UPA BK Facilitates Consultation Services for Students Through Simari Integration
Banjarmasin – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) has an Academic Guidance and Counseling Support Unit (UPA BK). The UPA Guidance and Counseling is responsible for presenting programs that can provide consultation services for students, both to develop academic potential and to help students overcome personal problems.
To support the implementation and effectiveness of its programs, UPA BK integrates their services into the SIMARI application (Integrated Lambung Mangkurat University Information System). The existence of the UPA BK service in the SIMARI application aims to make it easier for students to access these services.
At the moment of this new academic year, UPA BK held a Socialization of the Introduction to Guidance and Counseling Services at SIMARI at the Student Activity Center 1 (SAC 1) General building ULM. The socialization was held on Thursday (12/9/2024) and was aimed at new ULM students. This activity was attended by the Head of UPA BK Dr. Ririanti Rachmayanie J., S.Psi, M.Pd, and the entire UPA BK team consisting of lecturers in the ULM environment.
In addition to aiming to introduce UPA BK services in the SIMARI application, the socialization was also carried out because UPA BK realized that new students often experience difficulties. Generally, these difficulties are in terms of adjusting to the new academic, social, and cultural environment in lectures or residence (for those who are away from home). The existence of counseling services from UPA BK aims to help them overcome anxiety, uncertainty, and stress that arise during the transition period.
Guidance and Counseling is a service provided by a counselor to help individuals, both in educational environments, work, and personal life, so that they can develop optimally and overcome the problems they face. Guidance and counseling focuses on personal, social, academic, and career development.
Guidance and Counseling are often found in schools. Not only in schools, Academic Support Units can also be found in Universities. Guidance and counseling play a very important role in supporting students’ academic success in higher education.
Through this socialization, UPA BK hopes that new students can make maximum use of the SIMARI application. UPA BK also presents UPA ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to provide a technical introduction to filling in Guidance and Counseling services on SIMARI
Through its programs, the ULM Guidance and Counseling Academic Support Unit helps students explore their interests and talents, helps them build effective study plans, and provides emotional support during the learning process. This is expected to support the mental and emotional well-being of students which will later have an impact on improving their academic achievement.
In addition to counseling services in the SIMARI application, the Head of UPA BK ULM also said that at the study program level there are advisory lecturers who have a direct BK role for students.
“One of the forms of BK’s role in Higher Education is through the role of academic advisors (DPA), they are advisors during their studies at ULM,” said the Head of UPA BK ULM.
He advised new students to consult their DPA when they encounter problems, especially related to adjusting to a new environment.
“Especially for new students who need adjustments to adapt,” she added.
