Many students meet with their academic advisor only once per semester and rarely make use of their professors’ office hours.

This October, the Student Government Association hopes to change that by launching an Academic Scavenger Hunt to promote helpful academic assets on campus that are free to students, as well as help students build relationships with their advisors.

“We are encouraging students to become aware of the resources that their tuition already pays for, as well as use the advice of their academic advisors,” SGA executive press secretary Meagan Bryant said.

The Academic Scavenger Hunt includes prizes such as a 16GB iPad, Ray-Ban sunglasses and $500 and $1,000 scholarships donated by the SGA.

“The scavenger hunt seemed like a great idea because we could incorporate different parts of campus such as DegreeWorks, academic advising, teachers’ office hours and the writing center,” Denzel Evans-Bell, SGA vice president for Academic Affairs, said.

To complete the passport supplied by the SGA for the Academic Scavenger Hunt, students need two signatures from their teachers after meeting with them during office hours, followed by an appointment with an advisor to receive the third signature.

Students must then visit an academic resource center, such as the writing center, for their fourth signature. Lastly, students must complete their DegreeWorks before turning in their completed passport to qualify for a prize.

“This is beneficial and fun to the students because they can gain so much from it,” Evans-Bell said. “They will fill out their DegreeWorks and get to meet privately with their professors, all of the things that are stressed for students to do during their college careers, and they can win prizes doing it.”

The Academic Scavenger Hunt begins Oct. 1, and all completed passports are due to the SGA office on Oct. 26 by 5 p.m.