Admissions and Advising: Making Better Connections

1. Spring Advisor Day Conference January 29, 2010 Admissions and Advising: Making Better Connections

2. Admissions & Advising: Making Better Connections 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

3. Admissions and Advising: Making Better Connections • Admissions and Advisement have different “expertise” areas- the goal is to complement each unit’s work • We need to work together to help students!

4. Admissions & Advising: Making Better Connections How did this get started in Admissions? • 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

5. Admissions & Advising: Making Better Connections 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

6. Benefits of Pre-Admission Advisement • 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 pre-admission advisement were more likely to enroll at Illinois State. • “Exploring” transfer students were just under 50% likely to enroll compared to 40% previously.

7. Formulation of “transfer specialist” in University College • 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

8. ISU - HCC Collaboration • 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

9. HCC transfer to ISU • 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)

10. HCC sample question regarding Nursing • 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?

11. HCC sample questions for Fine Arts • 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?

12. HCCsample questions for Technology 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

13. Benefits to HCC students • 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

14. Benefits for Illinois State • 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

15. Transfer Initiatives • “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

16. Options for ISU Involvement • Department/School focus to answer reoccurring questions for HCC advisors • Utilize UCAA liaison • Community College Counselor Update from Admissions • Be accessible to transfer students