Student Satisfaction with Academic Advising in a Hospitality Management Program

Abstract

The academic advising program in a hospitality management program was studied to determine which type of advising system—faculty-based or professional advisor-based—was perceived by students to have the greater positive interpersonal contact, and the greatest incidence of student use and satisfaction with the advising received. Student characteristics, gender, grade point average and frequency of advisor change were also studied.

Students assigned professional advisors rated their advisors as possessing more advisor attributes and reported greater use and satisfaction with their advisors than students assigned faculty advisors.

Male students assigned professional advisors rated their advisor higher as to possessing interpersonal attributes and were more likely be satisfied with their advisor than male students assigned faculty advisors.

The relationship between the student characteristics, grade point average and frequency of change of advisor found mixed patterns of use, satisfaction with advising and ratings of the assigned advisor as to advisor attributes. Findings were interpreted in terms of the literature and recommendations for future research made.