The 23-campus California State University system plan to invest $22 million to improve graduation rates; and $2 million would go toward electronic advising, CSU spokeswoman Stephanie Thara said.
Thara said that the CSU invested in technology that will aid in the academic advising process.
Some new tools that could be implemented in “eAdvising,” also known as electronic advising, include academic planners and mobile phone applications for scheduling classes.
“The new tools will provide clear roadmaps to graduation and help students graduate on time,” Thara said. “They will assist you in determining what classes or requirements you still need in order to graduate… and present you with every possible class schedule option based on your personal schedule, among other features.”
All CSU campuses are expected to implement the new tools, except for the predictive analytic tools, by fall 2016, according to a Thara. Only 15 campuses are expected to implement the predictive analytic tools by fall 2016.
Freshman biology major Michelle Ngyen thinks the current advising system is very helpful and said she welcomes the improvement.
“I think the investment for new advising tools is well worth it,” Ngyen said. “I feel that the education system always needs improving.”
Sophomore civil engineering major Nabil Alharbi said he thinks the students will benefit from the investment, but believes that CSU should focus on other things besides investing in eAdvising.
“CSU should focus on rebuilding some buildings and help students find cheaper books,” Alharbi said.
Junior film major Erica Aloya said she looks forward to the new tools in advising, but she would also like to see more advisers because she sees them as a valuable asset in obtaining degrees.
“I feel like advisers provide other information, [other than advising], like scholarship information or providing some type of information that will lead to job opportunities,” Aloya said.