University Advisement Becomes Major Exploration and Success Advising

Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (Oct. 4, 2022) – After researching best practices about facilitating students’ academic success, University Advisement at Baylor University has become Major Exploration and Success Advising, enabling the office to focus more intentionally on assisting students to explore majors that will best fit their interests, abilities and goals.

Major Exploration and Success Advising (MESA) is one of four offices within the Paul L. Foster Success Center, including Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE), Office of Access and Learning Accommodations (OALA) and Student Opportunity and Accessibility Resources (SOAR). One of 12 professional academic advising units at Baylor, MESA will remain a part of the advising community, offering services – such as schedule changes or registration planning – for students declared as Undecided.

As part of MESA’s focus on facilitating major exploration and academic success, advising responsibility for pre-majors is now with the advising units in the Colleges or Schools. Pre-majors include business, education, engineering, film and digital media, health science studies, medical humanities, neuroscience, nursing, psychology and social work.

“Major Exploration and Success Advising partners with students guiding them on their journey to find not only a major that is best suited for them but also to help discern God’s callings at this point in their life,” said Bob Shipp, Ph.D., director of MESA at Baylor. “Along with our fellow offices of the Paul L. Foster Success Center, we strive to provide success guidance for all students needing help to successfully finish their Baylor experience.”

MESA offers multiple, individual, scheduled and unscheduled meetings with an advisor, as well as an academic course for new and continuing exploratory students. They also host the Baylor Majors Fair each fall semester and provide exploration workshops for students needing a shorter, more focused session. In addition, MESA also works with students on progress reports, transitions between majors, assistance with registration and working with inactive students to return and finish their Baylor degree.

For more information, visit the Major Exploration and Success Advising website or email MESA@baylor.edu.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.