University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 20 text:

Student Counseling Office Unlike some student organizations who are working to renew their popu- larity with a changing student popu- lation, the Student Counseling Office is working to put itself out of business. The primary concern of the volunteer student counselors is to provide per- sonal and academic peer counseling for students that have been mis- directed, misinformed or neglected by the university ' s professional coun- seling services. One SCO coordinator explains that because of the university ' s size, com- munication breakdowns result be- tween students and counselors under the pressure of the vast amount of in- formation students need to know. We want to see students come out of here in as good or better shape as when they came to the university, commented one coordinator. Until the university reorganizes and strengthens their available services, we will do the best job we can to fill the gaps. The SCO, financially independent of the university, maintains a budget from the alumni fund through the ISA dean ' s office. It meets with freshmen at orientation and sponsors 15 Peanut Butter and Jelly Wednesday lunches. The office is not sure how many stu- dents know about the office as those that return to say thanks and ask for more advice are the only feedback that the office has to go on. Referals to other campus counseling services and making sure they get there is another effort the office makes for their student clients. But if we don ' t know the answers, we tell them we don ' t, one counselor asserted. In the informal atmosphere of the SCO, the student counselors feel that they can give the student the extra time to hash out a problem. Ques- tioning the student about his feelings and prejudices helps the student de- fine his problem and then consider the alternatives. Often the despondent student who insists on dropping out of school only needs a sympathetic ear and reas- surance that everyone has gone through that sort of thing at least once at the university. That ' s why peer counseling is important. The office also advocates in cases where counselors have refused to ap- prove elections, credit hours and other special problems. But the office feels it cannot remain only a student advocate. Instead, it used its ex-of- ficio membership on the academic board, grade and curriculum com- mittees to affect change for the bet- terment of the university policies. Course evaluation is a traditional serv- ice of SCO that has developed into a spectrum of student counselors for every department. Subjectively, they are more qualified to evaluate profes- sors, course subject material and work load and exams than the ISA catalog or the computer class evaluations. However successful the SCO will be in putting itself out of business, it ful- fills a very important need in the uni- versity for peer counseling. The Stu- dent Counseling Office remains the one open place during the noon hour when the rest of the university shuts down and provides students a place to sit and talk with a friend. 16

Page 22 text:

The field of dance is rapidly expanding at the University. The four-year program offers a number of post-graduate career possibilities such as choreography, professional dance, dance therapy and dance criticism. Graduate work is another available option. A dance major will receive a Bachelor ' s Degree in Education, including certification to teach dance at Kindergarten through high school levels. The undergraduate dance curriculum includes the study of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities. It combines an understand- ing of the body with intensive development of dance skills in all areas; jazz, ballet, modern, ethnic and social dance among others. The faculty, headed by Coordinator of Dance, Elizabeth Weil Bergmann, boasts an impressive membership of professors, instructors and teaching fellows. In addition to the regular curriculum, the dance program also includes a six-week summer workshop with a major dance artist. 18