Adventure Land: Explore New Frontiers for Freshen Through

Peer Advising

October 10, 2014NACADA

Sue Saunders and Sarah JohnsonCalifornia State University Channel Islands

• 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

Presentation Overview

• 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

• Approximately 6,000 students

Academic Advising Professional Staff

• Director of Academic Advising & Learning Support Services

• 2 Assistant Directors of Academic Advising– Technology Services– Special Populations

• Peer Advising Coordinator

• 3 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) and Summer Connections -Professional Advisors/Peer Advisors

Strategies to increase advising connections during crucial first year

Goal: Enhance and Increase Freshman Advising First Year

Early Communication

– Prior to Orientation

Early CommunicationHobson email from Admissions

– Welcome to CI– Intro to Advising Staff– Explains group advisement and advising connections during

Orientation– How registration will take place

Fall 2012 Added on-line homework assignments to Early Communication prior to

IVO Students came to IVO better prepared

Fall 2013/Fall 2014 Students completed on-line Pre-Orientation modules - Early

Communication prior to IVO Students came to IVO better prepared

Island View Orientation

•

IVO and Summer Strategies Utilized to Build

Connections to Advising

Island View Orientation (IVO)

• Two-Day mandatory Orientation• 2011 - Facilitated two workshops (first day)

– Students registered on the second day

• 2012/2013/2014 - Build schedule and Schedule Check– Students registered at home

Encouragement of University 100(Student Success Seminar – 1credit)

• Promoted during Island View Orientation

• Flyer in Orientation Packet

• 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

• Last communication during IVO– Make a STAR appointment

Summer Strategies (after IVO)

• Fall 2012 students registered at home for the first time• Advisors 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/Skype appts. available as well)

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

• Continued this practice 2013/2014• Major outcome – eliminated a lot of freshmen needing

assistance during the first few weeks of the semester.

Strategies to increase

advising connections

during crucial first year

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 advisor sign)

• Review GE/Major advising forms

• Brief explanation of the CI Academic Requirements Report

• Begin the foundation for the educational plan

Star Appointment

• 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)

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

• CI Freshmen population growing each year

• Freshmen connect briefly with professional advisors during orientation

• Outcome:– Freshmen losing connection with Professional

Advisors once term starts

Peer Advising Program

• Director of Advising has coordinated the Peer Advising Program

• Due to expansion of Peer Advising program a new position was created

• Sarah Johnson was promoted to a new classification and assumed the role of Peer Advising Coordinator

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 semester

STAR Weeks Fall 2012/2013/2014

• Now offering sessions in our own workshop room located in the Advising Center

• Most sessions are not specific to major– Piloted 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 (last year)• 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 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)

STAR Appointment Format for the Remaining Year

• 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

Peer Advisor Assessment Results (238 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 Fall Semester – 73% of Freshmen completed a STAR appointment

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

• 41% attended “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 Services– sue.saunders@csuci.edu– 805-437-8514