On July 31 previous School of Communications (SOC) advisor Emily Quidetto announced that she would accept another position at the university. The transition period has left SOC students without a full-time faculty advisor. “After August 4 I will no longer be your advisor in the Center for Student Success,” Quidetto said in an email. “Until a replacement coordinator is hired, questions and concerns can be directed to [email protected].”

Bernie Ankney, Dean of the SOC and other professors are trying to “minimize” this problem for SOC students. “There’s one accounting professor, there’s one broadcast professor, if that person leaves, there’s going to be a transition,” Ankney said. “[We] are working hard to make sure we serve students well.”

Jalen Henry, a junior digital journalism major, has experienced difficulty “bouncing between advisors.”  

“I’ve had to go to like two to three different advisors just to like schedule changes in classes,” Henry said. “To print out my schedule and then credit history and things of that nature just to help me get on the right track to graduate.”

Ankney believes that the school will have someone in the position by late fall. In the meantime he is encouraging faculty to reach out to students to answer questions.

“September isn’t a time when there’s 43 kids seeing their advisor that day,” Ankney said. “So now is the time where we believe that I, Chris Rollinson [a SOC chair,] and the faculty can cover it. It’s not a situation that I wish happened.” 

Savannah Ikach is a sophomore that majors in broadcast reporting. She didn’t have much of an opinion on Quidetto switching positions and could only offer congratulations.

“I’d say if she’s happy about it, congrats to her,” Ikach said. “I know it’s going to be a little weird adjusting because I don’t remember who my person now is to contact.”

In the absence of a full time advisor, Henry has been emailing Molly McClelland, a temporary advisor for SOC students according to an email from the Center of Student Success. 

Ikach doesn’t believe there is “much clarity” on where she should go for advising questions. She thinks that if it were required for a student to meet their advisor rather than just encouraged to, it would be easier to reach out for help.

“People don’t really want to contact people they don’t know,” Ikach said. “It’s difficult to connect with your advisor if you’ve never met them.”

Even with the absence of a full-time advisor, Henry still has a positive perspective on advising at Point Park. 

“They’re very nice and they don’t beat around the bush or anything,” Henry said. “They get exactly what you need, It’s pretty efficient for the most part.” 

Ankney shared his thoughts on Quidetto leaving the position. 

“Personally, I wish Emily were still the School of Communication advisor,” Ankney said. “I think she was really, really effective, and she had strong relationships with faculty and with students.”

No permanent full-time advisor has been hired yet.