Effective Ways to Advise Undeclared Students

1. Effective Ways to Advise Undeclared Students Presented by:

2. Open Option students at The College of New Jersey declare a major, after they have had the opportunity to explore various disciplines that interest them. These students need advising geared especially towards them. Due to the wide ranging interests and ability of the students, our advising models include emphasis in the interdisciplinary approach to education.

3. This session will demonstrate how the assistant deans in the two schools integrate various tools and methodologies and how they implement such tools at Pre-entry Orientation, in the Freshman Seminar, with Peer Mentoring and with Group and One-on-One Advising. We will also illustrate how we use technology as an effective advising tool for current and prospective Open Option students.

4. Advising Open Option Students in the Humanities and Sciences at TCNJ Key Elements: • Pre-Entry/Early Intervention • Developmental • Multiple Approaches

5. Pre-Entry or Early Intervention • In the School of Science the Assistant Dean makes contact as soon as possible.

6. May 18, 2008 Dear _________: Welcome to the School of Science at The College of New Jersey! You have indicated that you will begin your college career as an Open Option student in the School of Science Fall 2008. Open Option Science is a great way to begin. It means you think you might like to major in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, statistics or physics, but you want the freedom to explore the sciences, as well as other parts of The College’s curriculum before you declare a major. As an Open Option Science student you will receive advising from me. I will meet with you when you come to campus for Orientation Day in June. On that day you will finalize registration for your Fall classes. Begin to think about the courses you will select by reading the information on our website. Go to www.tcnj.edu/~science and select ‘Open Option’. Also, you will have the opportunity to complete a choice form online. Completing that form early is the best way to get courses that are of the most interest to you, especially the First Year Program. You will be pre-registered for SCI 099, Orientation to Science. This is a seminar that meets once a week for the first half of the semester and will help you learn about the college and your options and explore your own interests and talents further. I will assist with your course selection and final registration on Orientation Day in June, but we are able to pre-register you for many courses. It is very helpful to learn a little about you and your possible major interests before Orientation Day. To assist me in my role as your advisor, please take a few moments to complete the attached survey and return it to me by June 9, 2008. If you know that you want to enroll in certain courses, tell me that, also. This is in addition to completing the choice form online. You can either email the survey to vanhise@tcnj.edu, or you can send it via US mail to: Patricia Van Hise, Assistant Dean School of Science The College of New Jersey, SC P105 P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Please be assured that this information is only to help me design an academic plan that is right for you. It will be kept confidential and will not be shown to anyone else. Please use your TCNJ email account as soon as it becomes available to you. Anything sent that way is considered an official notification. If you have questions about possible majors, the School of Science or course selection over the summer, please do not hesitate to contact me by the email address or phone number above. Don’t forget about our website – an excellent source of information. Thank you for your time. I look forward to seeing you on campus at Orientation in June and sharing this important and exciting time in your life!

7. Please complete the following confidential questionnaire. There are no “right” answers, and doubts and uncertainties are completely normal. The more honest you are, the better advising I can provide. Please feel free to continue on the back (or another sheet of paper). Thanks! • a) What were your best/favorite subjects in high school?b) Why? • a) What were your worst/least favorite subjects in high school?b) Why? • What majors at TCNJ are you thinking about pursuing or are you most interested in (they don’t have to be science)? • a) Please list your extra-curricular and outside school activities:b) Which activities do you plan to continue at TCNJ? Are there others you didn’t pursue in high school but plan to pursue at TCNJ? • What grades are you expecting in your college-level math and science courses? • How many hours a week do you think you will need to study your first year at TCNJ in order to get these grades? • What career or careers are you considering after graduation? • List the people and organizations you will likely consider your support network while at TCNJ: • Please tell me about any doubts, uncertainties, questions, problems or concerns you have about being in college, majoring in a science, or choosing a major?

8. Multiple Approaches During the Academic Year • Group Advising • One–on–One Advising • Seminars • Peer Advising • Technology

9. Pre-Entry or Early Intervention • Choice Sheets: Freshman Course Selection Guide. Electronic documents sent by R&R on May 1st . Document explains options and allows students to express choices for first semester courses. • June Orientation Day: Open Option students meet advisor personally and complete registration for the fall.

10. Choice Sheets These choice sheets will enable online course selection and pre-registration for our entering Open Option students. Students will be instructed to complete the choice sheets via the web in early May. This should expedite registration process during June Orientation week and will enable us to expand on the presentation of our Open Option program.

