Programs merge into one
office, improves services for students
By Kurt Esposito
Summer
Editor
The two Purdue programs, university division and
undergraduate studies, designed to help undecided students to determine
a major have merged into one office effective last Friday.
"Essentially they've done the same thing; one is
geared towards newer students and one is geared toward current students.
(The merger) seemed to make sense for a variety of reasons," said Tom
Robinson, vice president of student services.
Previously the undergraduate studies program was
for incoming students who did not want to declare a major when they
entered Purdue. The university division was run under the Dean of Students
Office and offered services to current students who were considering
switching their major. Now both programs are offered under the Undergraduate
Studies Program Office.
Susan Aufderheide, director of the Undergraduate
Studies Program Office, said the merger came because they offered the
same services. "We decided that by combining those two under one umbrella
we could better assess the needs of the student who was undecided about
what major they wanted to pursue," she said.
She said students in the new programs will not
notice any major differences; however, with the combined staffs of the
two programs the office will be able to have an assigned adviser for
each student.
"It brings individual attention for students so
we can help each of them explore their career opportunities," she said.
Robinson said students won't find any difference
in the ways they access their counselors.
He said "There will be synergy that will hopefully
be able to provide better services for the students, which is the goal
for all of us."
Some of the ways the office helps students decide
majors include career counseling and interest assessment. There are
almost 600 students in the program with about 500 coming over from the
university division.
Aufderheide said the office may try some new programs
in the next few months including a program for academic difficulty and
a seat in the Student Senate.
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