CCAS celebrates decade of service

The Cross-College Advising Service (CCAS) will celebrate a decade of service to the UW–Madison community with a Thursday, March 31 carnival and advising fair open to students, faculty and staff.

Free events, including carnival games, food and samples of a CCAS flavor of Babcock ice cream, will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Room 10 corridor of Ingraham Hall.

Babcock Dairy created Cherry Chocolate Almond Swirl (CCAS) in honor of the anniversary. The ice cream will also be available at Memorial Union during the week of March 28.

“We’re hoping students will come down to become familiar with our services, or reacquainted with us if they haven’t been by in a while,” says CCAS director Timothy Walsh. “We’d also like to invite everyone we’ve worked with over the years in order to say thank you for their contributions.”

CCAS first opened its doors in September 1994 in order to better serve undergraduates who are undecided on a major. Before that time, there was no advising office or resource dedicated to serving the undecided student population, Walsh says.

“In retrospect, it really was a milestone that ended up being a big success,” he says, noting that the service also broke new ground by integrating academic and career advising for undecided students and opening the Exploration Center for Majors & Careers.

About one-third of incoming students at UW–Madison are undecided on a major. Over a typical year, CCAS has 15,000 in-person contacts with students through walk-in advising, individual appointments and group advising sessions.

“Our philosophy is to help students learn who they are, along with their areas of strength and skill,” says CCAS advisor Emily Dickman. “We want them to be aware of how many majors are out there, and which ones might connect with their interests. With that information, they’re empowered to make good decisions.”

Over the past ten years, CCAS has had many notable accomplishments, including the establishment of advising programs for satellite offices in Chadbourne, Sellery and Witte residence halls and the Bradley Learning Community. The partnership with University Housing is an example of collaboration between offices with diverse missions, but common goals, Walsh says.

Among its other accomplishments, CCAS has established and trained a large student peer advisor staff to help serve students at Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) and in residence halls.

For more information visit the CCAS Web site or call (608) 265-5460.