Wilson takes reins of academic advising
Shanny Wilson, newly appointed director of academic advising, is excited as she takes another step forward in her career at the College of Eastern Utah.
Wilson has been employed at CEU for the past seven years. Starting her career at CEU in the high school relations office as a recruiter, she later became the museum shop manager before starting in the advising office. For the past five years she has worked as an academic adviser under the direction of her predecessor, Darlene Severeid, and was recently promoted to assistant director of academic advising.
Shanny Wilson, newly appointed director of academic advising, is excited as she takes another step forward in her career at the College of Eastern Utah.
Wilson has been employed at CEU for the past seven years. Starting her career at CEU in the high school relations office as a recruiter, she later became the museum shop manager before starting in the advising office. For the past five years she has worked as an academic adviser under the direction of her predecessor, Darlene Severeid, and was recently promoted to assistant director of academic advising.
Wilson’s roots at CEU run deeper still; she is an alumna of the class of 1995. Following her time at Eastern Utah, Wilson attended Southern Utah University, followed by Utah State University, where she graduated with a bachelors of science degree in communication with emphases in public relations and journalism.
Currently, Wilson is facing her new responsibilities with excitement. “The transition from one office to another … [will] be a continual process. We’ve got orientations coming up with hundreds of students that we are going to see to register. We’ve got some traveling coming up, just getting someone in and trained, and ready, because as soon as I do we’re going to be hitting the road and it’s going to be crunch time,” Wilson said. “As far as everything else, I am so familiar with what I do, and the process, and what the director position entails. I’m just more excited than anything.”
Wilson invites students to attend Eastern Utah for a variety of reasons including the area, class sizes, a talented faculty, and the fact that students leave with a degree. “Many potential students don’t realize we are right in the middle of desert land; a lot of fascinating places to visit and see. For example Nine-Mile Canyon and the [San Rafael] Swell.” Wilson continues, “Tuition, of course, is a huge factor … class size, the chances of students getting in and getting help at CEU as opposed to larger institutions where students are a name and a number. Here they have a much better chance of getting in and getting the help they need from their instructors.”
Wilson feels CEU has helped on her path to success. “If I had started off at a four year, I probably wouldn’t have made it. Just the attention students receive. We cater to the needs of one and two-year students. That’s why we are here. Plus you walk away with a degree [in two years], which is something you wouldn’t get at a four-year school.”
Wilson advises students to seek either herself or other academic advisors guidance as registration continues for the Spring 2006 semester. “I would highly recommend that all students sit down with their academic advisor, whether it is a departmental advisor, or come in and see me, realizing I have students waiting on a regular basis. Unfortunately, average wait time may be 10 to 15 minutes.” Wilson continues, ” … just to make sure students are taking the right courses, because students miss the fact that they do need an OCI, or another humanities needs to be taken.” Wilson is especially concerned for students registering on the Web, and advises students to schedule an appointment with an advisor now, or early on during next semester, especially students planning to graduate next semester.
Wilson’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If an appointment is desired, she can be reached at (435) 613-5623, or by e-mail at [email protected].
