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Freshman Johnathan Gomer regularly meets with Lynda Dioszegi, senior START adviser for the College of Business, to explore his interest in business.

Freshman Johnathan Gomer knew he was interested in business. He likes the risks and rewards associated with the field and the networking aspect.

But, beyond that, he didn’t know where to go next.

So he stopped into the START office.

“When I first came here, I was undecided on what I wanted to do. But I knew I needed to talk to someone,” he said. “I’m so happy that the people in this office were so nice. They are the type of people who let you call them by their first names—that’s a special kind of person.”

Recently sitting with Lynda Dioszegi, senior START adviser for the College of Business, Gomer talked about how his calculus grade was up—thanks to her advice to go to the Math Center. He was joining a campus business fraternity—after she encouraged him to check out organizations related to his interests. And Gomer was looking to her to assist with planning his classes for the winter semester.

“I am still looking at my options for my major," Gomer said. "But I feel like I’m making the right choices to learn more about what’s out there. It’s a good feeling.”

The START office opened this fall to help students identify a path to graduation, provide the tools and knowledge to amend and change this plan, and ultimately give the confidence and skills to take ownership over course selection. Advisers assist freshmen and transfer students in getting acclimated to campus in all ways beginning at orientation—from academic advice to getting connected to the right people on campus for their needs to just knowing there is a place for them to stop and ask anything.

Director Andy Beverly said advisers from each campus college work in the office. That way, a student who comes in undecided has a chance to ask questions and get answers about different majors in one location.

After an academic year—or more, depending on facts like the person’s academic performance and certainty of major—students will transition to their chosen college’s academic advisers.

“Our job is to get students connected to resources when they first get here. Research shows time and time again that the more engaged you are with your campus, the better your academic experience,” Beverly said. “We’ll suggest faculty members that share similar interests, talk to students about internships and co-ops they might want to seek out in the future, and tell them about organizations they may want to join based on what they enjoy."

In addition to the college-focused counseling being beneficial, Gomer said he likes how comfortable he is in the office when he walks in.

“No one wants to look like they aren’t put together. I think that’s why we don’t normally ask the questions we want to. The advisers at START don’t expect you to have the answers. They get that we’re new here,” he said. “You can ask them anything. Believe me, I have.”

And that’s the environment START will continue to foster.

“Students benefit by having a place they know they can come to and get connected to the right resources,” Beverly said. “We want to reassure them that they made the right choice by coming to 51��Ƶ-Dearborn.”

To encourage students, faculty and staff to visit the space, START will host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13. Light refreshments will be served.