@DrGoogle I am sure your kid at a UC has an advisor. My freshman daughter at UCR has met with her academic advisor in person at least three times this year, she may have communicated more via email. I thought it might be because my daughter has an academic scholarship but according to her, everybody is assigned one by major and last name.
At my European university there truly were no advisors. If you had any problems, you either spoke directly with your professor or you went down to the administrative offices and navigated the massive red tape all by yourself.