George Washington University - Cherry Tree Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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Peer Advising A warm, soft-spoken woman, Lois Goldberg is a person who likes to help other people. In her senior year at George Washington University. Goldberg felt that her fellow students were seeking advice on academic problems and had nowhere to turn. She had a wonderful idea: students helping other students. Dr Harold Bright, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, made her idea a reality. In the fall of 1976. Peer Academic Advising at GW was born, with Lois Goldberg at the helm. The program, which began on a three-year experimental basis, now has approximately 55 students on the staff. The advisors, all volunteers, are nominated by their major departments and personally interviewed by Goldberg, The peer advisors attend a one -day training program before the beginning of each semester The training, which is coordi- nated by Goldberg and Elaine Riddle of the counseling center, teaches the advisors how to help their fellow students clarify goals, gather accu- rate information, and formulate unified and coherent academic pro- grams. The advisors are also given some sensitivity training in the form of role playing. “Peer advising complements faculty advising: it doesn ' t replace it. 1 Goldberg says. She hopes that one day peer advisors will work out of the dean ' s office along with faculty advisors. At present, however, peer advisors do not have an office of their own. Students at this school don ' t seem to be seeking advice at all times during the year; so Goldberg says. + at key advising times, like registration, we set up advis- ing hours and post the dates, time and place. Goldberg added that during the year a list of peer advisors ' names and phone numbers are made available and if you want a peer advisor, you can contact them on your own” Features 1 9

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After seven years at GW. first as an undergraduate student and then as a graduate student, Goldberg now feels that It is time for her to move on, I still love my work. I ' m very excited by it. but I need to meet new people and new challenges.” Goldberg is leaving GW confident that her program will be carried on. She had already handpicked the peer advisors for next semester and has personally trained Susan Green, a senior at GW and Goldberg’s successor. — |udy Fqx 20 Feature