Comparative Analysis of Qualitative Academic Advising at the University of Ghana and Ohio University

Students around the globe face challenges during their academic journey which jeopardize their academic, personal, as well as professional success. Some of these challenges may include wrong course registration, parental problems, financial breakdown, career misinformation and lots more. This has necessitated the establishment of academic advising in higher education institutions. In this study, comparative analysis on the influence of academic advising and the best method of its effective handling was conducted between students in University of Ghana and Ohio University. Semi-structured interviews were adopted to dig deep into participants’ lives and gather in-depth information about academic advising. The interview schedule was strictly followed, and each interview lasted for 20-30 minutes. The research occurred at the University of Ghana and Ohio University and occurred between July 2023 and September 2023. In analyzing the centrality of student advising comparatively, this study uses Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement and Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure. The study revealed that academic advising existed at the University of Ghana and Ohio University, but the extent and effectiveness of practice varies between the two. Ohio University has a structured advising system unlike the University of Ghana. Also, it was revealed that advisors at the University of Ghana were faculty members and staff of the career center while there were professional advisors at Ohio University who were basically employed to handle student affairs. I concluded that universities should have a centralized office for student advising while each department should establish a committee accessible to all students and that would be responsible for assisting and guiding students throughout their academic journey at the university. Also, the university should also make it mandatory for students to attend advising sessions and more staff members at the Counseling and Career Center should be employed and adequately trained. Nonetheless, the advisor-to-student ratio should be maintained to ensure advisors are not overwhelmed by the number of students they have to advise. In conclusion, majority of the participants asserted that academic advising was beneficial to their academic, professional, and personal lives.