1 / 17

UNC Student Success Summit 2015: Enhancing Academic Advising for Student Excellence

Learn about UNC Charlotte's academic advising journey from the Advising Summit to Student Success Summit 2015 with key initiatives and roles of advisors detailed. Discover the structured approach and technology integration for student academic success.

johnnyo
Download Presentation

UNC Student Success Summit 2015: Enhancing Academic Advising for Student Excellence

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Advising Advising at UNC Charlotte: from an Advising Summit to a Student Success Summit2015 UNC Student Success SummitChapel Hill, NC April 1, 2015 Dr. Cynthia Wolf Johnson Associate Provost, Academic Services

  2. Advising Structure • Decentralized by Colleges • College of Arts & Architecture • College of Business • College of Computing & Informatics • College of Education • College of Engineering • College of Health & Human Services • College of Liberal Arts & Sciences • University College (undeclared students) • Secondary Advising by Support Units • Athletic Academic Center • Honors College • Multicultural Academic Services • Office of Adult Student & Evening Services • Office of Veterans Services • TRIO Program (BEST Program)

  3. History • 2005: Advising Summit • Identification of Problem (data; anecdotal evidence) • Noel-Levitz consultant • Student panel/Advisor panel • Report and recommendations • 2006: Reorganization including new position of Associate Provost for Academic Services • 2007: Advising Redesign Team appointed • 2007: University College and University Advising Center established focusing on undeclared students • 2011: Provost’s Student Success Working Group convened

  4. Advising Redesign Team • Associate Provost for Academic Services, Chair • Associate Deans • Dean of University College • Faculty Advisors • Staff Advisors & Directors of Advising Centers • Senior Administrators of Academic Support Departments • Registrar, University Career Center, University Center for Academic Excellence, Athletic Academic Center, Orientation, Adult & Evening Student Services All Colleges represented

  5. Advising Redesign TeamKey Initiatives • Agreement on mission, expectations of advisors and students • Creation of a central website (advising.uncc.edu) • Undergraduate Academic Advising Strategic Plans (2008-2013; 2013-2018 revised to 2015-2020) • Consistency & Improved Quality • Academic Plan of Study template • Departmental advising website guidelines • Best practices for evaluation of advising • Standards/expectations for all academic departments/colleges

  6. Advising Redesign TeamKey Initiatives • Improvement of Advisor Assignments in Banner • New Tools • Online tutorial for new advisors • Online manual for all advisors • Academic Advisor Development Program (intentionally integrating faculty advisors) • Campus-wide online advising tool (Niner Advisor; Starfish) • Provost’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

  7. Pre vs. Post- Advising Summit Data *Survey questions changed after 2010; comparing results does not yield interpretable conclusions because response options have changed from a 4-point scale (“Excellent-Good-Fair-Poor”) to a 5-point scale (“Very Satisfied-Satisfied-Neutral-Dissatisfied-Very Dissatisfied”). In 2013: 74.3% Seniors Very Satisfied & Satisfied with Academic Advising Overall.

  8. Post- Advising Summit Data

  9. Advising Structure

  10. Role of Advisors • Provide accurate and timely information about degree and career-related requirements. • Be available during publicized office hours. • Respond to students’ inquiries within two business days. • Empower each student to make independent and informed decisions. • Be knowledgeable about policies and procedures. • Serve as a guide, teacher, facilitator, coach, and counselor. • Make appropriate referrals.

  11. Role of Advisors (continued) • Encourage active engagement in the curriculum-based advising process by using the CAPP degree audit. • Advise from an integrated perspective of general education, major(s), minor(s), experiential learning, study abroad. • Ensure smooth transition for students declaring and changing majors. • Keep accurate and up-to-date advising records in Niner Advisor. • Provide realistic options for students’ decision making and encourage reasonable time to degree. • Be resourceful, utilizing web-based resources, advising tools and professional development opportunities.

  12. Technology • Niner Advisor (including Niner Tutor), 2009 • Online appointment scheduling • Online advising records shared by all advisors • Starfish, 2015 • Online appointment scheduling • Online advising records shared by all advisors • Early alert • Student Success network • EAB’s Student Success Collaborative • Pilot 2013-14; full implementation Spring 2015 • Targeted Advising Campaigns each semester (not used for full advising records)

  13. Is Academic Advising Required? • Yes: • for all freshmen first and second semesters • each semester for all students in some majors (e.g., Biology, Criminal Justice, Physics, Psychology) • each semester for some students in some majors/colleges depending on GPA • each semester for secondary advising for some groups (e.g., all student-athletes; some students on academic probation) • for all students with senior standing in some majors • for some students identified through targeted advising using EAB’s Student Success Collaborativeplatform • No: • not for all, with hopes that many will effectively self-advise

  14. Assessing Effectiveness of Advising • Methods: SOAR, UNC GA Sophomore & Senior Surveys, NSSE, College/Department Surveys • Best Practices (2011) • Type: quantitative and qualitative • Dimensions: nature of the advising relationship, frequency of different types of activities that take place during advising sessions, students’ satisfaction with academic advising , students’ outcomes (increases in knowledge of academic environment, understanding of career goals etc.), advisors’ satisfaction

  15. Role of Advising in Student Success • Significant! • Reason for: • Organizational change in 2006 • Establishment of Advising Redesign Team in 2007 (high-level, strategic, advocacy) • Appointments to chair Task Forces (e.g., one-system online tool; degree audit system) • Leading initiatives such as implementation of Starfish • Participating in initiatives such as curriculum review • Appointments to Provost’s Student Success Working Group • Challenges Remain

  16. Next Steps • Examining FT professional advisor positions ; possibly restructure to allow for professional advancement • Continue to find ways to integrate academic advisors into curriculum discussions • Continue to improve/streamline technology tools • Increase group and online advising to meet needs of increased enrollment • More cross-training between FT academic advisors, career advisors, and financial aid advisors • Continue to find ways to integrate academic advisors into conversations about student success

  17. That’s Our Journey… … from an Advising Summit in 2005 to a Student Success Summit in 2015!

More Related