Academic Advising

Oakes' 1300 active undergraduates are supported by two professional advisers, called academic preceptors, and by the advising and records coordinator.  The three members of this team, Cher Bergeon, Elaine Kihara, and Patti Traugott, see their work as helping each Oakes student to find their own unique path to academic success, personal fulfillment, and service to others.

To our prospective students we say: From your first days at Oakes through the moment we celebrate graduation with you and your family, we will strive to empower you on this journey.  Beginning with orientation, we will introduce you to a wealth of resources and opportunities at UCSC, help you clarify and articulate your own aspirations, match the campus's resources to your needs, and help you understand how to fashion a sound academic plan to meet your own goals. 

We help Oakes students:

• choose appropriate classes
• understand enrollment and registration processes
• develop the judgment necessary to balance difficult course loads
• understand how to satisfy general education and university requirements,
• compare alternate majors and minors
• integrate multiple interests into a comprehensive plan
• enrich their education with special programs such as the Education Abroad Program and field study programs
• develop strong study skills
• improve their academic standing
• begin preparation for a career, graduate study, and professional schools
• get connected with learning support resources
• lay the ground work for honors and awards
• take charge of their own education

Cher and Elaine hold individual advising appointments throughout the academic year. Cher is your contact for the Science Learning Community; Elaine is the contact for the Oakes Mentor Program.

Patti manages student records for all Oakes undergraduates and is often available on a drop-in basis to help students solve problems related to their academic records.  She makes sure that all Oakes students are informed of academic deadlines and special events through the Oakes Advising Newsletter sent to student e-mail addresses and available online, and she makes sure students are kept apprised of their academic standing. 

The advising team is also supported by Marie Morones, the Oakes College Assistant.  Marie answers general questions about the college and campus, manages the Oakes front desk, schedules advising appointments for the academic preceptors, coordinates the distribution of registration materials including registration stickers for student ID cards, and handles the Oakes student mailroom. 

Provost Pedro Castillo rounds out advising support services for Oakes students.  He serves as a representative of the faculty Academic Senate in providing counsel to students with special problems and presenting college-based scholarships, honors and awards. s