For students experiencing difficulties, an academic advisor is often one of the first people they seek out for advice.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
But it can be hard to vocalize those concerns in a crowded office space teeming with other students and student services staff.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
That was a challenge in the former Engineering Student Services suite located in the Shelby Center.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen students experience depression or academic difficulties, you don\u2019t want a bunch of people overhearing that,\u201d said Janet Moore, director of advising in the College of Engineering. \u201cThe advisors were very clustered in the Shelby Center, which made it difficult.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Since the move to the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center, the college is now able to offer a truly private and comfortable advising experience for students.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe biggest change, though, is access and visibility,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe more doors you put between students and the services they need, the less likely they are to seek out those services. Being centrally located where the students already are has greatly improved our visibility.\u201d<\/p>\r\n