If colleges across UT could make it easier for students and advisers to schedule advising appointments, why wouldn’t they?

The STAR system is an online program that allows students in the Moody College of Communication to easily make appointments with advisers. The STAR website lets students see when their advisers are available, and students can then choose an appointment time that fits into their own schedule. Students can make an appointment in just minutes.   

Lauren Brown, the project manager for STAR, said this system was designed for students and advisers to easily and conveniently make appointments that fit their busy schedules.

However, not all students have access to this system. No other UT college uses STAR. Of the resources available to non-Moody students, nothing compares to the standard set by STAR. In fact, multiple colleges offer nothing but a phone number or email, including the College of Liberal Arts and College of Education.

Other colleges within the University should adopt the STAR system in order to ensure students in their respective colleges have easy access to advising appointments.

Jeffrey Marsh, senior administrative program coordinator for Moody, said he was impressed by the STAR system when he transferred to Moody. Marsh, who is a former academic adviser for the government department, said he previously had to schedule most advising appointments through phone calls or emails, which could be time consuming and overwhelming during busy times. 

“This system just keeps it really clean and makes it easier for both advisers and students to manage that scheduling process,” Marsh said. “It amazes me that other offices have not utilized this.”

Brown said he thinks other schools have not adopted this system on account of challenges with the programming language because STAR was designed within the Moody school and specifically fits Moody’s business rules. However, Brown said workers in other colleges have expressed interest in learning about the STAR system.

“We’re almost always questioned about this system,” Brown said. “We have done demos over the years for other advising offices.”

Kathleen Mabley, the director of marketing and communication for Moody, said the STAR system aims to make students’ lives easier and more efficient.

“Moody has a very student-versed focus and always wants to ensure that our student experience is a positive one,” Mabley said. “(STAR) is just an extension of that.”

The STAR system simply makes scheduling appointments easier for both students and advisers. Especially during busy times, such as registration, this technology would be beneficial in making the lives of students and advisers more efficient. This system should be placed into colleges outside of the Moody school.

Corwin is a journalism sophomore from Long Island, New York.