When Iowa State University moved to online instruction in March, it didn’t just impact course delivery. The transition also disrupted academic advising during the busy fall registration period. Academic advisers and the relationships they build with their student advisees are an important part of the undergraduate experience at Iowa State University. To help keep their advisees up to date on the rapidly evolving changes in academic policies and procedures and to provide a central source for accurate and updated information, the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) advising team created a Canvas-based “information hub” for undergraduate students in the ABE department.
The Canvas site, which was sent to all ABE undergraduate students, organizes the vast amount of information available to students. The site also provides a way to reach students quickly without having to exchange emails, a prime consideration for both advisers and students during the busy course registration period.
In addition to providing updated information on Iowa State and college-specific COVID-19 decisions, the site includes resources on academic policy changes, relevant dates and deadlines, online learning tips, and more. As of April 7, more than 600 students had accepted the invitation to join the Canvas site, and students continue to join the group.