Q: What do you want your advisees to know about you?

A: I have been an academic adviser in the College of Business Administration (COBA) for 25 years and am very “student focused.” My primary responsibility is advising and evaluating transfer credits for potential transfer students before they are accepted and newly accepted transfer students, both domestic and international, along with continuing students from matriculation into the College to graduation.

The COBA has made a commitment to offering more distance learning classes and I am now working with this student population as well. I also advised the approximate 85 COBA student athletes to make sure they are meeting their academic requirements so they can remain eligible in their sport.

Because of the number of years working at UT, I have developed many contacts and am able to resolve issues in a relatively short period of time. In addition to advising, I am a College liaison to various departments and University committees which allows me to stay up-to-date on the University policies and procedures.

Q: What exactly is the Degree Completion in Applied Organization Technology (BAOT) degree?

A: To be accepted into the BAOT degree, a student must have a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA, earned a technical associate degree from a regionally accredited community college, and transfer in a maximum of 63 hours towards the degree.

The associate degree transfers in as a block of credit to complete the first 2 years and the remaining 2 years (minimum 63 hrs) must be completed at UT. The last 2 years (degree completion) of the degree consists of 3 parts:

1. General Core Requirement (27-30 hrs) – All students at UT must complete the core requirements regardless of the degree program and includes English, Math, Humanities, Natural Science, Social Science, and Multi-culture categories.
2. General Business Minor (30-36 hrs) – This minor allows students to enhance their academic curricula with business-related course work. With careful selection, all Master in Business Administration (MBA) Degree prerequisites can be completed and if a student decides to earn a MBA it will only takes 11 additional classes.
3. 3000 and 4000 Level Courses – Students are required to take 30 hours of upper division courses at UT, but from outside the College Of Business Administration. Five classes (15 hrs) must be taken from the College of Arts and Sciences and the remaining 5 classes (15 hrs) in any college, including Arts and Sciences. Again, with careful selection and working with an academic adviser, a student could complete a minor in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Q: What recommendations would you give a student so that they can be successful learners?

A: The first thing that comes to my mind when asked this question is time management. I always tell students that “the college courses are not difficult, but managing your time is.”

Students are required to make the commitment to school by attending classes (in-class or on-line), completing homework on time, and being selfish about their time.“

When a friend, family member, or an employer continually asks for more of the student’s time, the student has to learn to say “no” or at least, give them an alternative option. I joking tell them that “I will not call them to make sure they are not attending their classes nor will I pay them to make sure they are completing their homework.” It is up to them to make it happen!

However, I am always there to assist them when they need me. I try to use every situation as a “teaching moment” so they can learn to be independent and successful.

Q: How soon do you recommend a student contact you?

A: Students need to contact me as soon as possible and as often as they need to. The initial contact is extremely important because every student’s situation is different and a complete review of the degree requirements and transfer course work will eliminate any major problems for the future.

Also, a plan on what to expect in the future can be established along with addressing short term and long needs. As the student becomes more comfortable with UT, the College, and the degree requirements, the contact is not that necessary except for what I call a “well check”. This is just making sure that everything is going okay.