Many UM students say Cane Navigators have made it difficult to access the credits and information they need to graduate, citing limited availability, insufficient guidance and delayed responses.
Academic advising underwent a structural change in 2024 following widespread complaints. Since then, advisors were renamed “Cane Navigators” and are assigned to students based on their primary major. Cane Navigators are meant to help students choose classes, create a four-year plan, meet major requirements and support personal development.
“In response to student feedback, the University of Miami established the Center for Academic Navigation & Success in 2024 to expand access to consistent, relationship-based academic guidance,” said the University in a statement to The Hurricane.
But two years after the program’s reforms, students report the same issues.
Notably, the department is frequently criticized for suggesting courses inaccurately. Choosing the right courses is crucial to meeting prerequisites, graduating on time and possibly even planning for study abroad.
Apart from these criticisms, some students say they were given inaccurate information about course load and required courses.
One sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences who wishes to remain unnamed said she has had two advisors and struggled to get accurate information credit requirements. The Hurricane verified emails between the student and her Cane Navigator.
“[My first advisor] told me that I would need 18 credit semesters as a freshman to graduate on time after changing my major to economics from health sciences. Then, she withdrew from the University,” the sophomore said. “I now have a new advisor and was told I only need about 12 credits per semester due to my transferred coursework through dual enrollment to graduate Spring of 2029.”
A senior studying political science also struggled to get a clear answer about which graduation requirements she had met.
“This final semester, she told me that the ‘system’ missed the fact that I was supposed to take another 500-level seminar course. After stating that I had taken several so far and that I was going to work this semester, so this would not be ideal, she said there was nothing she could do about it and that it was essentially my fault for not meeting with her last semester,” the senior said. “Which I find hard to believe because last fall she told me I was done with my major requirements and I only needed electives.”
The Hurricane verified emails of this student’s interaction with her advisor. In the emails, the advisor said the Degree Progress Report showed the student’s “Writing & Communication Proficiency” requirement as complete, but in reality it was not satisfied.
When the student questioned this, the advisor stated that, because the DPR did not “flag” it in the system, she missed the error during their last meeting.
“The center recognizes that receiving conflicting or inaccurate information about academic requirements can be deeply concerning, particularly when a student’s expected graduation may be affected,” said the University.
According to UM’s website, the ratio between Cane Navigators and students is 250:1. Managing 250 students at once could explain limited availability, inconsistent answers and the lack of communication.
“Before [2024], some academic advisors supported as many as 400 students. By investing in 18 new Cane Navigator positions, the University is now on track to maintain caseloads of close to 250 students, so navigators can provide more individualized guidance and sustained support throughout a student’s undergraduate experience,” the University said in its statement. “This ratio is also consistent with a recommendation of the Boyer 2030 Commission.”
Along these lines, a sophomore in the Business School who wishes to remain unnamed said the lack of clarity in their advisor’s responses has led to numerous follow-up emails.
“Sometimes when I go in for specific questions or specific issues that I’m dealing with, a lot of times I get vague answers that don’t quite answer what I want and it leaves me kind of feeling very lost and confused,” said the sophomore.
But not every student has a negative experience with their Cane Navigator. Arthur Frayzond, a senior studying finance and business analytics, shared that he has had an overwhelmingly positive experience.
“My experience with my advisor has been a very strong and beneficial relationship. I’ve had the same advisor since the first day of class, and have found her to be very well informed about courses and requirements for my program,” Frayzond said. “I would say the CaneLink resources or an email to the advisor are more immediately accessible than an in-person meeting, but I have met with my advisor every semester.”
A senior studying computer science said he has had a mixed experience with Cane Navigators. The majority of his frustration, much like that of other students, comes from receiving inaccurate information or having his questions rerouted to multiple people before getting an answer.
“I feel that I am on track to graduate on time, mostly due to my own research for the required courses for my major. My advisors have played a very small role in this,” said the unnamed senior.
But sometimes researching your degree plan isn’t enough. During a recent advising meeting, the same senior was told he needed to add a minor to graduate.
“I responded that I had never been told this before and was not sure if this was true given my situation,” he said. “Later in the day, she called me back and told me that she was wrong and that I did not need to add another minor.”
The University highlighted that academic advising falls on both the student and the Navigator.
“Academic advising is a partnership between the student and the Cane Navigator, each with responsibilities to track degree requirements, and to understand University policies and curriculum,” the University said.
As UM continues to adjust to its advising system, students’ experiences remain mixed. For some, Cane Navigators provide needed support, while others say they are still left searching for answers about their path to graduation.