PowerPoint Presentation

2Expectations?3Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.Seneca4In everything, the ends well defined are the secret to durable success. Victor Cousins5If you dont know where you are going, youll end up someplace else. Yogi Berra6Objectives

BackgroundChallengesRationale for GPSGPS overviewImpact on advising modelOutcomes7Challenges

First-year student major changesUnnecessary coursesExcessive creditsTime to completionLack of goal attainment/AttritionDissatisfaction with advisingSACS8Context & Research

StudentsAcademically underpreparedNo collegiate contextNot future-oriented/no goalsEnvironmentEnrollment-drivenDeadline-sensitiveProcess-demanding9Student Experience

Mediocre level of use of and satisfaction with academic advising(optional advising, self-service model)Low usage rates of academic support servicesLow/non-target attendance at new student orientationDissatisfaction with assistance provided in selecting a major10The Strategy

Increase student goal attainment through more effective, proactive and comprehensive advising11Why Advising?

The quality of academic advising is the most powerful predictor of satisfaction with the college environment.

Hunter & White, Academic Advising: New Insights for Teaching and Learning in the First Year12What Advising?

A collaborative, guided process to involve staff, faculty and students in clarifying direction, establishing goals, identifying opportunities and challenges, and gauging progress along the way.13What Advising?

Not this

14What Advising?

But this

15The Importance of Goals

student training in setting goals was particularly important for non-traditional students.

Byrd & MacDonald, 200516Student Learning Outcomes

Students will develop personal academic plans in order to effectively pursue education goals.Students will seek and utilize appropriate support services to address self-identified academic challenges.Students will apply their personal academic plans in order to achieve their personal goals.17The Tactics

Redefine advising as a continuum and not a stepMandatory new student advising in associate degree programs and MAP development (My Academic Plan)Proactive involvement of faculty advisors (orientation, Advising Week)Student engagement in self-analysis and follow up with support services

18Assessment

Proactive engagement in continuing academic advisingSupport service utilization and participation ratesCredit utilizationMajor changesStudent satisfaction

19Preliminary Results

8% reduction in first-year student major changes19% increase in student participation in orientation18% increase in student utilization of tutoring services 3% increase in students rating satisfaction with advising as satisfied or very satisfied

20What Would/Will We Change?

StaffingIntake sequenceApply > admit > advise > placeMandatory orientationRevamp remedial/developmental structure

21Questions?

greg.thompson@hgtc.edu / 843.349.5247