Transcript Admissions and Advising: Making Better Connections

Spring Advisor Day Conference
January 29, 2010
Panelists

Vance Laine, Heartland Community College,
Academic Advisor

Rachel Smith, Illinois State University, Office
of Admissions

Wendi Whitman, Illinois State University,
University College Academic Advisement

Admissions and
Advisement have different
“expertise” areas- the goal
is to complement each
unit’s work

We need to work together
to help students!
How did this get started in Admissions?
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Pathway to Parkland (UIUC)
ISU Admissions met with Heartland Student
Services in early 2009
Transfer plans of study specifically for
Heartland advisors/students using HCC
course numbers
On the Spot Admissions
How did this get started in University College?
University College piloted “pre-admission”
advisement in Spring 2006
 Initial work with Admissions Office
 Concern about underprepared students lead to
seeking a solution
 Tracking of requests: Since Spring 2006 to present,
we collected information on contacts for this
population= approximately 600 students

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Approximately 50% of this student
population enrolled at Illinois State for
at least one semester.

While the majority of students were full
time students, there were notable
numbers of part time students.

High school students seeking preadmission advisement were more likely
to enroll at Illinois State.

“Exploring” transfer students were just
under 50% likely to enroll compared to
40% previously.

University College Academic Advisement continues
to explore ways to assist students
 Implementation of Outreach Advisor
 Future plans to implement Transfer Specialist Advisor

Direct communication lines

Single point of contact
for advising questions
– Wendi Whitman

Periodic meetings
focusing on a specific
ISU college, school, or
department

Sharing information
with ISU transfer
admissions staff

About 400 AA/AS students with GPA > 2.50
graduate from Heartland each year. Most
transfer to ISU.

In any given semester 750-820 ISU students are
transfers from HCC

Average ISU GPA of transfers from HCC is
around 2.9, similar to other transfers and
slightly below native ISU students (around 3.0)

Assuming a student earns an AA or AS and has
at least a C in all the prerequisite courses listed
at www.mcn.ilstu.edu/undergraduate/prelicensure/admission_requirements.shtml

What kind of profile (particularly GPA range) fits
the students who actually get admitted to the
BSN sequence? What factors other than GPA
are considered in the competitive selection
process?

It appears from the sample 4 year plan for Arts Technology,
ART/MUS/THE 276 Basic Skills Digital needs to be taken
before junior year (recommended 1st semester freshman
year). If an AA student transfers into this program, is it still
possible to complete the degree in 4 semesters at ISU?

Realistically, if a student transfers into Art Education, Music
Education, or Theatre Education after an AA degree, should
they plan on 2 ½ years or 3 years to complete the degree
including student teaching?

Does the College of Fine Arts prefer that community college
students transfer to ISU after one year? In other words, are
students more likely to get accepted into their preferred
major if they transfer after one year at the community college
vs. two years at the community college?
Are these standard substitutions?
 HCC’s calculus or business calculus
substituting for finite math
 HCC’s weather course EASC 151 for ISU’s GEO
211
 HCC’s technical graphics course TECH 114 for
ISU’s TEC 116 Technical Drawing
 HCC’s PHYS 110 – Physics in Everyday Life for
ISU’s PHY 105
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Better awareness of some
lesser-known majors
More accurate planning for
direct admission into an ISU
major
Better focus in electives to
reduce total time to
complete bachelor’s degree
Stronger academic
preparation for the first
semester at ISU
Better prepared students
 Some Illinois State students
take classes at Heartland
 Heartland students transfer
to Illinois State
 New Start students return to
Illinois State
 Community college transfer
students increasing due to
economic difficulties
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“On the Spot” Admissions to
include UCAA advisor
Transfer plans of study for feeder
community colleges
Transfer Student Information
Sessions for visiting transfer
students
Online Transfer Seminar
Academic Information Session for
Transfer Day Program

Department/School focus to answer
reoccurring questions for HCC advisors

Utilize UCAA liaison

Community College Counselor Update
from Admissions

Be accessible to transfer students