1. Analyze The Language: How to Discuss the Alternate Plan with Advisees
Ayo Agunbiade & Amy Kish
North Carolina State University
Amy & Ayo

3. Objectives
Advisors will examine the factors surrounding an alternate plan discussion
Advisors will interpret theories relevant to navigating advising challenges
Advisors will demonstrate their ability to guide students through discussions of an alternate plan
Advisors will evaluate their strengths and areas of improvement
Advisors will formulate best practices to use with their advising population
Ayo

4. Changing Majors at NC State
Incoming first-year students select up to two majors when applying to the university
Many admitted students are enrolled in a first-year non matriculated program and must apply to a major
Exploratory Studies
Life Science First Year
Engineering First Year
Management Undeclared
Change of Degree Application (CODA)
Process for changing majors at NC State
Online application - 3x/year
Minimum & preferred admission requirements
Amy
-80% of students change their major at least once before they graduate

5. Exploratory Studies & Academic Advising Services
Comprehensive experience for first year students who want to learn about NC State’s many academic programs, choose the right major, and graduate on time
Advising Model
616 students in Class of 2020
Office continues to support students through matriculation
Academic Advising Services
Support all students on campus through walk-in advising
Assist students with process to change their major
Amy

6. Think about a goal you’ve wanted to achieve since a young age.
Ayo: 5 minutes
Have participants think about a goal they’ve wanted to achieve since a young age. What actions did you take to achieve the goal? In pursuing this goal, how did you feel? What excited you about this goal? How inspired were you to pursue this goal? What sacrifices did you make along the way to pursue this goal?
Now imagine, that your path to achieve this goal has been clouded with new challenges and obstacles that you didn’t anticipate, and may not be as easy to accomplish as you envisioned. Also, someone has told you that you may be able to achieve a similar goal, but it will take a different path to get there.
You are now at a fork in the road, what will you do next? How do you feel now? Are you angry, disappointed, discouraged, hurt, confused, upset?

7. Alternate Plan
An alternate plan is a second choice major that the student indicates. Typically, this major will be more feasible for the student than the first choice major in regards to the rigor of matriculation requirements.
The purpose of this process is to create two viable plans to ensure that you are making progress toward graduation.
Ideally, an alternate plan would align with a student’s interests and career goals.
Ayo
Ayo: example of student who initially wanted to major in computer science engineering, but realized he liked the stories involved in video games that compelled people to want to play - through exploration process, decided to major in creative writing, internship with Epic games
Amy: story of Madison; initially wanting to go to vet school, liked business side more and ended up major in agricultural business management

8. Reasons for Alternate Plan
Academic difficulty
Lack of interest
Lack of understanding/misconception (world of work, field, salary, growth, educational requirements, etc.)
Money vs. passion
Family expectations
Other reasons
Ayo
*Be sure to mention that this can also be called a parallel plan

9. Discussion Topics
Share policies that may impact the student (financial, progress toward degree, etc.)
Highlight student’s strengths, interests, passion, values
Suggest majors that allow for timely graduation
Outline a specific plan
Discuss career opportunities
Campus resources
Managing family expectations
Assessment
--Strong Interest Inventory
--Strengths Quest
Ayo
*Skills they will develop from the major

10. Appreciative Advising
Amy

11. Appreciative Advising
Disarm
Make a positive first impression with the student, build rapport, and create a safe, welcoming space.
Discover
Ask positive open-ended questions that help advisers learn about students’ strengths, skills, and abilities.
Dream
Inquire about students’ hopes and dreams for their futures.
Design
Co-create a plan for making their dreams a reality.
Deliver
The student delivers on the plan created during the Design phase and the adviser is available to encourage and support students.
Don’t Settle
Advisers and students alike need to set their own internal bars of expectations high.
Amy
Disarm: trust building, you believe in them, you are with them through this change/process
*may be sensitive to have to re-evaluate plan
Discover: key to see what they are interested in doing, their passions and their skills. What is your “special sauce?” What is it that you do that makes time fly by?
Dream: projecting future thoughts/plans Design: matriculation plan, degree planner/online tools, set goals -- *transferring may be an option to discuss
Deliver: follow up
Don’t Settle: challenge them, believe that the plan can be accomplished
Deliver may not have worked, coming back to this phase

12. Matriculation Plan
Refamiliarizes students with progress-related policies and resources (coordinator of advising, tuition surcharge, progress toward degree, retroactive withdraw, grade exclusions)
Requires students to identify a realistic alternate plan
Makes sure students understand requirements for matriculation and degree completion
Requires students to evaluate their academic progress
Allows for third party approval
Ayo

13. Nonverbal Communication
Tone of voice
Inflection of voice
Body language
Facial expressions
Eye contact
Posture
Amy

14. Messages We Are THINKING
Clearly, your grades are poor in your math and science courses. Don’t you think it’s time to switch your major?
It makes no sense that you are majoring in Natural Resources, but you desire to be an Elementary School Teacher.
You want to be a business manager, but your professor reports that you are always sleeping in class!
You want to be a computer engineering, but you hate working on computers.
You want to be a biomedical engineer, but yet you have no idea what they actually do!
You want to be a mechanical engineer because you envision yourself in a hands-on job, but there are so many other options of majors that are hands-on.
You absolutely hated your Spanish class, but you still want to major in Spanish.
You’ve received all A’s in your Communication courses and you want to keep taking more Communication courses, even though they are non-degree at this point, yet you still want to major in Biological Sciences.
Ayo
Pair up: Process the message and think about how we can reword it, leading to a more constructive conversation.

15. Ain't 'bout what you walk away from, it's 'bout what you walk away with.
-Lil Wayne
Ayo

16. Reflect…
Share one way you will improve your advising practice when engaging in alternate plan conversations.
Amy

17. References
Bloom, J. L. (2016) The Six Phases of Appreciative Advising.
Retrieved from

18. Ayo Agunbiade aaagunbi@ncsu.edu Amy Kish aewilso2@ncsu.edu
Contact Information
Ayo Agunbiade
Amy Kish

19. Questions?