Correction appendedThe Office of Academic Services will be hosting its first-ever Advising Week, beginning on March 28, to provide a way for first-years and sophomores to gain exposure to different academic departments.

The week will also help students make connections within departments in which they are already involved or help students choose a major or classes, Dean of Academic Services Kim Godsoe said in an interview with the Justice.

There are no large events central to the week; instead, this is a week designated for departments to host their own programs, Godsoe said.

The week is catered to first-years and sophomores who are still looking into majors before they pick their classes for next semester, according to Godsoe.

Godsoe said that the purpose of Advising Week is "to encourage students to be connecting with faculty members in departments of interest to really learn about the departments, classes, majors [and] minors."

According to Godsoe, in order to accomplish this, the departments that are participating are encouraged to host events that will draw students so that they can meet with departmental faculty.

This kind of event is not uncommon; many departments host lectures and discussions with open houses, and Meet the Majors events are quite frequent, noted Godsoe.

The Undergraduate Advising Heads, a faculty committee made up of representatives from different departments, got the idea from other campuses, said Godsoe.

Godsoe said that other universities have tried similar programs that have been successful and that having this program would be helpful here as well.

Godsoe said that departments have been enthusiastic about Advising Week so far.

Although the number of participating departments is not definite, Godsoe remains optimistic that many will partake, since, she said, more departments sign up each day.

Regarding student turnout, Godsoe said that "because [the week] is so decentralized, it is very hard to make predictions about [the number of students who will be involved]."

While the details are not yet finalized, the Office of Academic Services hopes to have them finished and available to students sometime this week.

Considering the event is due to take place between March 28 and April 1, Godsoe says that bringing the information to the student body is "[the Office's] number one priority right now."

Correction: The article originally stated that Godsoe said that the departments were not enthusiastic about Advising Week. In fact, Godsoe said that the departments have been enthusiastic about the program.