, and environmental conservation are a few of the sectors represented by the invited companies, which have been picked with student preferences in mind. According to Associate Director Center for Career Development Jill VanOsdol, some of them will stay after the fair to conduct job interviews on the spot.
“If students are excited about a particular company, it’s a good idea to research them beforehand. But it’s also fine to just show up, especially for first-years or sophomores. It’s a low-stakes way to practice introducing yourself and learn what employers are looking for,” VanOsdol said.
The department also intends to offer photography sessions and complimentary clothing suited for a business environment, such as an interview setting.
“We’ll have a professional photographer for headshots, and a professional dress event where students can pick up clothing and accessories for interviews. Last year, we had seven racks of clothes and ended with just two, so it was very successful,” VanOsdol said.
An initiative meant to boost attendance is the ‘Passport to Priority Room Selection’ program created by Residential Life, which allows students to earn credit for attending events by scanning a QR code and answering a couple of questions. In exchange, they are entered into monthly prize drawings and improve their room selection ranking.
For Advising Day, QR codes will be present at events, and students can expect to answer two simple questions: what support or help they received, and what they wish had been provided.
To First-year student Kalon Senevisai, who lives in Norelius Hall, the concept is an alluring one.
“From what I’ve heard, lowerclassmen don’t always get their first choice in housing because others have priority. The more I learn about Gustavus, the more I want to live in a convenient place like Plex or North,” Senevisai said.
So far, Senevisai has neither scheduled an appointment with his academic advisor nor picked classes for the next semester, but he does take an interest in certain Advising Day events—in particular, the employer and graduate school tabling fair, which he compares to other “unique opportunities” on campus, like the Nobel Conference.
“That sounds extremely interesting. Getting one-on-one time with company representatives is a great opportunity,” Senevisai said.