The study students Veiws about faculty academic Advising and consulting duties in k erman university of medical sciences in second semester in 2006

Background & Objective : Consultation is an effective factor in solving students’ problems. Providing insufficient guidance and consultation may prevent achieving educational goals. This study was conducted to evaluate students’ points of view about faculty members’ performance in providing consultation and educational guidance, Kerman University of Medical Sciences . Methods: In this cross-sectional study, senior students of all fields in 6 schools of Kerman University of Medical Sciences (490 members) were asked to fill in a researcher-made questionnaire which its validity and reliability were already confirmed. Results : According to the students’ point of view, among maximum score of 4, the highest mean score belonged to “signing and controlling course selection and other forms” (3.47). This was followed by “presence of the consultant professor in announced hours” (3.19) and “speaking with students about educational rules” (3.15). The least scores were given to “analysis of educational slump”, “encouraging students to correct educational pitfalls”, and “analysis of educational improvement” (2.3, 2.35, and 2.4 accordingly). Only 20.7% of the students completely knew in what fields and how to get help from their consultant professor. 23.4 percent believed that lack of enough consultation led to their educational problems while 24.3% were not satisfied with consultation at all . Conclusion : Our findings showed that students and faculty members are not familiar with consultant professors’ duties and consultation. Probably, consultant professors don’t do their duties appropriately. To improve the quality of consultation and guidance, it is necessary to consider consultation as a scientific entity which needs education and a scientifically competent responsible . Keywords: Student, University of medical sciences, Educational consultation and guidance, Faculty members, Duty