How Advising Saved the First Year Experience Ashland University’s Professional Academic Advisors bring you… How Advising Saved the First Year Experience To view this presentation, first, turn up your volume and second, launch the self-running slide show.

Agenda Background Information FYE Course College Student Inventory Evolved Advising Model Retention Numbers

The Advisors Megan Sherar College of Business & Economics and Criminal Justice majors 146 advisees Kelly Kossick College of Nursing & Health Sciences 140 advisees Kristina Cunningham College of Education, Psychology majors, and Deciding students 114 advisees Samantha Schulz College of Arts & Sciences 162 advisees To view this presentation, first, turn up your volume and second, launch the self-running slide show. Collectively have 29 years of higher education experience

Advising Model Background Spring 2008 Centralized Decentralized Fall 2013 – Creation of the Center for Academic Support: Professional Academic Advising Peer Tutoring Disability Services First Year Programs Retention Initiatives

FYE Background Fall 2009 FYE course = Accent on Success (AoS) Taught by faculty 1 credit hour Graduation requirement Two days a week for 8 weeks 50 minute sessions Required graded assignments Topics did not focus on academics

FYE Background So where do we go from here? Spring 2014 Eliminated the First Year Experience coordinator Eliminated the FYE course due to budget cuts According to ACT research (2011), establishing a strong first-year program is one of the greatest contributions to retention So where do we go from here?

Creation of Freshman Success Seminar (FSS) Brainstorming process Reviewed our eliminated FYE course Benchmarked other institutions Evaluated our student population and their needs Not a replacement of our FYE course, a NEW retention initiative!

Freshman Success Seminar Fall 2014 6 week seminar with 2 additional optional weeks 0 credit hours (not a graduation requirement) 1 day each week; 50 minute sessions Freshmen were registered for FSS in sections taught by their Professional Academic Advisor They actually attended!! [insert shocked face here]

Freshman Success Seminar Progression Fall 2015 Increased to 8 weeks required, with 2 additional optional weeks Fall 2016 Increased to 12 weeks required Still not a graduation requirement! Still zero credit hours! Still attending….

Still Attending…What?!? FSS is placed on freshmen fall schedules Attendance is connected to “Green-Lighting” (registration approval) Required to have a completed accurate degree plan for registration approval If absent from one class, required to attend a different section the same week

Topics Covered ** Survey Results influenced these changes ** 2014 College Student Inventory Getting Organized/Time Management Degree Planning Navigating Institutional Resources 2015 - Additional Info Learning Styles Study Skills/Test Taking Skills 2016 - Additional Info Further emphasis on Degree Planning Spring schedule audit ** Survey Results influenced these changes **

Additional Benefits of FSS Building relationships with our advisees Identifying behavioral patterns Consistent message Allows for easy intrusive advising Seeing growth

College Student Inventory (CSI) Developed by Ruffalo Noel Levitz The CSI is an electronic self-assessment that measures a student’s academic motivational levels, coping skills and receptivity to support services Produces easy-to-read reports for student, advisor, and coordinator

How We Use the CSI Required to complete the CSI Topic covered in FSS Required one-on-one meeting Use data to: Inform our colleges about the incoming class Identify possible retention risks Create workshops Strengthen communication flow

Why We Use the CSI Conversation starters Referrals Appreciative advising Intrusive advising Relationship building

Evolved Advising Model

Evolved Advising Model Prior to Fall 2013 Registration Faculty Advising Professional Advisors responsibilities: Recruiting/Admissions Marketing Creation of Course Rotations & Offerings Living-Learning Communities

Evolved Advising Model Fall 2013 Center for Academic Support united Advisors Responsibilities consistent Professional Advisors advised first semester Required 2 meetings CSI Registration Approval

Evolved Advising Model Fall 2015 Professional Advisors advised first year with faculty collaboration Required 4 meetings CSI (fall) Registration Approval (fall) Faculty Advisor Assignment (spring) Registration Approval (spring) Students required to meet with faculty advisor prior to registration approval in the spring

Faculty Collaboration Emailed faculty the process and advisee names Faculty Advisor Form: Student Name Major Advising Discussion Major Discussion Minor/Concentration Discussion Green-light Approval Thank you to all who participated Pushback 71% of faculty completed the form

Persistence & Retention Data 2012 2013 2014 2015 P = 89% P = 92.5% Preliminary Retention = 84.2% (pending) R = 76.8%

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