THE ACADEMIC TUTORING FOR ADEQUATE DECISION MAKING IN THE ADMINISTRATION DEGREE OF THE VERACRUZANA UNIVERSITY Silvia Flores Aguilar, Ignacio Ortíz Betancourt, Guadalupe Capetillo, Fabiola Leyva Picazzo, Dulce Betancourt, Rebeca Carmona, Karen Sedano Universidad Veracruzana (MEXICO) Abstract In 1997, Universidad Veracruzana (University of Veracruz, in English) proposed a change in curricula, implementing the Integral and Flexible Educational Model (MEIF in Spanish) which pursues the autonomy of its students through an adequate decision making in the choice of educational experiences (EE) during their academic trajectory. In this context, Universidad Veracruzana launched the tutoring program as an important element for the MEIF, being relevant for their academic training and for a successful graduation. This study analyzes the perception of students of the Administration Degree, from both Veracruz and Xalapa Regions, regarding the operation of the tutoring program, in order to identify probable failures and, finally, to generate proposals and suggestions for improving for the students’ performance and reducing the dropout rate. Keywords: Integral and Flexible Educational Model (MEIF), tutoring, public universities, educational experiences (EE). 1 INTRODUCTION Nowadays, referring to quality in education aims focusing in achieving excellence in the processes of the activities carried out within the institutions and specifically talking about services that support students, which are vital to have students prepared to face the challenges that arise in the labor market. Then, Universidad Veracruzana, as the biggest and most important public university in the State of Veracruz (Mexico), implemented the tutoring program, to help students with academic issues which obstruct their integral formation. Once students enroll in to the tutoring program, they get an academic tutor and have to complete a series of compulsory sessions during each academic period. In these sessions, tutors provide essential information related to the Integral and Flexible Educational Model (MEIF in Spanish), which is a main resource for their academic is training. With adequate guidance of the tutor, students have control over the selection of courses and the time in which they will graduate. 2 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Presenting the problem For the last four academic periods, it has been observed that Administration degree students', enrolled at Veracruz Region, do not know basic topics for their academic training, such as: The fundamentals of the Integral and Flexible Educational Model and the gama of services and benefits provided by Universidad Veracruzana; all these being significant for their academic formation. In order to enlarge the scope of this study, it is compared the perception of the students of Administration degree from both Veracruz and Xalapa Regions. The output of this analysis helps to direct efforts to improve the tutoring program and to give students better resources that enhance their academic trajectory. 2.1.1 The tutoring program at Universidad Veracruzana Tutorial sessions are an academic support that the Universidad Veracruzana offers to students from the moment they start their academic trajectory, with the objective of promoting their autonomy and integral formation. Also, this will help to reduce the chances of them to desert their academic degree. Proceedings of EDULEARN17 Conference 3rd-5th July 2017, Barcelona, Spain ISBN: 978-84-697-3777-4 8576