ADVISING IMPACT ON STUDENT RETENTION

1. ADVISING IMPACT ON STUDENT RETENTION 2012 NACADA Region 10

2. PRESENTERS • Steve Johnson Advisor, Undeclared Students - Website and Data Reporting, University Advising Center • Susan Parkinson Advisor, Liberal Arts - English, Creative Writing, Professional Technical Writing, Literary Studies

3. ADVISING IMPACT - RETENTION • Student retention is not what we do • It is an outcome of what we do • What ranks the highest in retention? • A Caring Faculty • A Caring Staff – Advisors Active involvement of advising staff with students has become one of the significant factors in student retention

4. EFFECTIVE USE OF STUDENT DATA • Critical in efforts to retain students • Develop reporting strategies for • Obtaining and sharing accurate student data • Analyzing and using this robust data • Sample report types that are used • First Term Students & Leave of Absence (LOA) • Early Warning Indicators & Course Repeats • Graduation and Close to Graduation

5. FIRST TERM STUDENTS & LOA

6. EARLY WARNING INDICATORS

7. STUDENT REPEATS

8. GRADUATION PACKET STATUS

9. ASSOCIATES DEGREE CANDIDATES

10. Why A Mandatory Advising Program • 2006 – data showed 25% of juniors and seniors in college dropped out • New Advisors for English major • Bottle-neck courses – no proof

11. Why A Mandatory Advising Program • Update Advising Files and Documentation • Establish and repair advising relationship with students and English department • Teach students how to plan remaining semesters/classes • Inform students of graduation application process and deadlines • Data for tracking student progress toward graduation vs. drop out

12. Implementing the Program • Use data reports to identify program participants - Sample Warehouse Data (link) • Use data reports to identify at-risk students • Use registration holds to enforce required meeting • Require students to correct errors on matriculations • Sample electronic advising file (link)

13. How It Worked Out • Implemented Fall 2009-present • 73 juniors and seniors impacted for first semester, 34 the second semester • 89 of 107 in cohort have graduated, 13 students still on track for graduation • 4.7% drop out rate (5 students left USU) • Identity of students who left

14. How It Worked Out • Project and manage enrollments for bottleneck courses - Sample Faculty Load (link) • Track students who do not register or apply for graduation • Better course planning and scheduling • Improved purposeful communication with students and department • Accurate alumni information

15. Questions and Discussion • Share processes you are doing? • Ask any questions you may have? • Discussions on reporting?

16. THANK YOU UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY • Steve Johnson 435-797-3373 Steve.Johnson@usu.edu • Susan Parkinson 435-797-3883 Susie.Parkinson@usu.edu