Orchestrate a Plan that Connects Freshmen to Advising Early!

NACADA

October 5, 2012

Sue Saunders – Cal State University Channel Islands

Objectives Of The Presentation

• Brief overview of our campus size, advising model and staffing

• Why the need for early freshman advising

• Strategies utilized to increase freshman advising during the first year

• Assessment

•Located in Camarillo, California (approximately one hour from Santa Barbara)

•23rd Cal State University

California State University Channel Islands

Growth Of The Campus

• Opened doors to transfer students fall 2002

• Opened doors to freshman students Fall 2003

• Celebrating 10 years!• Approximately 5,000 students

Academic Advising Professional Staff

Director of Academic Advising & Learning Support• Assistant Director of Academic Advising• 5 Full-time Professional Advisors• 1 Administrative Support • Coordinator• 5 Peer Advisors• 3 Student Assistants• 1 Graduate Intern Per Semester

Highly effective academic advising is critical to student retention leading to degree completion

•Concentrated our efforts in the following areas:

Early Communication – Prior to Orientation

Orientation (IVO) Connections -Professional Advisors/Peer Advisors

Strategies to increase advising connections during crucial first year

Goal: Enhance and Increase Freshman Advising First Year

Hobson email from Admissions– Welcome to CI– Intro to Advising Staff– Explains group advisement and advising

connections during Orientation– How registration will take place

Fall 2012Added on-line homework assignments to Early

Communication prior to IVOStudents came to IVO better prepared

Early Communication

Island View Orientation

• Two-Day mandatory Orientation• 2011 - Facilitated two workshops (first day)– Students registered on the second day

• 2012 - Build schedule and Schedule Check– Students registered at home

Professional and peer advisors assist with schedule build

Encourage students to enroll in University 100

Utilize first semester course suggestions

Promote the STAR appointment as next step in the advising process

Island View Orientation

University 100 Promotion

• Promoted during Island View Orientation

• Flyer in Orientation Packet

• First Semester Course Suggestions

• Promoted during the Parent Session

First Semester Course Suggestions

• Maps out a plan for the first semester

• Lists University 100 as a suggested course on all major sheets

• #1 tool to use in selecting first courses

• Easy for students and peer advisors to follow during schedule build session

• A key reference to take home for review before registering on-line

Summer Strategies

• Fall 2012 students registered at home for the first time

• After IVO – We checked schedules– Goal: all freshmen full time and in

appropriate courses• Two Weeks during the summer students

returned to the campus to meet with Peer and Professional Advisors one-on-one (phone appts. available as well)

• Eliminated much of the add/drop activity during the first few weeks of the semester

Importance Of Freshman Advising During The First Two Terms

• During Orientation Freshman students are on information overload – How much do they really remember about advising and requirements??

• Goal established – To bring as many freshmen in for Advising Sessions during 1st term– Students are more likely to retain

information– Students are more likely to stay in contact

with advising throughout the academic journey

– Students are less likely to make mistakes with future course selections

Targeted the following:• University 100• STAR appointments

Increase the Availability of freshmen STAR Appointments

Peer Advising Connection with Professional

Advisors• Delivery of Services

Strategies to Increase ConnectionsDuring Academic Year

Advising Collaboration with University 100

• 40-50% Enroll in University 100• Professional Advisors encouraged to

teach a course• A Peer Advisor is assigned to each

course• Major assignment is to complete the

STAR Appointment

Star Appointment

• Set the foundation for the advising experience• Review the Advising Syllabus (both student

and PA sign)• Review GE/Major advising forms• Brief explanation of the CI Academic

Requirements Report• Begin the foundation for the educational plan• Begin the process of selecting spring schedule• Conclude with importance of Advising Portfolio• Student completes evaluation of session• Advisor places notes in AdvisorTrac

Consistent Advising Through Star Appointment √ List

• Academic Affairs Contract

• Advising Contract

• Inform student about faculty advising – encourage mentoring relationship with faculty

• Review advising brochure

http://www.csuci.edu/academics/advising/islandcompass.htm

Student Leaves STAR APPT With Plan For Next Semester

• Documents courses suggested by advisor

• Reinforces some general planning tips & grad requirements

• Reinforces faculty advising

• No need for student to return

for advising once the schedule is out

Professional Advisors VS Peer Advisors… That is the ?

