The old way of academic advising: Wasting away in a lobby, waiting to hear your name called.

The new way of academic advising in the Harbert College of Business: Group sessions, led by a business advisor, with students of the same academic major. No plan of study (MAP) is required and, best of all, there are no lines.

Harbert College’s Office of Academic Advising — formerly known as Student Affairs — changed its process in response to feedback received in a recent survey of students. Beth Ann Mabrey, director of the college’s Office of Academic Advising, said the group advising sessions will save time for students while allowing them to get a jump on planning for the upcoming semester. The new approach will also enable advisors to address common questions at once.

“There are so many benefits to group advising,” Mabrey said. “Students will finally be able to get academic advising for the upcoming registration period with no waiting, experience true networking with others in their major, learn about course prerequisites and course options, and develop a plan of action toward graduation.”

The group advising sessions will begin on Tuesday, September 3. Students may still have one-on-one sessions with academic advisors, but a plan of study (MAP) prepared by the student will be required.  

The schedule for Fall 2013 group advising sessions for all majors, as well as pre-business students, is as follows:

Accounting
September 4 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A
September 30 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A

Aviation Management
September 6 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A
September 13 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A

Business Administration
September 4 — 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 13 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A

Business Analytics
September 20 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A

Entrepreneurship
September 4 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 11 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A

Finance
September 10 — 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A
September 18 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A

Human Resources Management
September 11 — 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 18 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A

International Business
September 6 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 18 — 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A

Information Systems Management
September 3 — 3:30 to 4:20 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A
September 11 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A

Management
September 4 — 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 13 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A

Marketing
September 9 — 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 17 — 3:30 to 4:20 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A

Pre-Business
September 23 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m. and 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 24 — 3:30 to 4:20 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A
September 25 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A; 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A; 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 27 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A; 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A
September 30 — 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A

Professional Flight
September 6 — 1:00 to 1:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 113A
September 13 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A

Supply Chain Management
September 16 — 3:00 to 3:50 p.m., Lowder Hall 125A
September 20 — 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., Lowder Hall 125A