Perception of saudi college students on academic advising: A cross-sectional survey study.

BACKGROUND: Academic advising is a central and essential element in the process of education that can help students unravel their academic problems and succeed in their academic and professional careers OBJECTIVES: To seek students' perception about academic advising and solicit suggestions to improve academic advising in our institute. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the students' satisfaction regarding academic advising guidance and to ascertain whether students' perceptions of academic advising differ by their demographic characteristics and academic years. METHODS: A forty-item questionnaire was hand delivered to all the undergraduate (UG) students of College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research questions focused on demographic information, advising assistance and guidance, satisfaction, and suggestions to improve the effectiveness of the present academic advising system. Data analysis is presented through tables and descriptive methods. RESULTS: The samples consisted of 98 males and 43 females. Overall, the respondents were positive about academic advising services they received from their respective advisors. Female students felt more positive than male students for all the statements on academic advising (p < 0.05). Additionally, our results indicate that as students climb the academic ladder, their rating of academic advising tends to rise. Strengths and weaknesses of academic advising are discussed here together with suggestions for improvements. CONCLUSION: The results of this questionnaire survey demonstrate the vital factors pertaining to the institutional academic advising services provided to the students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]