Holistic Advising for First-Generation Students

What is Holistic Advising?

David Spight, Ed.D. | Director of Undergraduate Affairs

UC San Diego Price Center #FirstgenCon2018First-generation students at UC

Academic Advising

What is academic advising?


What is Holistic Advising?

Is it an approach?

Is is a practice?

What is the difference?


The Practice of Advising

Advisors should:•Improve our relationalskills in advising.•Increase our conceptual understanding of academic advising.•Expand our informational knowledge.


Advising First-Generation StudentsInstitutional strategies:•First-year seminars led by professional staff and/or faculty advisors (Hicks, 2002)

•Comprehensive advising during orientation programs (Darling & Smith, 2007)

•Required advising each term with an assigned advisor


Advising First-Generation StudentsAdvising practice:•Increase their own cultural competency (Harding, 2008)•Connect students to first-gen faculty, staff, and other students (Demetriou & Mann, 2011)•Connecting students to experiential learning (Kuh, 2008)

•Consider group advising (Priest & McPhee, 2000)

•Increase informational knowledge about educational options

•Help students increase cultural capital

•Engage in the scholarship on advising first-gen

Culture of support: coaching first-gen students at UC San Diego to reach their goals

Doug Easterly, Ed.D. | Dean of Academic Advising, Muir College

Lindsay Romasanta, Ed.D. | Director, Student Success Programs

Institutional Commitment: Collaboration & Embedded Support


What is Success Coaching?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CybF_wMovE


How we support students

First-Gen Conscious Practices

Student Feedback

Early Indicators of Success

Fiat Lux Scholars Program:Supporting first-generation college student transitions at UC Merced

Maria Rosales, M.A. Ed. Fiat Lux Scholars Program Coordinator & Counselor


Fiat Lux Scholar Program Mission: We empower a select cohort of income-eligible, first-generation college students through intentionally structured services that ease their university transition, builds a community of scholars, and enhance their student development.

Vision: Promote resilience, increase retention, and minimize barriers to degree attainment for first generation college students.


How Do We Accomplish This?


Supporting University Transitions● 16 Students Staff

■ Student Coordinators ■ Academic Scholars ■ Community Scholars ■ Lead Scholars

● 3 Professional Staff■ Program Coordinator■ Counselor■ Program Assistant


A Living-Learning Community for Incoming First Year Scholars● Weekly Study Sessions (4 hours)● 2 Counselor meetings● 3 Community Scholar meetings● 3 Workshops● 1 Social● 1 Faculty Receptions● 1 Professional Development activity


Fiat Lux Scholars Orientation


Socials


First Generation Alumni Panel


Faculty Receptions


Second, Third and Fourth Year Scholars Transitions Second Year Students:● 2 Counselor meetings● 2 Lead Scholar meetings● 2 Workshops● 1 Social● 1 Faculty Reception● 1 Professional Development activity

Third and Fourth Year Scholars:● 2 Counselor Meetings● 2 Professional Development activity


Partnerships and Collaboration Across Campus ● Formal Campus Partners (MOU)

○ Housing and Residence Life

● Collaborative Campus Partners○ Center for Career and Professional Advancement○ Basic Needs/Food Security programs○ First year and school specific Academic Advisors○ Faculty from all schools ○ Learning Support Centers (STEM, Writing, Math)○ Student Response Team (Students of Concern)


Academic Success Rates ● The Office of Institutional Research and Decision

Support tracked academic standing and retention for students matriculating at UC Merced and starting the intervention program in Fall 2015 (October, 2017)

○ Fall 2015-Fall 2016 FL students returned at an 8% higher rate overall (93% retention vs. 85% UCM)

○ Fall 2015 FL students were more likely to be in good academic standing at the end of their first term and the FL advantage extended into the second year

○ Fall 2015 FL students were more likely to return in the fall of 2017 and were more likely to be in good academic standing


First-Generation Challenges

● Onboarding process from admission-SIR-to move in

● Awareness of academic policies and options

● Mental Health and Emotional Wellness


Improving How We Serve First Generation Students ● Data driven, while remaining student centered

● Practice a “Family Literacy” approach when onboarding onto program and campus

● Address Imposter Syndrome and advocate for culturally responsive mental health services; non-traditional methods of providing mental health services

■ development of student coping skills during challenging times

■ Mental Health education programming

Contact Information:

Maria Rosales, M.A. Ed. Coordinator & Counselor Fiat Lux Scholars Program

[email protected]

Holistic Advising for First-Generation Students · 2019-10-01 · UC San Diego Price Center...

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