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Returning undergraduates will be greeted by a new face in the School of Engineering in the person of A. Brian Schwarz, who has joined the School as Director of Advising. Brian started work in early August and brings seven years’ experience in student advising and counseling at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

Marty Wood, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, eagerly welcomed Brian to the School. “Brian brings insight, expansive skills and experience in engineering advising, and a holistic approach to the duties of his job. We are extremely pleased to have a person of Brian’s caliber on our team.” Brian was preceded in his position by Dr. David Jordan, emeritus professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, who was Director of Advising for seven 7 years.

Over 1,700 undergraduate students are enrolled in the School’s 12 B.S. degree programs, and planning an appropriate course trajectory for four academic years can be challenging for even the most conscientious student. A skilled advisor helps students minimize curricular errors, plot out the optimal mix and sequencing of courses for graduation, and tackle academic and career challenges.

Brian earned a B.A. in psychology at Temple University, Philadelphia, and an M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA. Following graduation, he worked nearly two years as a graduate assistant in the Career Opportunity Center and MBA admissions office of the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. He joined the University of Massachusetts in 1999 as the Assistant Director for Field Experience with the university’s Campus Career Network. In 2000, he joined the College of Engineering, where he served as Director of Recruitment and Transfer Affairs, advising thousands of students on academic issues, degree requirements, course scheduling and the like; coordinating summer orientation programs; monitoring student performance and handling disciplinary issues; and educating faculty concerning retention, advising, curriculum, and other student issues. In 2006, Brian became Director of the college’s newly created Career and Student Development Center, which served more than 1,200 undergraduate and 400 graduate engineering students.

In dealing with students, Brian said, he maintains an open door policy that extends beyond advising them solely on academic issues. “I am a student-centered counselor. I’m someone the undergraduates can talk with about not only academic issues, but also personal challenges and even the weather. I will get to know each student and become the “go to” person helping them achieve their academic goals.”

As Director of Engineering Advising, Brian will perform a wide range of duties. With oversight from Assistant Dean Wood, Brian will advise students:

In addition, he will audit student records to determine eligibility to graduate; assist with recruiting, registration, orientation and other initiatives; meet with parents to discuss academic policies and their child’s performance, as needed; and maintain a host of informative statistics, including enrollment, admissions, dismissals, registrations, degree program changes and similar matters.

Brian seeks to achieve a number of objectives. He hopes to formalize and strengthen the existing support network for undergraduate advising, and to automate the plans of study. Brian also plans to provide more extensive training to departmental faculty advisors and to encourage greater advocacy for the undergraduate resource centers. Another goal is to create an electronic advising tool that will allow faculty advisors to accurately capture and merge major course requirements, course history and performance data, and other relevant information for each student. Besides streamlining the process, such an advising tool would largely eliminate the subjective interpretations of individual advisors and create seamless advising that is person independent.

Brian’s decision to transfer from the University of Massachusetts to Storrs was greeted with widespread dismay among UMass engineering undergraduates, many of whom wrote Brian to express thanks for his help over the years. Their comments demonstrate the influence an effective advisor can have on undergraduates. “You were the first person I met when I transferred to the university and you made my transition to a big school much easier than it would've been without your help. I truly appreciate all the help you've given me over the years,” said one. Another wrote: “I just wanted to wish you the best of luck at UConn. I also wanted to let you know how much your help has meant to me over the past two years. Without you, I probably would have dropped engineering long ago, but with your guidance and support I have persevered and am now more dedicated than ever in pursuing my degree.”