Should Colleges Require Students to Meet with Academic Advisors?

p strongRequired advising is common, but access to it varies substantially with the price and resources of the institution./strong/p p Primary Research Group's study of 33 college and university advising programs found that 54.55% required students to see an academic adviser. Only one-third of programs at institutions charging less than $6,000 in annual tuition had such a requirement, compared with 75% of institutions charging $12,500 to $45,000./p p A mandate can ensure that students discuss course ion, degree progress and emerging problems before registration. It can also create queues and perfunctory appointments if staffing cannot support the volume. Institutions should therefore connect the requirement to clear moments of value: entry, major declaration, academic difficulty, the approach to graduation or a complicated program change./p p Advising leaders need to track more than completed appointments. Missed meetings, wait time, session length, unresolved referrals and outcomes by student group can show whether a requirement improves access or merely adds a hold. Alternatives such as group sessions, peer mentors and targeted outreach may serve some students more effectively./p p The benchmark question is capacity. Required advising can support retention and completion only when students receive timely, informed help rather than a compliance signature./p p  /p