Campus News
Launch of Undergraduate Advising Transformation Workgroup
The group will take a close look at how advising is structured and coordinated, identify what’s working well, and explore how new tools, structures, and processes can make the system clearer and more connected for students and advisors alike.
Dear Campus Community,
Academic advising is central to the UC Santa Cruz student experience, helping students explore their interests, connect with resources, and chart meaningful academic paths. To strengthen and better coordinate that work, we are launching a campuswide Undergraduate Academic Advising Transformation Workgroup to review how advising is organized and delivered across the campus, focusing on how advising can most effectively serve students across their academic journey.
The workgroup will be co-chaired by Yunny Yip, assistant vice provost for undergraduate advising and success in the Division of Undergraduate Education, and Carrie Häber, assistant dean for academic planning and chief of staff in the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences. It will include representatives from across campus, including faculty, college and departmental advisors, and academic and administrative leaders.
A key focus of this effort is improving student retention and time-to-degree. Strengthening advising continuity and connection across a student’s academic path helps remove barriers to progress, supports timely completion, and ensures that every student can thrive within their chosen field of study.
Together, the group will take a close look at how advising is structured and coordinated, identify what’s working well, and explore how new tools, structures, and processes can make the system clearer and more connected for students and advisors alike. This work builds on the findings and recommendations of the 2024–25 Undergraduate Academic Advising Council Annual Report.
The workgroup will begin its efforts this month and subsequently will launch subcommittees focused on key themes: student experience and continuity, advising roles and capacity, fostering students’ sense of belonging within their disciplines, and structure and sustainability. From January through March 2026, students, staff, and faculty will be invited to share input through listening sessions, surveys, and open forums. Final recommendations, guided by campus feedback and shared understanding, are expected by May 2026, and will be evaluated jointly by us to determine actions for implementation as early as Fall 2026.
A project website has been created to share details about the workgroup’s membership, charge, and timeline, along with opportunities to participate in the consultation process.
Our advising community has long shown exceptional commitment to supporting students, and this work will build on that strong foundation. I look forward to the ideas and insights that emerge from this process and to continuing our shared work advancing the undergraduate experience at UC Santa Cruz.
Sincerely,
Paul and Richard
Paul Koch
Interim Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Richard Hughey
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education & Global Engagement