Advising Transfer and Veteran Students Toward Degree Completion A discussion of cross-campus collaboration at small colleges Cassie Hall, Registrar Stephanie Pung, Transfer Coordinator Carroll College, Helena, MT

Carroll College Helena, MT Catholic, Liberal Arts Tuition (14-15): $28, majors offered Largest programs: health sciences, nursing, business, anthrozoology, psychology, biology, pre-professional (pre-med, pre-vet, pre-PT)

Student Population #s Enrollment: 1,407 undergraduates Incoming first-year, transfer students (fall 2014): Male/Female: 38%/62% Catholic/Other: 60%/40% Montana/Out-of-State: 45%/55% International students: 24 Average high school GPA: 3.59 Average college GPA: 3.36 Average ACT score: 25

Transfer Student Trends

Veteran Student Trends

Transfer & Veteran Student Profiles Average age: 23 (31% were 26+) Popular majors: anthrozoology, biology, business, health sciences, pre-education, pre- nursing, psychology Median transfer credit: 49 semester credits

Guiding Values/Best Practices NACADA Core Values AACRAO “Core Values for Building Transfer Student Success” Best Practices for Veteran Students

NACADA Core Values 1.Advisors are responsible to the individuals they advise. 2.Advisors are responsible for involving others, when appropriate, in the advising process. 3.Advisors are responsible to their institutions. 4.Advisors are responsible to higher education. 5.Advisors are responsible to their educational community. 6.Advisors are responsible to their professional practices and for themselves personally. NACADA. (2005). NACADA statement of core values of academic advising. Retrieved from the NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site:

AACRAO Transfer Conference Selected “Core Values for Building Transfer Student Success” Establish networks, externally and internally. Share and learn from the efforts of others. Be intentional about recruiting transfer students. Bring student leaders on board. Create first-year programming for transfer students. Connect transfer students to organizations. Create programs and services that promote success. Encourage curriculum alignment. Poisel, M. A. (2013, July). “Today’s College Students: Core Values for Building Transfer Student Success.” Executive Summaries of Selected Sessions (pp. 7-8). Tucson, AZ: AACRAO Transfer Conference.

Best Practices for Veteran Students Dedicate a space for veteran students. Engage in events and activities that demonstrate and reflect veteran awareness and a military friendly culture. Provide a central point of contact for your veteran student population. Collaborate with key community stakeholders and veteran related service providers to maximize support delivery efficiency and enhance communication through community partnerships. Coordinate and offer veterans the opportunity to participate in community service projects. Compiled by Brandy Keely, Carroll College Veterans Services Coordinator

Ideas for Future Transfer/Non-traditional Student Orientation Peer Mentorship Program Transfer “Alpha” Course Individualized Advising Plans

Transfer/Non-Traditional Student Orientation Communicating the value Educating the campus Engaging students who have a variety of needs Promoting a Peer Mentorship Program Hurdles: campus culture (new student = freshman student)

Peer Mentorship Program Reaching out and retaining non-traditional students, particularly Veterans Failed attempt forming a credit-based program Currently: working with students to form a student-run club Hurdles: establishing student leadership, connecting students on a small campus

Transfer “Alpha” Course Optional (or required?) 1 credit course Blending existing courses ▫Freshman Seminar Course (Alpha), Student Success course, and Career Exploration course ▫Financial Literacy Hurdles: Creating something new, earning buy- in from faculty and students, workloads

Individual Advising Plans Merge transfer credit evaluations… ▫Based on Core Curriculum and catalog requirements for intended major And four-year plans for each major… ▫Currently geared toward entering freshmen To create personalized advising plan based on transfer credit and remaining degree requirements Hurdles: Time, technology, balancing guidance with empowering students

Round Table Discussion Share successful initiatives for transfer/veteran/non-traditional students? Share failed initiatives, and why? Share hurdles you face… and those you overcame, and how? Share other questions/ideas with group