One of the biggest strengths of Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is our commitment to the success of every individual. Recognizing that engineering and computer science are rigorous courses of study, the college offers several programs focused on addressing the needs of students both inside and outside of the classroom.

In our model, all undergraduates are assigned a student success advisor, a career advisor and a faculty advisor.  This team of advisors works collaboratively to support and mentor students throughout their undergraduate career. Each students’ advising team and their contact information is listed on Orange Success under “My Success Network.”

Each advisor coaches students on a different building block of success:

• Faculty advisors ensure that students understand their discipline and curriculum, assist with course selection, support degree progress, and provide professional development and career advice.
• Student success advisors focus on the students’ academic success through ongoing outreach, supporting their transition to college, connecting them with resources, and monitoring their progress through Orange Success, our campus-wide advising tool.
• Career advisors counsel and train students to develop and assess their career skills, ensure job readiness, help them secure internships and jobs, and serve as a liaison to faculty and employers on students’ behalf.

Student engagement is a vital aspect of the undergraduate experience. The Route 44 Engagement initiative promotes student engagement in ECS through workshops, social events and leadership opportunities.

Through Route 44, students engage with the ECS and Syracuse University community through advising meetings, participation in a variety of activities, and reaching milestones. Periodically, prize drawings are held for top point earners. A year-end event celebrates student engagement and the winners of Route 44.

Route 44 – Your Roadmap to Success!  “Destination = Graduation”

 How to earn personal points (contributes annually to team points):

• Engagement in opportunities to enhance your personal and academic success will result in points earned for the individual and their team
• Additional “bonus” points will be offered throughout the year
• Any activity found on the University Events calendar or shared via the weekly ECS newsletter can be counted for Route 44, as long as it fits one of the engagement categories (below) and students submit the Route 44 survey

Engagement Categories:

• Education/Academic Success: any activity that provides skills or strategies to help you be a successful student in the classroom.
• Social/Community: any activity that promotes making friends and connections that you can be yourself with and that add value to your life and the community; especially those that help you develop a deeper understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
• Personal Wellness: any activity that promotes your physical or emotional wellness.
• Networking: any activity that provides skills or strategies to help you work toward your post-graduation goals/plans through professional connections (*ECS Explorers series required for ECS 101 does not count for this).

Annual Milestones:

Year 1 Milestones:

• Meet with your success advisor at least twice/semester
• Meet with your career advisor
• Declare your major & introduce yourself to at least one faculty member in your department
• Participate in at least 1 activity from each engagement category and submit your Route 44 survey

Year 2 Milestones:

• Meet with your success advisor once/semester
• Meet with your career advisor
• Secure a summer professional development opportunity (research, internship) and inform your career advisor via the accepted Summer Experience Survey in Handshake
• Participate in at least 1 activity from each engagement category and submit your Route 44 survey

Year 3 Milestones:

• Meet with your career advisor
• Hold a leadership role (student organization, SSC peer leader, resident advisor, orientation leader, etc.)
• Secure a summer professional development opportunity (research, internship) and inform your career advisor via the accepted Summer Experience Survey in Handshake
• Participate in at least 1 activity from each engagement category and submit your Route 44 survey

Year 4 Milestones:

• Meet with your career advisor once/semester
• Secure a post-graduation opportunity (full-time job, graduate school) and inform your career advisor via the First Destination Survey in Handshake
• “Pay It Forward” (i.e., serve as an SSC peer leader, assist with career services events, etc.)
•  Participate in at least 1 activity from each engagement category and submit your Route 44 survey