The University Advisement Center changed its name to the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center, which went into effect on April 1.
Manager of Academic Advisement Marlene Sanchez said the name change was appropriate to better describe the mission of the center.
EPAC serves undecided students, non-degree or pre-health sciences, interested in pursuing career paths, such as dental hygiene, emergency medical sciences and nursing, according to the website.
“We’re not just advisement for campus. Everybody has their isolated advisement center. I think when students and staff saw ‘University Advisement’ (they thought) we would provide advisement throughout the whole campus, and that’s just not the case,” Sanchez said.
She said the name change also reaches out to make undecided and non-traditional students feel included on campus.
“The exploratory and undecided students, I think, didn’t really feel like they had a place on campus in the past,” Sanchez said. “We want them to feel like they are a part of UNM, and we have a track for them.”
She said this might help “normalize” someone exploring their options and being undecided on their major, as there is a lot of pressure to choose a major when beginning a college career.
“We want them to be successful and feel comfortable when coming to advisement,” Sanchez said.
She said she also wanted to emphasize that students are aware they will receive the same services as before.
“We’re still the same advising center, just a new name,” Sanchez said.
Danielle Prokop is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. She can contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ProkopDani.
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