As of the 2021 Autumn quarter, UChicago has a new College Academic Advising Center to enhance academic support and connectivity for undergraduate students.
The Center – which relocates College advising from Harper Memorial Library to Alumni House at 5555 S. Woodlawn Ave. – offers a newly renovated, dedicated space for students to meet with the College’s 25 academic advisers. Amenities include individual advising offices for personalized guidance as well as student lounges and shared workspaces that create more on-campus locations for undergraduates to study and participate in scholarly exchange.
“To thrive in a College fueled by rigorous inquiry, students need professional guidance to take intellectual risks,” said Kathy Forde, the College’s senior associate dean of students and director of Academic Advising. “The College Academic Advising Center moves all advising staff and resources under one roof, providing a more accessible and centralized community of support for undergraduate students.”
The Center is the latest in a decade of investments to enhance the undergraduate advising operation. The College has long provided a dedicated team of academic advisers with expertise that empowers students to navigate the curriculum and utilize College and University resources to accomplish personal and professional goals. Now, through the Center, the College will continue this support while also helping students to build greater connections to the University and to one another.
“The individualized structure of UChicago’s advising system dates back to the 1950s, and has often been considered to be one of the most effective in the nation,” said John W. Boyer, dean of the College. “The new building will add another dimension of personalized support for our students, which is fully in line with our academic traditions.”
“The Center significantly enhances the College’s advising infrastructure,” added Jay Ellison, dean of students in the College. “Students leave UChicago with the skills necessary to become resilient problem solvers, engaged citizens and capable scholars. The Center expands the College’s capacity to support their academic and post-graduation success as well as holistic development.”
An initial focus will be to further engage students as a College community. Outdoor space at the Center will be used for hosting picnics and other social events when the weather is nice. Since the building was formerly occupied by UChicago Student Wellness, it also has a spacious ground floor waiting area that Dean Ellison envisions as a possible study space for students while they wait to meet with their advisers, or a space for partnering with other University offices or RSOs on campus.
“College advisers have always worked closely together, but the Center’s environment allows for more creativity and collaboration,” Ellison added. “Being in this new space will let us continue traditions and start new ones. The College is excited to welcome its students to Advising’s new home."