About the Program
Pathway Advising at UWM provides a supportive starting point for new freshmen who are undecided about their major or who need extra guidance before moving into their chosen field of study. Through six exploratory pathways, known as “metamajors,” students can discover and compare multiple majors that share a common academic theme. Each pathway includes coursework that counts toward any UWM undergraduate degree and helps students transition into one of UWM’s Schools and Colleges by the end of their first year.
Academic advisors in Pathway Advising have a smaller case load of students which enables them to offer intensive advising and to monitor progress in regular meetings with each student throughout the semester. We partner with academic areas, including the Educational Psychology and Curriculum & Instruction in UWM’s School of Education, to offer our students courses that build academic skills or help students make informed decisions about their major and/or future career.
Core Values
The advisors and staff in Pathway Advising share the Core Values of the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management & Student Success division in our support of students and the greater Milwaukee community.
Mission
As a temporary home for new freshman students who are undecided about their college major or who are determined through the admission process to need additional support before transitioning into their chosen major, UWM’s Pathway Advising will assist students in academic exploration and decision-making, leading to a permanent affiliation with one of UWM’s Schools and Colleges by the end of the student’s first year. Students in Pathway Advising are empowered and encouraged to form advising relationships, collaborate with faculty and instructional staff, and utilize support services.
Services for Undecided Students:
Undecided students will benefit from Pathway advisors’ expertise in helping students explore the breadth of UWM’s 90+ Bachelor’s Degree-granting majors. We work with students to choose a pathway that fits their interests and career goals, and support students through their initial semesters of work to assure that the classes they take will satisfy requirements of whatever major they ultimately select.
Services for Students Preparing for a Chosen Major:
UWM’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions places students into Pathway Advising when their application materials suggest they would benefit from additional support in their initial semesters before transitioning into their chosen major. As these students aren’t yet aligned with their major, we utilize our pathway curriculum to assure that the student is taking coursework to satisfy requirements of the program they intend to complete even before acceptance into their permanent School or College. Advising for these students focuses on building academic skills and developing a network of coordinated care on campus.
Vision
Pathway Advising aims to be the preferred route of entry into academic majors at UW-Milwaukee. By tracking student outcomes and continual assessment of our services, and through close collaboration with other student service providers and academic areas, we will provide the expertise and support that helps student successfully navigate their way to a chosen major and, ultimately, a college degree. We intend to demonstrate that students do better in their School/College major when they begin college in Pathway Advising.
History
Pathway Advising is the newest iteration of UWM programming that dates back to 1968, and constitutes a key component of the University’s mission of open access.
The Experimental Program in Higher Education (EPHE) began in 1968 as means to attract, admit, and retain students who had traditionally been underrepresented in higher education. The program has held many names and iterations since then, including a long tenure as the Academic Opportunity Center (AOC) and as the Office of Central Advising (OCA). Over that time, the program’s mission has broadened to serve undecided students and those whose previous academic preparation may not have prepared them for college.