• IVO– Professional Advisors lead workshops to assist students with basic understanding of degree requirements and schedule building

• Once the semester begins – Professional advisors spend more time with transfer students and continuing students with more complex advising issues

• Peer Advising came on board to meet the demands for additional freshman advising

Strong Dependence on Peer Advising for the First Year

• Peer Advising is compatible with all advising delivery models

• Tight Budgets – expansion of advising units• Peer advisors working with appropriate

advising tasks free up professional advisors for more complex advising appointments

• Provides students with professional growth and leadership opportunities

• Students informally advise students – why leave it to chance? (formalize the program)

• CI Freshmen population growing each year• Freshmen connect briefly with professional

advisors during orientation

• Outcome:– Freshmen losing connection with

Professional Advisors once term starts

Is it possible for Professional Advisors to Connect with Freshmen in a Meaningful Way?

STAR Week Workshop Plan

Fall 2011 a plan was developed to engage professional advisors with freshmen during the first semester

–Decision was made to offer group workshops for Freshmen

– Cover all information in one-on-one advising session

STAR Week Fall 2011

• Professional Advisors facilitated 6 workshops a day for a week

• Limited to 10 students• Held in Conference Room with laptops• Peer Advisors on–hand to assist with

course selections for Spring 2012

STAR WEEKS FALL 2012

Due to Success of Fall 2011 STAR Week• Advising will be offering two weeks• Oct 1-5• October 15-19• Now offering sessions in our own workshop

room located in the Advising Center• Most sessions are not specific to major– Piloting 5 most popular major sessions

PROMOTION OF STAR WEEKS

• Email sent to all freshmen

• Posters • All TV Screens on

campus• University 100

assignment

STAR Week Evaluation

STAR Week Results

• 185 students attended• 163 Evaluations completed

– I understand the advising structure at CI and know what is expected of me as the student in the advising process (52% strongly agree and 45% agree)

– The advising portfolio I received will be useful in understanding CI major and graduation requirements (64% strongly agree 33% agree)

– After completing the STAR session, I know how to select my Spring 2012 classes (58% strongly agree and 37% agree)

– My overall impression of the academic advising I received during this STAR session was a positive one (61% strongly agree and 37% agree)

• Professional Advisors facilitate Transfer STAR appointments for the rest of the semester• Peer Advisors continue to meet with freshmen students for one-on-one STAR appointments for the remaining academic year

STAR Appointment Format for the Remaining Year

Peer Advisor Assessment Results238 Surveys

• My Peer Advisor was willing to spend sufficient time with my issues and concerns. (95% strongly agree and 5% agree)

• My Peer Advisor was well informed of other campus services and referred me to the appropriate Department/Office. (If applicable) (86% strongly agree and 7% agree)

• My Peer Advisor was approachable and easy to talk to (95% strongly agree and 4% agree)

• My overall impression of the Advising Center is positive. (92% strongly agree and 8% agree)

Peer Advisor Assessment

• “My appointment was very helpful! I have a strong idea as to how I will plan my next few years at CSUCI.”

• “My Peer Advisor was very friendly and helped me with the information I required and much more. The advising she gave me was overall very effective.”

• “Gave me so much information! Reassured me I made the right choice for my education by picking Channel Islands. ”

• “Ellen was very easy to talk to and a great resource for me to figure out my path for the future. It was a great experience! Thank you!”

Advising Not Mandatory – Proactive Strategy To Bring In The Remaining Freshmen!

• Fall semester email campaign to all students not enrolled in University 100

• Second semester –Email campaign– Peer Advisor – Focus on this

strategy Spring Semester

STAR APPOINTMENT ASSESSMENT

• End of the Spring Semester – 77% of Freshmen completed a STAR appointment

• 57% of the Freshmen met one-on-one with Peer Advisors

• 41% attended our first “STAR WEEK” group Star Appointment

• 2% of the freshmen met one-on-one with a Professional Advisor

STAFFING AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES

STAR Appointments – One HourGeneral Appointments – half-hourWalk-in Tuesday and Wednesdays – Two Advisors

Follow the STAR…Leads to all advising services

Question And Answer Session

• Contact Information:–Sue Saunders, Director of Academic

Advising and Learning Support– sue.saunders@csuci.edu–805-437-8514