On this past Tuesday, ASI held their second “Taco ‘Bout It” out of three for the semester. Students had the chance to sit down with ASI and faculty to talk about their wants and needs, all while eating tacos. 
This particular event talked about concerns regarding academic advising on campus. This was an opportunity for students to ask questions to the panelists that specialize in academic advising.
The panel was composed of four members of faculty: Tammy Giannini, the lead adviser at the Academic Services Center; Dr. Fuji Collins, the Associate Vice President for Student Success; Dr. Betsy Eudey, Director of  Gender Studies and Mi’shaye Venerable, ASI board of Director for Diversity and ASI Secretary. 
The evening started off   with the panelists answering questions regarding advising. The panelists were not shy in saying where things needed to be better. 
Giannini spoke on how inconsistency is something advising needs to work on. “We have a lot of advising that happens so its hard for us to be all doing the same thing and then be on the same page,” Giannini said. 
Eudey started off listing some of the improvements of academic advising. Mentioning more clarity for students for what you need to do to achieve the requirements for your major, new policies in place that require mandatory advising for undeclared students, which is something that didn’t exit seven years ago. 
Not having enough staff is something that continues to be a weakness within academic advising. Eudey said, “Our student population has grown faster Than our faculty has.” 
Collins said that he feels some students might be in the dark when it comes to advising. “We need to ensure that all students get the same kinds of advising across the board,”Collins said. 
Coming from a student herself, Venerable said, “I think it would be beneficial for students to have mandatory academic advising” so students won’t be delayed to graduate. 
If a students wants to be advised even if not mandatory there are opportunities with staff and faculty to get advised.
 “Even though we don’t have mandatory advising for all our majors here, there aren’t any majors where advisees are turned away,”Eudey said.  
Alessandra Ramirez (Senior, Psychology) was here because she wanted to  see what plans there were for future advising and what was going to improve. Psychology is one of those improvements she is hoping for. 
“Psychology doesn’t really have specific advisors for students, its kind of general. Whoever walks in, you get whoever is there.” Ramirez said. 
 Manuel Carrillo (Freshman, Biology) attended the event because he was curious. “I just want to know more about Stanislaus and what is available” Carrillo said. 
Maria Marquez (ASI President, Communication Studies) said the event was a great turn out. They had a house full, meaning students were able to talk and ask questions. 
The purpose of the Taco Bout It series is  for students to have the chance to ask questions. ASI is there to listen and take it back to the board to see how they could continue advocating those issues for students that come to Stan State. 
“We want to hear what students are saying.” Marquez said. 
The next ASI Taco Bout It event will be held Tuesday, November 20th and will be on the concerns of campus parking.