University of Delaware undergraduate students now have a new resource at their fingertips to support their academic success and graduation within four years.

An advising website went online this summer to offer a central place for undergraduate students to find information on advising, policies and procedures, and academic tools to assist with everything from registration to making sure students are on track for their degree to connecting them with campus resources and more.

“The new advising website provides both undergraduate advisors and students with a central bank of resources,” said Danielle Dolan, academic advisor for Human Development and Family Services. “Whether you’re looking to make an appointment with an advisor, calculate your grade point average, learn more about academic policies, or figure out how to transfer credits, the site is easy to navigate.” 

Moira Curtis, academic advisor in the University Studies Program, said having information for every college on the same website is especially helpful when serving students who have not yet declared a major.

“This allows me to refer students to the correct person in the department and follow each department’s protocols when they either want to meet with them prior to changing their major or during the change of major process,” she said.

The website, www.advising.udel.edu, is getting good reviews from students, too.

“Almost all of the functions of UDSIS can happen on this advising site, but this layout is clearer, and information such as checking your progress toward completing your degree, scheduling an appointment with your advisor, finding out your advisor's contact information, learning more about policies and procedures, and so much more are all right in front of you,” said Thomas Johnson, a mathematics education major in his senior year.

Senior Jennifer Juarez also was impressed with the site’s simplicity.

“The design of the page makes it really easy to find answers to my academic questions,” she said. “It is like a one-stop-shop for finding academic resources on campus.”

And the website isn’t the only recent effort to help students graduate in four years. Over the summer, the University announced that it has removed the limit on the number of credit hours covered by full tuition each semester.

Under the previous policy, students could take 12 to 17 credits per semester for the same cost, but would pay extra for any credit hours beyond that. Now, they will be able to take 18 or more credit hours, if needed, without paying more.

“This will make a significant difference for students who need a sixth course in a semester to catch up and graduate within four years,” said Provost Robin W. Morgan. “We expect this change to be particularly beneficial to first-generation, low-income students.”

In 2017, the University boosted efforts to increase the four-year graduation rate by raising the number of first-year students who complete at least 30 credit hours over the year. As a result, the percentage of first-year bachelor’s degree students who completed at least 30 credits increased from 57.9 percent in 2016-17 to 60.8 percent during the 2017-18 academic year. The increase among first-year Associate in Arts students was more dramatic, with the number of students completing at least 30 credits hours jumping from 15.7 percent to 37.5 percent.

“Clearly, our students are benefiting from our efforts to help them finish in four,” Morgan said. “By increasing the credit hours covered under full tuition, we will further help their chances of graduating on time and at a lower cost to them.”