Hub and Spokes Launch Seminar 2a Paul Lloyd, Sub-Dean, UWA Business School Asha Jones, Project Officer, Student Services Undergraduate advising at UWA

Today’s seminar  Review the basics of the hub and spokes model  Consider the different types of advisers  Review the basics of the new course structure (briefly!)  Tour the undergraduate NC2012 handbook  Define first-level advice  Activities to practice first-level course advice skills

The hub and spokes

The 5 H&S pillars We’re all advisers (that’s what student think!) Staff in faculties will give advice on all the NC2012 undergraduate majors. Staff in the hub will be knowledgeable in the new course structure and be able to give some level of course advice. Staff across UWA will be familiar with the range of services available for students and ensure that students are appropriately referred to the right source the first time. Complex and detailed advice given to students will be recorded in askUWA.

Types of advisers at UWA First-level advisers  Gives directional advice and can discuss new course structure  Familiar with set of majors offered  Relies on handbook and other authoritative sources to give advice Directional advisers  Understands new course structure  Familiar with course planning tools available to students online  Shows students where information is online  Refers students to faculty office for course advice Faculty advisers  Gives first level advice on all majors offered at UWA  Gives detailed and authoritative advice on the majors and units offered by their faculty

Types of advisers at UWA Directional advisers  International Centre (Study Aboard / Student Support team).  Student Support Services (Chaplains, Counselling and Psychological Services, Housing and financial aid office, reception service, StudySmarter, UniAccess and Careers Centre staff).  GRSO staff. First-level advisers  Admissions Centre staff.  International Centre (Undergraduate Admissions team).  Student Administration  Student Support Services (UniStart and UniSkills). Faculty advisers  Faculties (ALVA, AHSS, Bus, Edu, ECM, Law, MDHS and Sci)  School of Indigenous Studies

New course structure The basics…  5 new undergraduate courses (Arts, Commerce, Design, Science and Philosophy)  About 80 majors on offer.  Majors are made up of 8 units: or All undergraduate pass degree courses share a common structure:  24 units  a maximum of 12 Level 1 units  a minimum of 4 Level 3 units  a degree-specific major  opportunity for a second major  4 broadening units (at least one Category A)  Opportunity for end-on honours

Handbook tour

Giving first-level advice Giving first-level advice on all majors involves:  Explaining the course structure, including the rules, different types of units and broadening requirements.  Discussing with a student the requirements for a major (as published) and other components of their course.  Explaining unit prerequisites, co-requisities and incompatibilities.  Assisting a student to create a study plan.

Giving first-level advice An example from our current courses:  Student A is a combined course student studying the LLB BCom.  They are also completing a Diploma of Modern Languages.  They approach three faculties for course advice, approvals, special consideration etc…

Giving first-level advice But it need not be this way  We have ample precedent for single degree students studying units and majors from another faculty and for their advising within their own faculty.  Eg-the current Bachelor of Commerce, where students can have twelve or sometimes more units from other faculties.  Not our practice to refer these students to the other faculty for advice.

Giving first-level advice What this has taught us  No need for in-depth subject knowledge to support most advice, provided documentation and materials are adequate (e.g. handbook).  Willingness to confer with relevant colleagues across campus.  Need for referrals in some specialised situations and how to handle those situations.  Students value the ability to receive course advice from one location and, under the new course structure, course advice from several ‘hub’ areas as well!

What first-level advice entails  Which units to take or select from to fulfil a major requirement.  How a student can fulfil their broadening requirements.  Checking of their enrolment / planned enrolment to ensure they have satisfied their course requirements/rules.  Identify prerequisites and co- requisites. Advice you can giveWhen you should refer  Guide students between unit options.  Unit choices in relation to career outcomes.  Undergraduate choices which may impact on postgraduate choices/studies.  Recommendations relating to student options for study abroad.

Other situations when you should refer

Referring across UWA  In most cases, referring is simply letting the student know where they can find the information. This means that as staff we need to be more aware of the services offered across campus to ensure we can support our students (see Referrals Information).  In some cases we can refer a student by using a Referral Form.  If you have referred a student to another area, it’s helpful to record the reasons behind the referral in askUWA.