1. How Advising Saved the First Year Experience
Ashland University’s Professional Academic Advisors bring you…
How Advising
Saved the
First Year Experience
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2. Agenda Background Information FYE Course College Student Inventory
Evolved Advising Model
Retention Numbers

3. 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
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Collectively have 29 years of higher education experience

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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!

8. 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]

9. 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….

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

15. 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

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

17. Evolved Advising Model

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

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

20. 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

21. Faculty Collaboration
ed 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

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

23. Questions & Sharing