Academic Advising at UNO. Report of the 1991 Student Survey.

A study was done of student perception of academic advising at the University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO). The study surveyed 638 students who participated in the early registration process for the Fall 1991 semester. Of those students, 269 were men and 369 were women and 8.3 percent were members of a minority group. The study instrument was the "Survey of Academic Advising" developed by the American College Testing Corporation (ACT) which explores student background, advising information, advising needs, impressions of the advisor and additional information. The completed instruments were processed by ACT and returned to campus for further analysis. Responses presented a mixed picture with 73 percent of students satisfied with the advising delivery system and satisfied with the assistance received from their advisors. At the same time, 51-95 percent of the sample did not discuss most of the advising topics with their advisors and offered mixed reviews with respect to the advisor/advisee relationship. In addition the response percentages and the satisfaction ratings provided by student sample members were below those for a national student sample and were frequently below that group in a statistically significant manner. Included are recommendations for improving the advising at UNO including a university-wide review of the nature and structure of academic advising. (JB)