Transcript Transforming Academic Advising & the Student Experience within
2013 NTCC Leadership Convocation
Presented by: Anna Mays, DCCCD Team Lead, Texas Completes
Jarlene DeCay, De’Aira Holloway, Kimberly Moore & Jermain Pipkins
DCCCD Academic Advising Council
Transformation
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Redesign students educational experiences
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Reinvent institutional roles
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Reset the system to create incentives
State Partners
Transforming Community College Success • TexasCompletes.com
Actions
• Examined data and best practices with leaders from various colleges • Identified key District policies and procedures to promote student success • Worked to reallocate existing resources • Developed a comprehensive action plan
Implementation
• Connection: College Readiness (K – 12) Entry: First Time in College Progress: Student who completes 30+ hours Placement Test Preparation, Program of Study, Guidance, Dual Credit Advising for Career Pathways and Redesign of Student Success Courses Redesign Developmental Education and Core Curriculum to Reduce Time Completion: Certificate & Degree Automatic graduation & reverse transfer
Goals of Academic Advising
Helping students clarify their values and goals Leading students to better understand the nature and purpose of higher education Providing accurate information about educational options, requirements, policies and procedures
Advising as a teaching & learning experience
Clarify student expectations.
Improve our programs and services.
Demonstrate that Advising IS Teaching Accountability for all/Limited Resources Increase Institutional Effectiveness (Better Decision Making & Planning) Accreditation… SACS REQUIRES IT!
Advising as Teaching Focuses on Student Growth
In the ability to identify realistic academic and career goals as well as a program to achieve them In the ability to make connections among courses in the curriculum and to integrate learning In the self-awareness of the relationship between one’s education and one’s life
Advisor-as-Teacher
Facilitator of communication Coordinator of learning experiences Referral agent who connects students with all of an institution’s resources and co-curricular opportunities that can help them be successful
Advisors Teach Students
To value the learning process To apply decision-making strategies To put the college experience into perspective To set priorities and evaluate events To develop thinking and learning skills To make informed choices
Core Values, NACADA
Teaching
Engaging students in actual participation in their learning Giving students feedback on their progress Helping students learn to analyze and problem solve
Advising
Guiding students to be self-directed and autonomous Working together the advisor and student regularly evaluate the student’s goals and progress toward those goals Assisting students in decision-making skills
Proactive interactions with students Connecting with students before a situation occurs that cannot be fixed Active concern for students’ academic preparation A willingness to assist students in exploring services and programs to improve skills and increase academic motivation
Upcraft & Kramer, 1995
Intrusive Advising
Developmental vs. Prescriptive
Developmental Model
Focus: potentials Growth-oriented Proactive Equal & shared problem solving Shared responsibility Student wants to learn; capable of self-direction Shared evaluation Shared initiative Relationship basis: trust & respect
Prescriptive Model
Focus: limitations Problem-oriented Reactive Authoritarian advice giving Responsibility is advisor’s Student not highly motivated; requires close supervision Advisor evaluates alone Advisor takes initiative Relationship basis: status
Crookston, 1972
Developing an Advising Syllabus The DCCCD Advising Curriculum
Colleges in DCCCD developed common advising syllabus, including: Mission/Purpose of Academic Advising Responsibilities of Advisors Responsibilities of Advisees Learning Outcomes
TEXAS COMPLETES Next steps
Implementation of common Academic Advising Syllabus within advising practice at all DCCCD colleges Development of new advising model that incorporates college-specific organizational models and core advising functions aligned with student stages (Connection, Entry, Progress, Completion) Training of faculty on critical advising information Development of new technology tools (Student Plan)
Models for delivering advising services may be categorized as one of three organizational structures: Centralized Decentralized Shared Within each type of structure are seven
organizational models of academic advising
.
Organizational Models
In a centralized structure, professional and faculty advisors are housed in one academic or administrative unit. All advising, from orientation through completion, takes place in this one unit, such as an advising center and all advisors report to an advising or counseling director and are generally housed under one location. An example of this type of structure is the self-contained model.
Centralized
In the Self-Contained Model, all advising occurs in either an advising center or a counseling center that is staffed primarily by professional advisors or counselors; however, faculty may be assigned to advise students at the center on a part-time basis. Faculty members are not involved in the advising process on a regular basis. The self contained model is one of the two most frequent used models at 2-year public colleges (29%).
Self-contained model
In a decentralized structure, professional or faculty advisors are located in their respective academic departments. There are two types of
Decentralized models
Decentralized
Faculty-Only Model: Students are assigned a faculty advisor at enrollment
Faculty only model decentralized
Student Faculty
Satellite Model: Students are assigned to advising offices within an academic department. Advising is done primarily by professional advisors and not faculty
Satellite model decentralized
Academic Subunit or Advising office Student A Student B Academic Subunit or Advising office
In a shared structure, some advisors meet with students in a central administrative unit (i.e., an advising center), while others advise students in the academic department of their major discipline, based on certain criteria. There are four types of shared models.
Shared
In a supplementary model, all students are assigned to a department or faculty advisor. There is a central administrative unit (advising center) with professional staff to support the department advisors (usually faculty) by providing resources and training. The center might serve students when they need transfer course evaluation or a degree audit
Supplementary model shared
Advising Office Student Faculty
In a split model, the initial advising is divided between an advising office and the academic subunits. The office advises specific groups of students, such as those that are undecided or on probation. Once specific conditions are met (declared a major or back in good standing) students may be assigned to an academic subunit where they could be advised by faculty or other professional advisors. The split model is one of the two most frequent used models at 2-year public colleges (28%)
Split model shared
In a dual model, students have 2 advisors, a faculty advisor within the academic department/subunit and an advisor in the central advising office. The professional advisors assist with policies & procedures, registration issues, drop/add, etc. Faculty advisors assist with academic course and academic major issues.
Dual model shared
Total intake model
In a total intake model, all of the initial advising occurs through one a
shared
centralized advising office where all initial registration, institutional policy and procedures and other course specific information is handled. Students are assigned to faculty or academic subunit professional advisor once specified conditions are met (declared major, completed 30 hours, etc.).
What we do!
Assessment Cycle
Continuous improvement
Exercise
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What is the mission of advising at your institution currently?
What is your vision for academic advising at your institution?
What needs to change to make your vision a reality?
What steps need to be taken to affect that change?
Questions, Comments Contact Information: Anna Mays Email: [email protected]
972-860-2931