The ASUU General Assembly unanimously passed the Graduation Guarantee advising plan last night, adding the necessary approval to move the program into action.
Through the Graduation Guarantee, students would meet with an adviser every semester to create a course plan depending on their majors and personal circumstances and sign a contract committing them to proceed toward graduation in a timely manner. If they follow the plan, students are guaranteed class availability for needed classes. If these classes aren’t available, they could revise the plan or get the tuition for that class refunded. Students would also be able to receive career counseling as part of the plan.
The program, which is optional for students, can be used in place of the new school-wide mandatory advising plan, which started this year for freshmen.
Some representatives questioned whether the plan would be flexible for students who work, are married or have majors with extensive course requirements.
Student Body President Spencer Pearson said the plan could be tailored to meet students’ needs.
Katie Miller, director of the Associated Students of the University of Utah Academic Affairs Board, said the plan would make departments hold advisers to stricter standards, because there could be financial consequences if classes are not available.
ASUU leaders supporting the plan said it would help students at virtually no cost, because the plan wouldn’t initially require any funding. Students who chose not to participate in the plan would also benefit, because it will force departments to map out longer course catalogues, proponents said.
The plan has already been approved by academic committees and the U administration, and now ASUU leaders will work with each college to adapt the plan to the college’s needs.
The Graduation Guarantee started as a campaign promise for the FUSE Party in the spring and will be implemented next fall.
“As I was first running in the campaign, students expressed that they wanted stronger ties between them and academic advisers,” Pearson said. “I am confident this will make a difference in their academic experiences.”