By Bryan Sullivan

Marie Ferraro holds the key to the future of 950 Buffalo State College students.

Ferraro coordinates the Academic Advisement Center located in South Wing 100. The center is in charge of required academic advisement for undeclared students.

"Our goal is to facilitate declaration of a major,” Ferraro said. “We also show students how to make educated, informed decisions.”

The first step in the process of finding a major involves filling out a changing major status checklist. On the form the student picks their top three choices as majors.

Another approach she believes in is the student actively visiting with interested academic departments. Ferraro encourages students not only to find interesting courses in the catalog, but to meet with department chairs.

“It is a process of decision-making, and a process of elimination,” Ferraro said. “Many students have a number of ideas as to which career or careers they want to get involved in and what type of degree would best fit those areas of interest.”

Jonathan Schall, a junior education major, went through undeclared academic advisement in the fall 2002 semester.

Schall took the 12-question academic advising quiz, which asks questions about General Education 2000 Requirements, the undergraduate catalog and when students can chose a major.

“I took the quiz and went through everything else,” Schall said. “They really helped me through the process.”

Ferraro believes undeclared academic advisement is closely related to regular advisement. She feels a different decision-making process goes into the undeclared academic process.

“Different approaches have to be used with that population of students,” Ferraro said. “I’ll ask that student like what do you for fun, what are your hobbies, what kinds of things interest you?”

The academic advisement center works with other parts of the Buffalo State College to help students find a major, such as the Academic Intervention and Management Program and Tutorial Support Center.

"These are pieces that are needed in terms of students being able to develop academically,” Ferraro said.

Ferraro added students not in a major struggle to find the sense of community that students in majors have.

“I look at undeclared students as being at risk,” Ferraro said. “Feeling connected is very important for students.”

Students who do not sign up for a major also could lose financial aid. According to the college’s Web site, a student must sign up for a major by the end of 57 credit hours to be eligible for Title IV and Tuition Assistance Program benefits.

The Academic Advisement Center is free for students and open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.