11. C&S Open Option Choice Sheet • FSP –Freshman Seminar • Second Language—Link to the MDL dept. • Exploring a major: • Criminology-- (LWJ 100 and/or STA 115) • English or English Teaching -- (Lit 201) • Journalism/ Professional Writing-(JPW 208) • History or History Teaching --(HIS 210) • International Studies (INT 200 and ECO 102) • Philosophy ( PHL 100/HON 203 or PHL 120 or PHL 135) • Political Science (POL 110 or  and STA 115 • Psychology (PSY 101 or PSY 121) • Sociology (SOC 101 and/or STA 115) • Spanish (also Spanish Teaching) --(SPA 203 or SPA 210) • Women's and Gender Studies (WGS 200 or WGS 220) 4. Course in Interdisciplinary Concentration or other Liberal Learning 5. CUL 099 C&S Orientation Seminar—Required (0 credit)

12. Developmental Advising • Group Advising • Seminar • Advising Forums (C&S) • One-on-One Advising: Office, Sign Up Sheets, Mandatory Registration Holds

13. Prior to Registration: Review schedule, course load, update program planners • Throughout the semester: explore career goals, provide most updated brochures and flyers from prospective departments (developmental advising) • Recommend that they meet with department chairs and/or pre-major advisors of prospective major

14. Communication by email and information available on websites are key to making the 1-to -1 meeting most effective. • Student needs to know how to prepare for the meeting and both student and advisor need to know what to expect in the meeting. • This will enable the most time spent in conversation that helps student formulate goals and development of academic plans that lead to those goals, once determined.

15. Open OptionOrientation Seminars • School of Culture and Society • School of Science

16. Syllabus: restructured in summer of 07 • Replaced lecture format to hands-on activities/workshops. Group discussions. • Include former Open Option students whenever possible. Invite them as guests or presenters. • Expanded leadership role of Peer Advisers in the classroom. • Rather than bringing campus community to the class, bring (or send) the students to the community. i.e. Scavenger Hunt

17. Scavenger Hunt: Students come to class to pick up a copy of the document. They are teamed with another student in the class and they have an hour to visit the different offices and return the answers to me in my office. I offer “grand prizes” for first 5 groups and consolation prizes for the other teams. • Purpose of Scavenger Hunt: Encourage students to visit the various offices on campus and learn where the most importance offices are located. Questions do not include information that can be found on the TCNJ website. They have to go to each office to get the answer. (i.e. fabric on the of chairs of the 3rd floor of the library, name and color of big fish in the aquarium the Psychological and Counseling Services.)

18. Other Transformed Activities in Orientation Seminar • Career Services –Strong Inventory-- • Presentation on Study Abroad. Interaction between presenter and former OO who made a successful transition in the major and who also studied abroad. • Internships Class: Past OO students, now in a Culture and Society major, and who have completed a credit or non-credit internship. They are invited to speak about their experience. • Presentation of Major: Former OO students and Culture and Society dept. chairs are invited to a special class, aptly called: “95 (or whatever the number might be that year) OO Students in Search of a Major.” • Time Management

19. Goals of the Course • Syllabus, Activities & Assignments • Peer Mentors

20. The goal of The College of New Jersey is that you become an informed, engaged learner. We will address this goal in our seminar in two ways. • To help you learn about the opportunities and services available at TCNJ • To help you learn more about yourself Our slogan will be EEP. This is the time for you to Explore, to get Excited about what you will do, and Persevere in both your exploration and new major.

21. Syllabus, Activities and Assignments The following (tentative) schedule should help us achieve these goals:

22. Peer Mentoring In the School of Science

23. Peer Advisers in Culture and Society • Upper level students who have declared a major in the School of Culture and Society and who came in as Open Option. Selected by their GPA: In the Honors program or with a minimum GPA of 3.5. • Training class and workshop first day or first week of classes. • Receive a small stipend ($250 for the 10 week seminar) • Attend all classes and contribute and assist in group discussions • Take leadership role in at least one seminar class (time management, internet etiquette,…) • Students can e-mail peer advisors and seek advice in course selection and/or major. • Peer advisers are not allowed to provide personal preferences and/or opinions of particular professors.

24. Technology • Websites • Technology in the classroom - Culture and Society • E-mail etiquette • Get Acquainted Bingo • Academic Integrity • Time Management • Online Appointments Calendars (School of Science) • SOCS (Simple Online Course System) • ARTIE (Mass E-Mail, Advisees’ List, etc.)

25. Purpose: Post resources for current Open Option students and also offer a program overview for prospective students and high school guidance counselors. • What is included: • Links to C&S programs: majors and minors • Liberal Learning Website • Records and Registration Website • Freshman Choice Sheets • Video Clips of former OO students. Usually taped in the Spring semester of their senior year

26. School of Science Technology in Advising • Online Home Page • www.tcnj.edu/~science • Online Appointment Calendar • http://socs.tcnj.edu/

27. Q&A • Questions • Practices you would like to share